The Burns and Allen Show (Pilot)

[@rahkinrah1963]

anyone that gives a thumbs down knows nothing about the evolution and development of American humor or the technologies available at the time. This show was on the cutting edge. Thumbs up, love it! thank you

[@SrVP100]

Per www.IMDB.com this episode called "The Kleebob Card Game" originally aired on 12 October 1950. This marvelous show lasted 1950 - 1958. Thank you for posting these episodes. What fun!!

[@SrVP100]

An added note: George Burns lived fom 20 January 1896 - 9 March 1996; Gracie Allen (a really intelligent woman in real life) lived from 26 July 1895 - 27 August 1964.They were married from 7 Jan 1926 - 27 August 1964 (her death)

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

I was under the impression Gracie died in mid-late March, 1964. I actually remember the day, but I think it was early spring. I recall my mom came out in the yard, quite upset, and told us.

[@inkyguy]

The show actually began before “I Love Lucy” and outlived it. So did the Burns’s marriage, which is no small feat.

[@mickpatay6634]

Thank you for sharing this! Burns and Allen are great!!! 👍👍

[@classicladi58]

Love seeing this nightly on Antenna TV. The oldies and goodies.

[@erichwise9936]

You only see the filmed episodes on Antenna TV, seasons 3-8.

[@MXB2001]

@@erichwise9936 Yeah I noticed that also. What surprises me is that Antenna TV is that old. I started watching a few yrs ago. I barely watch cable anymore. I knew I had to look elsewhere for the early seasons, glad to have found this here. Brilliant show.

[@mlaprarie]

The music cue behind the scene of Blanche Morton struggling with the big bags of groceries while her husband reads the newspaper is "It's So Nice To Have A Man Around The House." A lot of subtle humor is in the music cues of these old shows, and it's lost because younger generations of viewers don't know the songs.

[@joejoebrian1014]

I'm glad someone picked up on that. You have a good ear.

[@srmichel417]

Looks like at least three of us recognized it. Made famous by Dinah Shore it was current when the show was filmed. I know it from my Lizabeth Scott album, she is one of my favorite actresses, also a good singer.

[@melodychest9020]

Timeless comedy! Much classier than the BS we get today!

[@cbranalli]

there is absolutely no doubt this episode was performed before a live audience - if you get my drift - what a cackle !

[@MrVidaeverdade]

Yes, Henry Jones as Charlie Jones. I recognized him immediately by that distinctive voice. I first got to know him as Cloris Leachman's father-in-law on "Phyllis" in the '70s.

[@johnsonwaite9865]

A lot of sitcoms today are no competition for this!!!

[@jimd3863]

George and Gracie honed their craft from years in vaudeville before they went to radio, films and television. That's how Gracie keeps a straight face thru these routines. This live show would have been shot on a kinescope machine which incorporated a video monitor with a 16mm film camera all within the same enclosure.The format here was similar to radio shows of this era including Bill Goodwin's extended Carnation commercial as part of the show, a similar move to Fibber McGee and Molly with their sponsor Glo-Coat floor wax.

[@Tre404]

I'm fairly certain there was never such a thing as a "kinescope machine." My understanding over the years, having read about it extensively, and having seen many interviews with those in the industry back then, is that a film camera was trained on a regular television monitor, and filming. Nothing so high-tech as a self-contained "machine."

[@Tre404]

Indeed, in a high percentage of kinescopes, you can see the edges of the actual TV screen.

[@joejoebrian1014]

This is a gem. Burns and Allen were amazing. I miss George very much. Guys like George Burns, Jack Benny and Bob Hope are absolutely incomparable

[@WytZox1]

George Burns coolest TV husband ever. No matter what goofy ditzy thing Gracie did he never got angry or demanded she splain but calmly covered for her "Because I love her, that's why!" In real life at home Gracie always called George "Nate" (his real name). ☺

[@robdewey317]

She called him Nattie because his name was Nathan.

[@ladyesther]

i love the simplicity of the humor. :)

[@fromthesidelines]

Yes- in those days, TV shows, "primitive" as they seem today, were more carefully planned and executed- especially in the case of George & Gracie's series. It took the better part of a year for George and his writers {all of them radio veterans, who wrote Burns & Allen's radio show during the '40s} to develop the format. There were no "network suits" telling George what he could and couldn't do; he relied on his personal taste and instinct....and what worked best for Gracie.

[@WytZox1]

* A US president appeared on a Burns & Allen episode! ☺

[@otter25702]

Gracie was a very intelligent woman I wonder how she kept a straight face with the comical comebacks?

