2009 44c Early TV Memories: Burns and Allen

Early Television Memories
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

Issue Date: August 11, 2009
City: North Hollywood, CA

“George always had a cigar in his hand and he’d chew on that – I don’t think it was even lit.  And while the show was going on, he’d stop and talk to the audience, then go back and do his sketch with Gracie.  She was just a goof!  She’d drop things all the time and was really ditzy.  At the end, George would say, “Say good night, Gracie.” – Jean L..

It took a lot of intelligence to appear so clueless, and Gracie did it well.  George played the “straight man” and was the perfect complement to his scatter-brained wife.  A married couple both on screen and off, these vaudeville veterans were the stars of the first show about show business families.  George was famous for suddenly stepping outside of the story and chatting with the audience, while fans loved Gracie’s zany antics.  She had a gift for making simple tasks seem complicated.  The show ended when she retired in 1958, saying “good night” for the last time.