Burns and Allen are one of the most beloved couple in old time radio. They got started, like many of the greats of old time radio, in vaudeville, which is really just the touring popular entertainment in America prior to movies. Gracie was the sparkplug of the act, always the center of attention. George played the foil, the guy vainly trying to make sense of the ditzy world of Gracie. By the early 30s, Gracie was probably the best known woman on radio. Gracie often sang in a voice that showed she was also an excellent comedienne songstress.
By the early 1940's, Burns decided that their act needed a change.He decided that the audience knew Gracie's and his reactions well enough that it would be possible to play off them, and create situations something like screwball comedy, but with the Burns and Allen touch. Jack Benny and Burns and Allen worked much the same way with their comedy.Vaudeville's snappy patter and give and take jokes, good even if the audience didn't know you, could be developed into running gags and put-downs based on character. Burns was always astute when it came to comedy - he lead the brainstorming sessions that wrote the shows, and carefully edited his writers with the final word on what was cut and what stayed. Elvia Allman play Gracie's friend Tootsie Sagwell and Gale Gordon and Hans Conried made frequent appearances.
So in 1942, George and Gracie became, in their characters, the perfectly normal husband and wife that is, if Gracie's non sequiturs and impulsive behavior could be considered perfectly normal. For Gracie, of course, it was perfectly normal, and the American public continued their love affair with her.The shows had names after the sponsors, such as Maxwell House Coffee Time, or The Ammident Show - it was the Burns and Allen show to the public. Other fine radio actors were a part of the fun. Mel Blanc did the happy postman, and was also famous for his zany characters on The Jack Benny Show, and his own Mel Blanc Show. Elliott Lewis, a veteran of many radio "bit" parts on the Burns and Allen shows of the 40s.
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Please enjoy these 273 old time radio episodes:
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
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10.21.1940 | professor thorndyke |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 21, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Ca... | |
10.14.1940 | whats wrong with gracie |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 14, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Ca... | |
10.07.1940 | george disguises |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 7, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Ca... | |
09.30.1940 | george is kidnapped |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. September 30, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam. George is still o... | |
09.23.1940 | george writes a newspaper column |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. September 23, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con ... | |
09.16.1940 | george needs a guest |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. September 16, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con ... | |
09.09.1940 | george owes money |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. September 9, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con C... | |
09.02.1940 | george is on trial |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. September 2, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con C... | |
08.26.1940 | elsie trellafas is suing george |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. August 26, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Car... | |
08.19.1940 | george late for show |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. August 19, 1940. Sponsored by: Hormel. George is "late" f... | |
08.12.1940 | gold rush gracie |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. August 12, 1940. Sponsored by: Hormel. The first tune is,... | |
08.05.1940 | georges movie |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. August 5, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chile Con Carn... | |
07.29.1940 | kiddy party |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. July 29, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam. Artie Shaw's first tun... | |
07.08.1940 | grandpas 92nd birthday |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. July 8, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam. It's Grandpa's ninety-s... | |
06.26.1940 | last broadcast for c b s |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. June 26, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds. The last show of th... | |
06.12.1940 | swiss family robinson |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. June 12, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cre... | |
05.29.1940 | sweeping into |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. May 29, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Crea... | |
05.22.1940 | georges malady |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. May 22, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Crea... | |
05.15.1940 | rah rah in omaha |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. May 15, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Crea... | |
05.08.1940 | aunt clara kangaroo |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. May 8, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cream... | |
04.24.1940 | the biggest in the world |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. April 24, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cr... | |
04.17.1940 | all promises are fictitious |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. April 17, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cr... | |
04.10.1940 | gracie wins wisconsin |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. April 10, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cr... | |
04.03.1940 | til the cows come home |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. April 3, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cre... | |
03.27.1940 | surprise party platform |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. March 27, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cr... |
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