[@susanboylefanable]

For many years, it was considered unprofessional for a comic to laugh at his or her own material. It may not be as universally accepted now, but they both made it look effortless! Until I found this, I thought the 1954 color episode was the funniest of these I'd seen, but this is great, too! In "Gracie: A Love Story," I don't remember (though I've read it @ least 2X) exactly what he said about her acting, her delivery, or any other thing that set her apart from any other entertainer, but I believe he said that he believed she honestly never thought of herself as a comic genius or even a star, nor themselves as anything except a couple of entertainers who'd been blessed in being able to make a good living in show business.

[@ftoniaromano6480]

Take a look at George Burns with Madeline Kahn. It was well after Gracie died, however, its excellent & very funny!👀🌷❤️

[@WytZox1]

* @@susanboylefanable ~> Harvey Korman splained that it is okay to laugh during a sketch comedy BUT never during a sitcom! ☺

[@keymaninmusic]

Splained? Are you Cuban?

[@edholohan]

Drugs

[@hartgerald4117]

Gracie looks better as the seasons go on. the face the hair. she completely transforms.

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

Yes. She loses 10 years by the 4th season. Better hair. It may be the make up, too.

[@sunnyangiebeenestork1899]

Totally adorable in Season 6, acting and looks.

[@hartgerald4117]

Burns is one long straight man.

[@fromthesidelines]

As previously mentioned, this was originally telecast live (from the Mansfield Theater {now the Brooks Atkinson} in New York) on Thursday, October 12, 1950, at 8pm(et).

[@Mathview]

The great character actor Henry Jones.

[@Colleen1701]

Who was the sponsor again? ;) :D

[@peppermint383]

This is WAY better than Two and a Half Men!

[@TheInvincibleViolet]

When did Harry Von Zell come into the picture as the announcer? I love him on the show :) xx

[@fromthesidelines]

Bill Goodwin had been George & Gracie's announcer for nine years (beginning on radio, with their "Swan Soap" show in 1941), and followed them to TV in 1950. However, he got an offer from NBC to do a daytime show from New York in the fall of 1951, and George encouraged him to take it [it lasted about one season, and Bill returned to the West Coast, acting and announcing...until his death from heart failure in 1958]. Harry Von Zell replaced Bill in September 1951.

[@TheInvincibleViolet]

Thanks, Barry :) !!!!!! Great to know the backstory of the makings of this great series. RIP all those wonderful people :) xxxxx

[@fromthesidelines]

You're welcome. :)

[@inkyguy]

I knew Bill Goodwin was replaced by Harry von Zell, but I never heard why. Thanks for the information.

[@WytZox1]

* @@inkyguy ~> Also an early portrayer of Harry Morton was forced off the sitcom by ACLU for alleged communist ties decades earlier. ♣

[@cbranalli]

curious how Gracie and Bea adopted more flattering hairstyles later in the series

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

TV was brand spanking new at this time. There was no known "theory" on how people should be made up at this time. That came with experience, and evolved as TV picture quality improved. I suspect initially they simply had their hair same way they had it doing radio.

[@srmichel417]

New hairstyles came out.My mother and grandmother changed too, and looked younger later in the decade. My mom studied hair styling, and even she didn't like those late 40s hairstyles.

[@raleighmann3368]

I'm certain they were doing their own hair and make-up, after the show was picked up and more $$ started coming in there became a bigger buget for costumes and stylist

[@jimd3863]

That method was used. However Eastman Kodak thru pooled resourced provided by NBC, CBS and DuMont did introduce a machine with a small CRT in a tunnel with a 16mm motion picture camera with synchronized sound mounted to point in the tunnel as a complete machine back in 1947 which did earn the name "kinescope". There are photographs of it on-line. It was used thru the 1950's.

[@starey1]

I lost count of how many times you saw the shadow of the microphone!! LOL

[@Lampshade51]

Dig that original CBS-TV logo at the end of the show. That's what they used before they created the "eye" in 1951 (this show was from 1950).

[@drummingriffin]

Great old comedy stuff. Love it

[@ladyesther]

i'm going to buy some carnation evaporated milk.

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

It whips up for sure. Add a little unflavored gelatin dissolved in cold water to stabilize it. Makes great whipped cream.

[@MXB2001]

They sure are getting their money's worth. 70 years later the ad is still playing!

[@howtubeable]

But why bother? Just buy some carnations and milk them yourself.

[@manidig]

A competing vocal group from that time was The Merry Macs. George is using that to push them into accepting him as another vocalist.

