Burns and Allen Show cover art

Burns and Allen Show

Burns and Allen Show

By: Entertainment Radio
Listen for free

About this listen

 The "Burns and Allen Show" was a highly popular and influential American radio comedy series that entertained audiences from the 1930s through the 1950s. It starred the real-life married comedy duo, George Burns and Gracie Allen.Here's a breakdown of the show:History and Broadcast:
  • Early Beginnings: Burns and Allen first performed on radio in London on the BBC in 1929. They then appeared on "The Guy Lombardo Show" in the U.S. starting in 1932.
  • Their Own Show: Their own 30-minute radio show debuted on CBS on September 19, 1934, initially titled "The Adventures of Gracie." It was retitled "The Burns and Allen Show" on September 26, 1936, and later became "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show."
  • Long Run: The series moved between NBC and CBS throughout its run, continuing until May 17, 1950.
  • Transition to TV: Burns and Allen successfully transitioned their act to television with "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," which aired from 1950 to 1958.
Format and Humor:
  • Straight Man and Scatterbrain: The core of the show's humor revolved around George Burns playing the straight man to Gracie Allen's delightfully scatterbrained and illogical character. Gracie's innocent misunderstandings and whimsical wordplay were a hallmark of the show.
  • Evolution to Sitcom: While their earlier radio shows continued their vaudeville act, they gradually transformed the format into one of the earliest situation comedies.
  • Running Gags: The show featured recurring gags, such as George's feigned jealousy over Gracie's crushes and Gracie's year-long on-air search for her "lost brother," which became a national sensation.
  • Breaking the Fourth Wall: In the later sitcom format (which carried over to television), George Burns would often step out of the scene to address the audience directly, commenting on the absurdities of the situation.
  • Family-Friendly Comedy: The humor was generally clean and accessible to a wide audience.
Main Cast:
  • George Burns: Played himself, the cigar-smoking straight man.
  • Gracie Allen: Played herself, the "dizzy" wife with a unique logic.
  • Bea Benaderet: Played Blanche Morton, Gracie's best friend. Benaderet was the only actor besides George and Gracie to appear in all episodes of the television show and also played Blanche on the radio.
  • Harry von Zell: Served as the announcer and also appeared as a comedic caricature of himself on the show.
  • Harry Morton: Blanche's husband, played by several actors during the run, including Hal March, Fred Clark, and Larry Keating.
Impact:
  • Pioneers of Sitcom: "The Burns and Allen Show" was a significant part of the "Golden Age of Radio" and is considered one of the first comedy series to successfully make the transition from radio to television. Their format helped establish the sitcom genre.
  • Enduring Legacy: George Burns and Gracie Allen's unique blend of wit, charm, and comedic timing left a lasting mark on entertainment, inspiring future generations of comedians. They were inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1994.
Listen to our radio station Old Time Radio https://link.radioking.com/otradio
Listen to other Shows at My Classic Radio https://www.myclassicradio.net/
Entertainment Radio | Broadcasting Classic Radio Shows | Patreon

Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s politically correct society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Entertainment Radio
Public Domain
Episodes
  • The Burns And Allen Show_xx-xx-xx_(xx)_Gracie Cons George

    The Burns And Allen Show_xx-xx-xx_(xx)_Gracie Cons George
    Aug 5 2022
    George Burns and Gracie Allen was one of the funniest duos in the history of American comedy. Both came from vaudeville, where they performed from childhood, honing their skills. When they met and decided to work together, they created an act that is unforgettable. While their earlier shows continued their standup vaudeville act, they gradually transformed their format to create one of the earliest situation comedies.
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • The Burns And Allen Show_50-04-12_(30)_Palm Springs

    The Burns And Allen Show_50-04-12_(30)_Palm Springs
    Aug 5 2022
    George Burns and Gracie Allen was one of the funniest duos in the history of American comedy. Both came from vaudeville, where they performed from childhood, honing their skills. When they met and decided to work together, they created an act that is unforgettable. While their earlier shows continued their standup vaudeville act, they gradually transformed their format to create one of the earliest situation comedies.
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • The Burns And Allen Show_50-03-15_(26)_Offer Of A Television Show

    The Burns And Allen Show_50-03-15_(26)_Offer Of A Television Show
    Aug 5 2022
    George Burns and Gracie Allen was one of the funniest duos in the history of American comedy. Both came from vaudeville, where they performed from childhood, honing their skills. When they met and decided to work together, they created an act that is unforgettable. While their earlier shows continued their standup vaudeville act, they gradually transformed their format to create one of the earliest situation comedies.
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins

What listeners say about Burns and Allen Show

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Amazon Reviews
No Reviews are Available
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.