Ace had known Jack Benny since his Kansas City years. Radio historian Arthur Frank Wertheim recorded (in "Radio Comedy") that, as a young newspaper reporter and columnist, Ace had written a witty gossip column that moved Benny himself to ask the young writer for some jokes for his stage act. Benny asked for more and paid Ace $50 for one packet of jokes. "Your jokes got lots of laughs", said the note Benny sent with the check. "If you have any more, send them along". Ace, according to Wertheim, returned the check with a note: "Your check got lots of laughs. If you have any more, send them along". Ace ended up supplying Benny with gags on the house for years, Wertheim noted.