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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05.08.1947 | y m c a |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 8, 1947. , AFRS rebroadcast. Gracie sold the Burns' home and is no... | |
01.08.1948 | with jack benny |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 8, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. George and guest... | |
04.13.1943 | with claudette colbert | ||
05.05.1949 | william boyd george the cowboy |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 5, 1949. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. How will television a... | |
11.18.1948 | whos the boss |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. November 18, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Who is the boss... | |
10.14.1940 | whats wrong with gracie |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 14, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Ca... | |
12.12.1944 | war bond show |
+ Mrs. Aldrich thinks there is something wrong with Mr. Aldrich as he’s very quiet at the dinner t... | |
01.22.1948 | walter okeefe |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 22, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie and gues... | |
01.20.1941 | visits art gallery |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. January 20, 1941. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Ca... | |
03.30.1943 | victory garden |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. March 30, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap (Gladiolus Bulbs ... | |
11.25.1948 | turkey swallows a wedding ring | ||
04.03.1940 | til the cows come home |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. April 3, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cre... | |
10.15.1943 | the wrecked car |
+ Gracie asks George if she can take the car out but he is worried as she is not a good driver. He e... | |
05.22.1947 | the uplift society returns |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 22, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. The Beverly Hills Up... | |
12.15.1942 | the swamis predictions |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 15, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap, Spry. After h... | |
12.02.1940 | the sponsor drop |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 2, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con Ca... | |
11.20.1947 | the royal wedding |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. November 20, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. Gracie wants to... | |
09.30.1948 | the new neighbors |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. September 30, 1948. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. The first show... | |
11.03.1942 | the man from mgm |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. November 3, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap, Spry. George's... | |
10.21.1941 | the insurance exam |
+ The New Burns and Allen Show. October 21, 1941. Program #3. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. George takes... | |
01.27.1941 | the five thousand dollar mink coat | ||
04.24.1940 | the biggest in the world |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. April 24, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cr... | |
01.17.1946 | the beverly hills uplift club |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. January 17, 1946. Program #106. , AFRS rebroadcast. Gracie and her Upl... | |
N/A | with sam spade detective | ||
N/A | vanderlips on holiday |
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Linda
Vickie
Gary
Milven
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Ralph
Lynne
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Muhammad
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Philip
Cindy
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Sunny
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