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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03.28.1944 | guest brian aherne |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. March 28, 1944. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. The Beverly Hill... | |
02.23.1943 | guest bob burns |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. February 23, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. George and Gr... | |
05.30.1946 | guest ben gage |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 30, 1946. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O (with "The Je... | |
09.28.1943 | guest ann sheridan |
+ The Burns and Allen Show. September 28, 1943. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Is Bill Goodwin in love wi... | |
01.15.1945 | guest alan ladder |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. January 15, 1945. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Gracie starts ... | |
03.07.1944 | guest alan ladd | ||
02.08.1944 | guest adolphe menjou |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. February 8, 1944. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Gracie begi... | |
07.08.1940 | grandpas 92nd birthday |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. July 8, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam. It's Grandpa's ninety-s... | |
03.13.1940 | gracies triumphant return |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. March 13, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cr... | |
05.13.1948 | gracies problem with salesmen |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 13, 1948. , AFRS rebroadcast. Is Gracie an easy touch? She can't s... | |
11.18.1941 | gracies old boyfriend |
+ The New Burns and Allen Show. November 18, 1941. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. George is jealous of Gr... | |
01.10.1938 | gracies murder mystery |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. January 10, 1938. Sponsored by: Grape-Nuts. The cast does... | |
05.20.1948 | gracies mother |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. May 20, 1948. , AFRS rebroadcast. Gracie's mother is staying with the ... | |
02.08.1950 | gracies dented fender |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. November 9, 1950. CBS-TV net audio aircheck. Sponsored by:... | |
12.29.1942 | gracies dating service |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 29, 1942. Sponsored by: Swan Soap, Spry. Guest R... | |
12.23.1937 | gracies christmas |
+ Gracie has done all her Christmas shopping, oh except for buying the presents. She is going to do ... | |
12.25.1947 | gracies christmas party |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. December 25, 1947. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Jell-O. George ... | |
12.16.1940 | gracie writes a play |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 16, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con C... | |
11.11.1940 | gracie writes a musical comedy |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. November 11, 1940. Sponsored by: Spam, Hormel Chili Con C... | |
04.10.1940 | gracie wins wisconsin |
+ The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program. April 10, 1940. Sponsored by: Hinds Honey and Almond Cr... | |
01.04.1950 | gracie wants to be a suffering artist | ||
10.28.1948 | gracie wants money for a new dress |
+ Maxwell House Coffee Time. October 28, 1948. George asks Gracie to buy him some long underwear. G... | |
02.24.1949 | gracie wants george to become 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... | |
N/A | grandpas 92nd birthday |
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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