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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mp3 All Promises are fictitious - 04/17/1940
mp3 Alan Ladd - 01/15/1945
mp3 Aunt Clara Kangaroo - 05/08/1940
mp3 Beating High Cost of Living - 09/25/1947
mp3 Ben Gage - 05/30/1946
mp3 Beverly Hills Uplift Club - 01/17/1946
mp3 Biggest in the World - 04/24/1940
mp3 Bob Burns - 02/23/1943
mp3 Brian Donlevy - 01/19/1943
mp3 Charles Boyer, part 1 - 05/02/1946
mp3 Charles Boyer, part 2 - 05/02/1946
mp3 Charles Laughton - 02/09/1943
mp3 Eddie Cantor - 10/03/1946
mp3 Eddie Cantor - 12/26/1946
mp3 Elsie Trellafas - 08/26/1940
mp3 Dewey Robinson - 09/12/1946
mp3 Dinah Shore - 06/13/1944
mp3 Frances Langford and Carmen - 05/29/1947
mp3 George and Jack as Gypsie - 01/08/1948
mp3 George Disguises - 10/07/1940
mp3 George is finally getting A New Car - 04/29/1948
mp3 George is Kidnapped - 09/30/1940
mp3 George is on Trial - 09/02/1940
mp3 George Lands Movie part as Wolf - 11/08/1945
mp3 George Needs A Guest - 09/16/1940
mp3 George Owes Money - 09/09/1940
mp3 George Sees Green Eyed Monster - 04/15/1948
mp3 George the Butler - 11/01/1945
mp3 George tries to Get out of doing Broadcast - 11/01/1945
mp3 Georges Malady - 05/22/1940
mp3 Georges Writes A Newspaper - 09/23/1940
mp3 Government Jobs - 02/28/1940
mp3 Gracie and current events - 10/17/1946
mp3 Gracie Buys A Live Turkey - 11/17/1942
mp3 Gracie didn't Pay the Bills - 02/27/1947
mp3 Gracie Joins Literary Club - 04/11/1946
mp3 Gracie sends Sam Spade to Jail - 02/10/1949
mp3 Gracie treats George - 05/15/1947
mp3 Gracies uplift Society - 01/10/1946
mp3 Gracie wants George in the Movies - 10/24/1946
mp3 Gracie wins Wisconsin - 04/10/1940
mp3 Gracies Christmas - 12/23/1937
mp3 Gracies Mother - 05/20/1948
mp3 Gracies triumphant return - 03/13/1940
mp3 Harpo Marx - 05/09/1946
mp3 Hats off to Gracie - 03/03/1940
mp3 Hit by a Club - 11/24/1942
mp3 Jack and George at College - 11/29/1945
mp3 James Mason - 09/03/1948
mp3 Kay Kyser guest - 01/24/1946
mp3 Gracies Mother - 05/20/1948
mp3 Kansas City - 06/06/1944
mp3 Last Minute Christmas Shop - 12/18/1947
mp3 Louella Parsons - 11/16/1946
mp3 Professor Thorndyke - 10/21/1940
mp3 Louella Parsons - 11/16/1946
mp3 Royal Wedding - 11/20/1947
mp3 Surprise Party Platform - 03/27/1940
mp3 Sweeping into Office - 05/29/1940
mp3 Taking in a Veteran - 01/03/1946
mp3 Thanksgiving Show - 11/18/1940
mp3 Til the Cows come Home - 04/03/1940
mp3 Uplift Society Returns - 05/22/1947
mp3 Whats Wrong with Gracie - 10/14/1940
mp3 With Jack Benny - 01/08/1948

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Burns and Allen Gadget
burns and allen
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