[@raleighmann3368]

❤❤ them all especially George and Gracie, watched everyone of their shows several times and George book professing his Love for Gracie, who died much to young

[@Nabinut]

17:34-18:10 shows Gracie Allen's great delivery and George Burns' straight man setup perfectly.

[@EatingAnElephant]

Where did you get this, it's wonderful!

[@susanboylefanable]

It seemed it was a number of years after George died b4 any of these aired or became available again, but from the 1st one I saw, I realized that just like Alan Alda, who got through "Hawkeye" by "playing Groucho Marx," Jean Stapleton, who also was not known as a comic actress, played the part of Edith Bunker by "playing Gracie Allen"--as she was in this TV series--for all she was WORTH! Show me any other comic, male or female, whose delivery stands the test of time this well!

[@sunnyangiebeenestork1899]

Right, I read George didn't want these shown while alive. This show is great, so I was surprised to see that.

[@fromthesidelines]

The first three "Harry Mortons" [Hal March, John Brown, Fred Clark] were real estate agents, 'ReuWil'. When Larry Keating became "Harry" in the fall of '53, his occupation was changed to relect his age and appearance- now, he was a certified public accountant. His persona also changed; March's "Harry" was a "wiseguy", and insensitive to Blanche; Brown was a "henpecked husband"; Clark was a "big eater", and bombastic. Keating's "Harry" was erudite, and somewhat stuffy....

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

I liked Keating the best. This one was a dud.

[@Madelow56]

Henry Jones from "The Bad Seed" is the encyclopedia salesman.

[@marvinabigby5509]

Blanche's first Harry Morton was handsome.Though I loved Grouchy Larry Keating. I havent seen much of the earlier husbands.

[@srmichel417]

Keating and Fred Clark were both funny and totally different. Keating played well always annoyed by George, Clark was more a good neighbor and friend to George.

[@nathanielfarley286]

this is so cool

[@videoinformer]

George Burns explanation of the comedic dynamics at work while actually performing them is extremely *"meta"* -- almost FOUR DECADES before that word's first known use in this sense, as a standalone word, rather the just a prefix to form other words. Right off the bat, he starts telling us he's the "straight man", and "this is what a straight man does" -- "watch for my pauses", followed by a comedic pause, etc. According to Merriam-Webster (online), the first known use of *"meta"* in this sense was in *1988,* and *"meta"* is defined as: *"showing or suggesting an explicit awareness of itself or oneself as a member of its category : cleverly self-referential."* www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meta

[@ampopfilms]

David H Braun wow.. thx for pointing that out, David..

[@retiredmusiceducator3612]

that cackle laugh is tough to have to hear, though!

[@rbbonotto]

who is showing the later, post 1952 B&A shows? I don't see them on DVD or anything.

[@enriquesanchez2001]

Jefronty channel has this and ALL of them

[@keymaninmusic]

Not anymore!

[@MrVidaeverdade]

LOL! I was wondering if I was the only one noticing her. She certainly was enjoying herself. Easily amused.

[@michaelabrams7345]

There was one episode filmed in color. 1954 or 1955. But when it aired in syndication it was in black and white.

[@gymnastix]

John Brown, the second actor to portray "Harry Morton," is one of several actors and writers who had the misfortune of having his name listed in "Red Channels," the publication that tipped off advertisers about those in films, on radio and television (theater was never deeply affected) who may have been or were involved with left wing political activities, usually because they were suspected as communists, even though being a communist, as such, was never illegal in the United Sates in the post-World War II "Red Scare" period. Brown as "Harry Morton" would be in that batch of episodes of "The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show," from about 1951-52, that appear never to be aired in syndication nor available on DVD, so presumably are mostly "lost" due to few kinescopes having been made or preserved of that era of the series when still broadcast live and prior to the coast-to-coast coaxial cable installation across the U.S. I recall reading in the now out-of-print book, "Fifty Years of Video," by the late Sam Frank, Brown was "blacklisted," but, unlike the relative graciousness of Gertrude Berg when Phillip Loeb (the actor noteworthy as being the best to have played the character of her husband, "Jake," on the CBS-TV run of "The Goldbergs") was asked by sponsor General Foods to leave the series or General Foods would stop sponsorship, and Berg gave Loeb a substantial payoff (that sustained him along with theater work several years before health problems of he and his son led to his suicide), Burns is not known to have acted on Brown's behalf with Carnation. Brown had a fairly successful career on radio and in theater, most noted for having played co-worker and neighbor "Jim Gillis" and undertaker "Digger O'Dell," on radio's "The Life of Riley." There is very little information online about Brown. But, apparently, his "Harry Morton" was a more passive character, by contrast with Hal March's having played the role (seen here) as an "operator," the bluster of Fred Clark (the favorite of many in the role), and Larry Keating's always-great dry sarcasm and wisecracking. Perhaps someday more/some kinescopes will surface of those episodes of "Burns & Allen" that feature Brown as "Harry Morton." I thought I had watched at least one episode with Brown, from when the series aired on TV Land or RTV several years ago. And I may have one Brown episode on DVD or VHS somewhere.

