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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11.11.1940 | gracie writes a musical comedy |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. November 11, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con C... | |
11.18.1940 | thanksgiving show |
+ Gracie couldn’t make it to the show on account of her Grandaddy being sick and it’s not that G... | |
11.25.1940 | rehearsing next weeks show |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. November 25, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con C... | |
12.02.1940 | the sponsor drop |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 2, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Ca... | |
12.09.1940 | george gets a black eye |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 9, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con C... | |
12.16.1940 | gracie writes a play |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 16, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con C... | |
12.23.1940 | christmas show |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 23, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con C... | |
01.13.1941 | impressing cubina wright |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. January 13, 1941. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Ca... | |
01.20.1941 | visits art gallery |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. January 20, 1941. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Ca... | |
01.27.1941 | the five thousand dollar mink coat | ||
02.24.1941 | gracie is late for the show |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. February 24, 1941. Sponsored by: Spam. Gracie is late for... | |
03.17.1941 | st patricks parade |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. March 17, 1941. Sponsored by: Hormel. The broadcast origi... | |
10.07.1941 | looking for a singer |
+ The New Burns and Allen Show. October 7, 1941. Red net, KFI, Sponsored by: Swan Soap. The first ... | |
10.21.1941 | the insurance exam |
+ The New Burns and Allen Show. October 21, 1941. Program #3. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. George takes... | |
11.04.1941 | playing mrs north |
+ The New Burns and Allen Show. November 4, 1941. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. MGM wants Gracie to appe... | |
11.08.1941 | george lands a movie role | ||
11.18.1941 | gracies old boyfriend |
+ The New Burns and Allen Show. November 18, 1941. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. George is jealous of Gr... | |
12.16.1941 | mailing a christmas package |
+ The New Burns and Allen Show. December 16, 1941. Program #11. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Gracie dra... | |
12.23.1941 | santas workshop |
+ The New Burns and Allen Show. December 23, 1941. Program #12. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. A fun fant... | |
10.06.1942 | married but single |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 6, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap (encyclopaedia p... | |
10.13.1942 | marriage manual |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 13, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap (encyclopaedia ... | |
10.13.1942 | successful marriage manual |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 13, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap (encyclopaedia ... | |
10.20.1942 | pooling resources for the war effort |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 20, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap, Spry (encyclop... | |
10.27.1942 | 99 year lease |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 27, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. George decides... | |
11.03.1942 | the man from mgm |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. November 3, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap, Spry. George's... |
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BURNS AND ALLEN
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