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 |
---|---|---|---|
04.24.1947 | moving in with bill goodwin |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. April 24, 1947. Program #132. NBC origination, AFRS rebroa... | |
04.17.1947 | house is built over a swamp |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. April 17, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House. Gracie is still trying to... | |
04.10.1947 | selling the house |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. April 10, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House. Gracie gets the idea to s... | |
04.03.1947 | easter hat war council |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. April 3, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House. There's only two more sho... | |
03.20.1947 | crime wave | ||
03.13.1947 | kill the rat | ||
03.06.1947 | gracie takes up crime solving |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. March 6, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie's been liste... | |
02.27.1947 | gracie didnt pay the bills |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 27, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie decides ... | |
02.20.1947 | 15 years on the radio |
+Tonight George Burns and Gracie Allen celebrate their 15th anniversary in radio and as a special tr... | |
01.09.1947 | last years christmas bills |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 9, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Log Cabin Syrup. ... | |
01.02.1947 | housewifes guild |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 2, 1947. Gracie and her neighbor, Blanche Morton, decide to fo... | |
12.26.1946 | guest eddie cantor |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. December 26, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, La France Blui... | |
12.19.1946 | gracie looks for a job | ||
12.12.1946 | gracie baby sits |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. December 12, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, La France Bluin... | |
11.16.1946 | guest louella parsons |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. September 12, 1944. Program #47. CBS net origination, AFR... | |
11.07.1946 | getting frank sinatra |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. November 7, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Birdseye Foods. ... | |
10.31.1946 | jack carter and george have an acting job |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. October 31, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Birdseye Foods. ... | |
10.24.1946 | gracie wants george in the movies |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. October 24, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Birdseye Foods. ... | |
10.17.1946 | gracie and current events |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. October 17, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Birdseye Foods. ... | |
10.03.1946 | guest eddie cantor |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. October 3, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Birdseye Foods. W... | |
09.26.1946 | quiz show |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. September 26, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Birdseye Foods... | |
09.19.1946 | georges birthday |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. September 19, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Birdseye Foods... | |
09.12.1946 | dewey robinson guest |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. September 12, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Birdseye Foods... | |
09.05.1946 | georges allergies | ||
05.30.1946 | guest ben gage |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 30, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O (with "The Je... |
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BURNS AND ALLEN
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