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 |
---|---|---|---|
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 ... | |
06.22.1943 | love potion |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. June 22, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Gracie buys a lov... | |
03.02.1943 | madeleine carroll guest |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. March 2, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. The broadcast ori... | |
12.16.1941 | mailing a christmas package |
+ The New Burns and Allen Show. December 16, 1941. Program #11. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Gracie dra... | |
03.23.1943 | making george sick |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. March 23, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. The Beverly H... | |
02.07.1946 | marriage contest |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 7, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O. George a... | |
10.13.1942 | marriage manual |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 13, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap (encyclopaedia ... | |
10.06.1942 | married but single |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 6, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap (encyclopaedia p... | |
10.18.1945 | meredith is getting married |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. October 18, 1945. NBC net, KFI, Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, J... | |
12.01.1942 | messy mechanics |
+ Special Mileage Rationing Program. December 1, 1942. Office Of War Information syndication, NBC tr... | |
04.24.1947 | moving in with bill goodwin |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. April 24, 1947. Program #132. NBC origination, AFRS rebroa... | |
09.20.1945 | new house |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. September 20, 1945. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O (with "... | |
02.05.1948 | new mink coat |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. February 5, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. The Maxwell Hous... | |
08.29.1944 | no money for auction |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. August 29, 1944. Program #45. CBS net origination, AFRS re... | |
04.12.1950 | palm springs |
+ The Ammident Show. April 12, 1950. George and Gracie are just back from their vacation in Palm Sp... | |
12.16.1936 | pancho villa rides again |
+ The Burns and Allen Show. December 16, 1936. KHJ, Sponsored by: Campbell's Soup, Schaeffer Pen ... | |
11.04.1941 | playing mrs north |
+ The New Burns and Allen Show. November 4, 1941. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. MGM wants Gracie to appe... | |
12.21.1943 | playing santa claus |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 21, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Gracie and gu... | |
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... | |
03.01.1950 | preparing the income taxes |
+ The Ammident Show. February 26, 1950. Sponsored by: Ammident Toothpaste. Doing the income tax. Po... | |
10.21.1940 | professor thorndyke |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 21, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Ca... | |
09.26.1946 | quiz show |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. September 26, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Birdseye Foods... | |
05.15.1940 | rah rah in omaha |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. May 15, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Crea... | |
01.06.1937 | recipe for hollywood sweet pie |
+ The Burns and Allen Show. January 6, 1937. Sponsored by: Campbell's Soup, Bulova Watch (local)... | |
N/A | new years eve party |
Other "Comedy" Shows you may enjoy:
- Halls of ivy, the
- Life With Dexter
- Fred Allen - Sal Hepatica Show
- Bob And Ray - AFRS
- Jimmy durante and garry moore show, 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