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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11.06.1947 | gracie expects a gift pig from cousin henry |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. November 6, 1947. , AFRS rebroadcast. George and Gracie are expecting ... | |
02.26.1948 | gracie goes to new orleans |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 26, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie is going... | |
12.26.1944 | gracie hires a drama coach for george |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 26, 1944. Program #62. CBS net origination, AFRS ... | |
12.09.1936 | gracie honors new orleans |
+ The Burns and Allen Show. December 9, 1936. CBS net net, KHJ, Sponsored by: Campbell's Soup, Sch... | |
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... | |
06.09.1949 | gracie joins a womans rights group |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. June 9, 1949. Gracie joins a "Women's Movement" to assert her rights. | |
04.11.1946 | gracie joins litery club |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. April 11, 1946. , syndicated. George's issue of, "Cowboy Love Tales"... | |
12.19.1946 | gracie looks for a job | ||
01.27.1949 | gracie plans a unique birthday present for george |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 27, 1949. , syndicated. George's birthday is coming up. Grac... | |
01.15.1936 | gracie plays sadie thompson |
+ The Burns and Allen Show. January 15, 1936. Sponsored by: Campbell's Tomato Juice (one commercial... | |
10.07.1938 | gracie reads frank parkers telegram |
+ Chesterfield Time. October 7, 1938. Sponsored by: Chesterfield Cigarettes. Gracie's planning a da... | |
02.10.1949 | gracie sends sam spade to jail |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 10, 1949. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. West coast broa... | |
03.03.1949 | gracie smashes into a parked car |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. March 3, 1949. , syndicated. Gracie has had a traffic accident with ... | |
03.06.1947 | gracie takes up crime solving |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. March 6, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie's been liste... | |
10.19.1943 | gracie talks with miss pringle |
+ The Burns and Allen Show. October 19, 1943. CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. Guest Pat O'Bri... | |
03.10.1949 | gracie the girl scout leader |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. March 10, 1949. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. The Girl Scouts ar... | |
06.02.1949 | gracie the magician |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. June 2, 1949. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Guest Chester Morris... | |
05.15.1947 | gracie treats george |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 15, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House. George and Gracie have fina... | |
06.18.1945 | gracie tries to make george look young |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. June 18, 1945. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. After George is m... | |
01.10.1946 | gracie uplift society |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 10, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O Pudding.... | |
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... | |
10.24.1946 | gracie wants george in the movies |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. October 24, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Birdseye Foods. ... | |
02.24.1949 | gracie wants george to be a doctor |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 24, 1949. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie voluntee... | |
11.02.1943 | gracie wants george to be on jacks show |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. November 2, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap, Spry. Gracie c... | |
02.24.1949 | gracie wants george to become a doctor |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 24, 1949. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie voluntee... |
Arthur
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
Treayvaughan
Patrica
stephanie
Elizabeth
Thomas
Nick
Bonnie
Sue
Philip
Sue
Edward
Denise
Darlynne
Elaine
Margarat
Carol
Augustine
Kevin
Bren
Rochelle
Lalo
Auntwendy
Sandra
Joyce
Sherry
Loren
Robert
Barbra
Betty
Juanita
Dwayne
Paul
Lisa
Mark
Vergell
Mike
BURNS AND ALLEN
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