We have measured threshold photoionization spectra of benzyl(+)-h(7), benzyl(+)-alpha d(2), and benzyl(+)-d(7) in the ground electronic state (<(X)over tilde(+)> (1)A(1)) using resonant two-photon excitation and detection of electrons by pulsed filed ionization. The adiabatic ionization potentials of benzyl-h(7), benzyl-alpha d(2), and benzyl-d(7) are 58 468 +/- 5 cm(-1), 58 418 +/- 5 cm(-1), and 58 386 +/- 5 cm(-1). Excitation through a variety of vibronically mixed (A) over tilde(2)A(2)-(B) over tilde(2)B(2) neutral excited states allows observation of cation vibrations of both a(1) and b(1) symmetries. We directly measure in-plane fundamentals and infer the frequencies of certain out-of-plane fundamentals from their involvement in combinations or overtones. By comparison with harmonic frequencies from ab initio calculations, we assign 35 of 48 observed levels in the -h(7) isotopomer. 15 of 22 levels in -alpha d(2), and 25 of 30 levels in -d(7). Ab initio calculations permit a detailed comparison of the geometry, chemical bonding, and vibrational frequencies in the benzyl anion, neutral, and cation. The anion and cation, both closed-shell species, have remarkably similar geometries with relatively short exocyclic CC bond (1.371 Angstrom and 1.372 Angstrom, respectively) and with the aromatic ring compressed along the C-2 symmetry axis. The neutral free radical has a longer exocyclic CC bond (1.413 Angstrom) and a more nearly sixfold symmetric ring. The natural resonance theory provides bond orders and resonance-structure weights in all three species. While no single resonance structure dominates in any of the three species, the structure with an exocyclic CC double bond is significantly more important in the anion and cation than in the neutral.