[@fromthesidelines]

Brown appeared in ten episodes {January 18- May 24, 1951}. At least two of them are in circulation. I believe George also dismissed Brown from the cast because he wasn't satisfied with HIS approach as "Harry Morton".

[@hartgerald4117]

Billy Goodwin knows how to work. I would be working on misses the same way the honeymoon wouldn't be over for quite awhile . man oh man.

[@erichwise9936]

Many people incorrectly assume the first episode of a series aired is the pilot. This was the premiere not the pilot, which was unaired.

[@lucychinn149]

Genius. And thank you.

[@fromthesidelines]

Originally telecast live (from the Mansfield Theater in New York) on October 12, 1950. Incidentally, directly opposite the show [on Thursday nights at 8pm(et)] on NBC was Groucho Marx's filmed quiz show, "YOU BET YOUR LIFE". Henry Jones appears as "Charlie Jones", the book salesman.

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

George and Gracie were adorable, entertaining, and funny. I was too young to remember most of the series first run. Truth: When I was little, I actually thought Carnation milk came from carnations, too. I liked the second Harry better than the original. Good switch there. Forget the plane running out of gas; Bill Goodwin would go to an early death, at 48, in 1957 in Palm Springs.

[@inkyguy]

Joe Kaye, amazingly there were FOUR Harry Mortons over the course of the show ... and people still make fun of “Bewitched “ for replacing the actor who played Darren. I definitely like the last two, Fred Clark and Larry Keating best. If I had to chose, I think I prefer Keating because his characterization had more comedic value.

[@kermitmuppet20]

I love the blatant carnation advertising....

[@fromthesidelines]

George is wearing a carnation in his buttonhole on his jacket..... ;)

[@andreatuckman1084]

I was brought up with Carnation Evaporated Milk in my parents coffee. I wonder if it was because it sponsored this show.

[@ksteiger]

She almost steps on George's monologue...

[@buyvital]

Thank goodness they moved one of the microphones away from that cackle laughter.

[@Telcom100]

What does Gracie say about Gregory Peck at 14:40? "Too bad ......" I just can't get it , but the audience laughs.

[@lucidstreet]

maybe "too bad he isn't (in a ) naughty show and we can all find out." something like that, at least . . .

[@Tre404]

She says, "Too bad he isn't Artie Shaw, and we could all find out." That's a reference to his numerous marriages. Artie Shaw was a bandleader in the '30s and '40s who was the bandleader on the Burns and Allen radio show in the early '40s.

[@manidig]

It's "Group Harmony." This group is one of many: Look for The Merry Macs, The Pied Pipers, The Ink Spots. AS Rock n Roll came in this style evolved into music called "Doo-Wop." (The Penguins, The Students, The Orioles...) As a genre of music it is disappearing. Young kids aren't interested in it and the folks that grew up with it are dying out.

[@gymnastix]

I just saw something very scary on You Tube RIGHT HERE during this video playback of this episode of the "Burns & Allen Show"--the first commercial DURING (instead of the typical one BEFORE) a video playback on You Tube. The "Skip Ad" button still appeared. But this is noteworthy nevertheless. Could this be the "wave of the present?" Hopefully, You Tube will continue to allow downloading, so those of us who do not enjoy other than period advertising (such as the Carnation ads in "Burns & Allen") included within programming will not have to suffer through such.

[@fromthesidelines]

Bill Goodwin was supposed to say around 27:18, "Featured in tonight's cast was Henry Jones as the book salesman. Now, stay tuned for Robert Q. Lewis and 'THE SHOW GOES ON', which follows immediately over most of these stations. George and Gracie's next television appearance, will be two weeks from tonight..."

[@ziggycat999]

A broadcast air date would make this more interesting.

[@cacatr4495]

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, "The Burns and Allen radio show, which ran from 1933 to 1950, transitioned to television with the debut of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950-58)," so this must have aired in 1950.

