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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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... | |
11.11.1948 | 15th wedding anniversary |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. November 11, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. It's the Burns'... | |
10.27.1942 | 99 year lease |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 27, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. George decides... | |
02.01.1950 | al jolsons vigorous lifestyle |
+ The Ammident Show. February 1, 1950. Sponsored by: Ammident Toothpaste, Minipoo Shampoo. Gracie t... | |
04.17.1940 | all promises are fictitious |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. April 17, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cr... | |
06.29.1943 | amnesia |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. June 29, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. "The Happy Pos... | |
01.17.1938 | another murder mystery |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. January 17, 1938. Sponsored by: Grape-Nuts. Tony sings, "... | |
02.15.1944 | astaires tap dancing |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. February 15, 1944. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Guest Fred As... | |
05.08.1940 | aunt clara kangaroo |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. May 8, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cream... | |
02.12.1948 | babysitting for kay kaiser |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 12, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie gets Geo... | |
09.25.1947 | beating high cost of living |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. September 25, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. George and Gr... | |
12.08.1942 | being neighborly |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 8, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap, Spry. Gracie t... | |
04.06.1943 | big jake | ||
11.09.1943 | blackmailing jack benny |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. November 9, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap, Spry. George h... | |
11.09.1943 | blackmailing jack |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. November 9, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap, Spry. George h... | |
10.11.1937 | bob burns substitutes | ||
01.19.1943 | brian donlevy guest star |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. January 19, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. When George... | |
04.20.1943 | broke uncle hurbert | ||
09.27.1945 | burns and allen |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. September 27, 1945. George and Gracie are moving into their new home. ... | |
11.13.1947 | cary grant speaks to the uplifters |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. November 13, 1947. , AFRS rebroadcast. Gracie tries to guest guest Car... | |
01.20.1949 | cesar romero steals bills grlfriend |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 20, 1949. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie sees to i... | |
11.30.1943 | charles boyer as tex |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. November 30, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Gracie has a ... | |
05.02.1946 | charles boyer guest pt1 hour special |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 2, 1946. Sponsored by: Jell-O Pudding, Maxwell House Coffee, Bird... | |
12.19.1944 | christmas presents |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 19, 1944. , AFRS rebroadcast. To buy or not to b... | |
N/A | b h u s needs new hats |
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Steve
Chris
Kelly
Sarah
Milven
Patrick
Jennifer
Gregory
Westfall
Linda
Vickie
Gary
Milven
Sandra
Ralph
Lynne
Gllen
Robert
Tom
Muhammad
Robert
Philip
Cindy
Antoinette
Kenny
Sunny
Janice
Treayvaughan
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Thomas
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Margarat
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Auntwendy
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Joyce
Sherry
Loren
Robert
Barbra
Betty
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Lisa
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Vergell
Mike
BURNS AND ALLEN
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