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.
Click here to read more about Burns And Allen- Radio Shows
- Comments
- Photos
Please enjoy these 273 old time radio episodes:
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
03.31.1949 | how jack benny became cheap |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. March 31, 1949. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. A fantasy about "... | |
12.07.1943 | ida lupino plays a housewife |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 7, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. The program o... | |
01.13.1941 | impressing cubina wright |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. January 13, 1941. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Ca... | |
01.15.1948 | income tax time |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 15, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie "helps" G... | |
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. ... | |
03.24.1949 | jayne wyman the academy awards |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. March 24, 1949. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie helps guest... | |
11.27.1947 | jean sablon guest stars |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. November 27, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie tells gu... | |
12.28.1943 | john garfield |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 28, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. George has wr... | |
03.09.1943 | jose itubi and deems taylor guests |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. March 9, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. The broadcast ... | |
05.06.1948 | judsons sister and the oil well |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 6, 1948. , AFRS rebroadcast. George has gotten the bills for Graci... | |
06.06.1944 | kansas city |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. June 6, 1944. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. George thinks he's... | |
12.16.1943 | kay kaysers blind date | ||
01.24.1946 | kay kyser guest |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 24, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O Pudding. ... | |
02.19.1948 | keeping george from making decisions |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 19, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. George has the ... | |
07.29.1940 | kiddy party |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. July 29, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam. Artie Shaw's first tun... | |
03.13.1947 | kill the rat | ||
01.26.1943 | king george |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. January 26, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Gracie traces ... | |
10.07.1948 | kleptomanics |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 7, 1948. , AFRS rebroadcast. Gracie's having Geor... | |
12.11.1947 | lady killer |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. December 11, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O. Meredi... | |
11.25.1936 | landing of the indians at plymouth |
+ The Burns and Allen Show. November 25, 1936. KHJ, Sponsored by: Campbell's Tomato Juice, Schaef... | |
06.26.1940 | last broadcast for c b s |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. June 26, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds. The last show of th... | |
12.18.1947 | last minute christmas shopping |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. December 18, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O. What do... | |
01.09.1947 | last years christmas bills |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 9, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Log Cabin Syrup. ... | |
09.26.1934 | leaving for america |
+ The Adventures Of Gracie. September 26, 1934. WABC, New York aircheck. Sponsored by: White Owl Ci... | |
04.04.1946 | little white lies |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. April 4, 1946. , AFRS rebroadcast. How did the fender get smashed up? ... |
Other "Comedy" Shows you may enjoy:
- Adventures of ozzie and harriet, the
- Take it from there
- At Home With The Kirkwoods Jack Kirkwood
- Komedy Kingdom
- Kid on the corner, the
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
Leave a comment