Burns and Allen
|
George Burns & Gracie Allen |
Burns and Allen were an
American comedy duo consisting of
George Burns and his wife,
Gracie Allen.
Burns wrote most of the material, and played the
straight man. Allen played a silly, addleheaded woman. Both attributed their success to the other, to the ends of their lives. Early on, the team had played the opposite roles until they noticed that the audience was laughing at Gracie's straight lines, so they made the change.
Burns and Allen developed their popular routine over more than three decades of stage, radio, film, and television. Historians of popular culture have often stated that Allen was a brilliant comedian, whose entire career consisted of engaging in dialogues of "illogical logic" that left her verbal opponents dazed and confused, and her audiences in stitches. During a typical 23-minute episode of the
Burns and Allen show, the vast majority of the dialogue and speaking parts were written for Allen, who was credited with having the genius to deliver her lengthy diatribes in a fashion that made it look as though she was making her arguments up on the spot. (One running gag on the TV show was the existence of a closet full of hats belonging to various visitors to the Burns household, where the guests would slip out the door unnoticed, leaving their hats behind, rather than face another round with Gracie.)
Burns and Allen had several regulars, including Toby Reed, Gail Gordon, Elliot Louis, musician Meredith Willson, and Artie Shaw. Bill Goodwin announced the program for several years, and also went with George and Gracie to the Burns And Allen TV program.
Burns would always end the show with "Say goodnight, Gracie" to which Allen simply replied "Good night." She never said "Good night, Gracie" as legend has it.
[Burns 18] (this "false memory" may be caused by the
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In ending, "Say good night, Dick;" "Good night, Dick!").
*Burns, George,
Gracie: A Love Story (1988), Putnam Pub Group.
ISBN 0399133844*
Burns and Allen Show radio shows online (54 episodes)*
Ralph Pape's Say Goodnight, Gracie*
The Internet OTR Digest (Email Old-Time Radio Discussion list)*
Botar's Old Time Radio - Free mp3 downloads of the Burns and Allen radio show from 1940's
