George Burns

George Burns was the stage name of Nathan Birnbaum (January 20, 1896–March 9, 1996). He was a legendary Jewish American vaudeville comedian who went on to work in movies, radio, and early television. He became well-known for his longevity despite an affinity for alcohol and cigars, and for his miraculous career comeback at 79 years of age, arguably becoming more popular and well-known in his 80s and 90s than at any other point in his career.

Gracie Allen

Burns usually worked with a girl, sometimes doing an adagio dance, sometimes just funny patter. George's act was constantly shifting from dancing to attempts at comedy and didn't seem to be going anyplace until he met Gracie Allen in 1923, when the two of them formed a team.

Related Topics:
Gracie Allen - 1923

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When they first teamed up, George was the comic and Gracie was the straight woman. But they switched roles after their first performance in Hoboken, New Jersey, when she drew all the big laughs. As a result, their act quickly evolved into what was known in vaudeville circles as a "Dumb Dora" act.

Related Topics:
Straight woman - Hoboken - New Jersey

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Burns and Allen worked together, growing more and more successful with their Dumb Dora act and establishing a reputation for themselves until they wound up playing the Palace, the fulfillment of every vaudevillian's dream. With success came love, and George and Gracie were married on January 7, 1926, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Related Topics:
Palace - 1926 - Cleveland - Ohio

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Their feature credits in the mid- to late-1930s included the following: The Big Broadcast of 1932; International House in 1933; Six of a Kind in 1934; The Big Broadcast of 1936; The Big Broadcast of 1937; A Damsel in Distress in 1937 and College Swing in 1938, in which Bob Hope made one of his early film appearances.

Related Topics:
1930s - 1932 - International House - 1933 - 1934 - 1936 - 1937 - 1938 - Bob Hope

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In a strange way, Burns and Allen were indirectly responsible for the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby "Road" pictures. In 1938, William LeBaron, producer and managing director at Paramount, had a script prepared by Don Hartman and Frank Butler. It was to star Burns and Allen with a young crooner named Bing Crosby. The story didn't seem to fit George and Gracie, so LeBaron ordered Hartman and Butler to rewrite their script to fit two male co-stars—Hope and Crosby. The script was titled Road to Singapore and it made motion-picture history.

Related Topics:
Bing Crosby - William LeBaron - Paramount

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Burns & Allen's mainstay was a weekly radio comedy series that first aired on February 15, 1932. Originally focusing on patter and sketches, basically an audio version of their stage act, and later on wacky publicity stunts involving Gracie, such as running for President of the United States. By 1942, the series had developed into a situation comedy, focusing on the relationship between the pair as husband and wife, and their friends and neighbors. The supporting cast during this phase included Mel Blanc as the melancholy, ironically named "Happy Postman"; Bea Benaderet and Hal March as neighbors Blanche and Harry Morton; and the various members of Gracie's ladies' club, the Beverly Hills Uplift Society. One running gag during this period, stretching into the television era, was Burns' singing voice, as Gracie lovingly referred to her husband as "Sugar Throat."

Related Topics:
Radio comedy - February 15 - 1932 - President of the United States - 1942 - Situation comedy - Mel Blanc - Bea Benaderet - Hal March

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The show enjoyed great success, maintaining a top 10 position until they took the show to television in 1950.

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In 1955, Burns and Allen founded McCadden Corporation, which had its headquarters on the General Service Studio lot in the heart of Hollywood, to film television shows and commercials. Besides The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, which was very successful, the company produced such television series as The Bob Cummings Show; The People's Choice, starring Jackie Cooper; Mona McClusky, starring Juliet Prowse; and Mister Ed, starring Alan Young and a talented "talking" horse. The "Burns and Allen Show" ran through 1958, when Gracie decided to retire due to her heart condition.

Related Topics:
1955 - Bob Cummings - Jackie Cooper - Juliet Prowse - Mister Ed - Alan Young - 1958

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The Burns were always praised as having one of the happiest marriages in show business. Friends said that they were to marriage what Rogers and Hammerstein were to music: style, dignity, and class all the way. Burns later admitted that on one occasion he had an affair with a Las Vegas showgirl; he said it was the biggest regret of his life. Although Gracie found out about it and he knew she had, they never discussed it. Burns felt so bad that to make amends, he bought his wife a diamond ring and a mink coat. Some time later, Gracie was shopping with a friend and said "You know I really wish George would cheat on me again, I really like that mink coat".

Related Topics:
Rogers and Hammerstein - Las Vegas - Showgirl - Diamond ring - Mink

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