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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04.22.1948 | george is talked out of buying roses for gracie |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. April 22, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie performs de... | |
04.15.1948 | george sees green eyed monster |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. April 15, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. George is worried ... | |
03.25.1948 | easter program |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. March 25, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. There are only two... | |
02.26.1948 | gracie goes to new orleans |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 26, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie is going... | |
02.19.1948 | keeping george from making decisions |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 19, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. George has the ... | |
02.12.1948 | babysitting for kay kaiser |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 12, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie gets Geo... | |
02.05.1948 | new mink coat |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 5, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. The Maxwell Hous... | |
01.29.1948 | separate vacations |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 29, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Blanche convince... | |
01.22.1948 | walter okeefe |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 22, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie and gues... | |
01.15.1948 | income tax time |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 15, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie "helps" G... | |
01.08.1948 | george and jack as gypsies |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 8, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. George and guest ... | |
01.08.1948 | with jack benny |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 8, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. George and guest... | |
12.25.1947 | gracies christmas party |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. December 25, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O. George ... | |
12.18.1947 | last minute christmas shopping |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. December 18, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O. What do... | |
12.11.1947 | lady killer |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. December 11, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O. Meredi... | |
12.04.1947 | gracie wants bing crosby to retire |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. December 4, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O. Will Ge... | |
11.27.1947 | jean sablon guest stars |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. November 27, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie tells gu... | |
11.20.1947 | the royal wedding |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. November 20, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie wants to... | |
11.13.1947 | cary grant speaks to the uplifters |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. November 13, 1947. , AFRS rebroadcast. Gracie tries to guest guest Car... | |
11.06.1947 | gracie expects a gift pig from cousin henry |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. November 6, 1947. , AFRS rebroadcast. George and Gracie are expecting ... | |
09.25.1947 | beating high cost of living |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. September 25, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. George and Gr... | |
05.29.1947 | frances langford and carmen dragon guest star |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 29, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. The last show of the... | |
05.22.1947 | the uplift society returns |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 22, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. The Beverly Hills Up... | |
05.15.1947 | gracie treats george |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 15, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House. George and Gracie have fina... | |
05.08.1947 | y m c a |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 8, 1947. , AFRS rebroadcast. Gracie sold the Burns' home and is no... |
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BURNS AND ALLEN
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