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Burns and Allen

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 40s, Burns decided that their act needed a change. He decided that the audience knew Gracies 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. Vaudevilles snappy patter and give and take jokes, good even if the audience didnt 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 played Gracies griend 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 dramas, played many of the bit parts on the Burns and Allen shows of the 40s.

Burns & Allen were touring England in 1929 when they made their first radio appearance on the BBC. Gracie Allen died on August 27, 1964. George Burns died on March 9, 1996. First Broadcast date february 15th 1932. Last Broadcast date may 17th 1950.

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All Promises are fictitious - 04/17/1940

Alan Ladd - 01/15/1945

Aunt Clara Kangaroo - 05/08/1940

Beating High Cost of Living - 09/25/1947

Ben Gage - 05/30/1946

Beverly Hills Uplift Club - 01/17/1946

Biggest in the World - 04/24/1940

Bob Burns - 02/23/1943

Brian Donlevy - 01/19/1943

Charles Boyer, part 1 - 05/02/1946

Charles Boyer, part 2 - 05/02/1946

Charles Laughton - 02/09/1943

Eddie Cantor - 10/03/1946

Eddie Cantor - 12/26/1946

Elsie Trellafas - 08/26/1940

Dewey Robinson - 09/12/1946

Dinah Shore - 06/13/1944

Frances Langford and Carmen - 05/29/1947

George and Jack as Gypsie - 01/08/1948

George Disguises - 10/07/1940

George is finally getting A New Car - 04/29/1948

George is Kidnapped - 09/30/1940

George is on Trial - 09/02/1940

George Lands Movie part as Wolf - 11/08/1945

George Needs A Guest - 09/16/1940

George Owes Money - 09/09/1940

George Sees Green Eyed Monster - 04/15/1948

George the Butler - 11/01/1945

George tries to Get out of doing Broadcast - 11/01/1945

Georges Malady - 05/22/1940

Georges Writes A Newspaper - 09/23/1940

Government Jobs - 02/28/1940

Gracie and current events - 10/17/1946

Gracie Buys A Live Turkey - 11/17/1942

Gracie didn't Pay the Bills - 02/27/1947

Gracie Joins Literary Club - 04/11/1946

Gracie sends Sam Spade to Jail - 02/10/1949

Gracie treats George - 05/15/1947

Gracies uplift Society - 01/10/1946

Gracie wants George in the Movies - 10/24/1946

Gracie wins Wisconsin - 04/10/1940

Gracies Christmas - 12/23/1937

Gracies Mother - 05/20/1948

Gracies triumphant return - 03/13/1940

Harpo Marx - 05/09/1946

Hats off to Gracie - 03/03/1940

Hit by a Club - 11/24/1942

Jack and George at College - 11/29/1945

James Mason - 09/03/1948

Kay Kyser guest - 01/24/1946

Gracies Mother - 05/20/1948

Kansas City - 06/06/1944

Last Minute Christmas Shop - 12/18/1947

Louella Parsons - 11/16/1946

Professor Thorndyke - 10/21/1940

Louella Parsons - 11/16/1946

Royal Wedding - 11/20/1947

Surprise Party Platform - 03/27/1940

Sweeping into Office - 05/29/1940

Taking in a Veteran - 01/03/1946

Thanksgiving Show - 11/18/1940

Til the Cows come Home - 04/03/1940

Uplift Society Returns - 05/22/1947

Whats Wrong with Gracie - 10/14/1940

With Jack Benny - 01/08/1948

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