[@aldiboronti]

What is the significance of George telling the Skylarks (when they're reluctant to let him sing with them) that the Merrimack is back in town? They instantly agree to him singing. I know it's a gag but just what is the gag?

[@teriannebeauchamp254]

I think it was a rival group

[@sunnyangiebeenestork1899]

That he would replace them with the other group.

[@fromthesidelines]

That's why she was asked to move several rows back by the middle of the show, so that her laugh was less prominent {someone on the staff probably watched the show on a monitor away from the actual audience, and no doubt demanded, "Who the hell IS that chuckling cow??? Tell her to SHUT UP, or move!!!"}.

[@katajune6442]

What year was this..???

[@fromthesidelines]

1950, Kata June.

[@katajune6442]

Barry I. Grauman Thank you

[@SrVP100]

Per www.IMDB.com this episode called "The Kleebob Card Game" originally aired on 12 October 1950. This marvelous show lasted 1950 - 1958.

[@fromthesidelines]

Carnation- through its ad agency, Erwin, Wasey & Company- "controlled" the show (as advertisers did on TV and radio at the time)...all the commercials were for THEIR product....and if a can of Carnation Evaporated Milk was on Gracie's kitchen counter [or Blanche Morton lugging a shopping bag with a few boxes of Carnation Non-Fat Dry Milk peeking out at 3:20], or scenes of coffee served, that reminded viewers just WHO was sponsoring the show. Today, it costs too much for sponsors to do that...

[@Mritalicsmine]

17:22 good line

[@RocknRoRose]

This makes almost all of SNL's seasons look uninteresting :-)

[@cbranalli]

Saturday Night Live is "humor" by for and about drug addicts. it's only funny if you're taking the same drugs as the performers.

[@JoeKaye-hn5dt]

I outgrew it at age 30 in about 1980. It did have some funny stuff then (Gilda Radnor for example), but I haven't seen it since.

[@gerard1657]

SNL was always uninteresting. I was in hi school when snl started. I have never found snl funny.Never. I thought over the years there were a few, and I mean a 'few' comics on the show who were talented, but that was it. The sketches themselves were never funny

[@gerard1657]

Your comment doesn't make any sense. I took drugs in my younger years, yet never liked the humor in snl. What does drugs have to do with it???

[@loxleyglen3172]

So true lol my sisters always loved it and they where always on drugs I never took any in my life always thought it was the dumbest show only reason I watched it was they out numbered me. But I always loved George and Grace. Always clean and funny.

[@williamstephens7190]

awesome comedy

[@raspycellist]

One day, you'll be able to watch this on a screen that you can hold in your hand. No way, Yes and, that screen will also contain the entire world knowledge. 😵

[@travis7310]

I don't think you would now, seeing as how she's been dead since 1964!

[@Starlababy]

What's with that woman laughing. Is she on special medication.

[@jimcrawford5039]

Joan Lemay she would drive a man to drink! Lol. Australia.

[@michaelflores5286]

Dated, yet a lot better than the junk on tv now...

[@gerard1657]

How is it dated? I don't get how anyone who sees an old movie or tv show can say it's dated. If you're going to watch something from decades ago, you need to go into that era/period of time, not the other way around. And then you comment on the style of acting, or the humor that period, not now.

[@susanboylefanable]

Yes, a lot of their material is funny to most people in ANY era, contrary to what someone else on another site dealing with another legendary comedy team (which in retrospect, in terms of timelessness, Burns & Allen PUNKED, in MY OPINION!) that "comedy is only funny to the generation to which it was contemporary." These are nearly 70 years old, & many of them still break you up for most if the show, & in their movie shorts, you can see that "yes, she said (or did) that, & with that 'serious as cancer' look like it was the most natural thing in the WORLD...." & you can appreciate the effect it had on audiences back then because it just got YOU as well! 😂😂😂 Truly deserving of the term, "legendary!!"

[@fromthesidelines]

True. But that won't stop most people from fantasizing about liaisons with famous celebrities of the past.

[@robertszvetics210]

i think that fred clark was the best harry morton also harry von zeill was the best

[@georgelogan677]

I enjoyed George Burns on the Lucy Show. But there was no one like Gracie. Oh yeah.😮

[@videoinformer]

"That's right, Gracie, say goodnight to everyone", "Goodnight." This was before "Say goodnight, Gracie", "Goodnight, Gracie".

[@sunnyangiebeenestork1899]

But remember, she only said 'good night'. The 'good night, Gracie' is urban legend.

[@videoinformer]

@@sunnyangiebeenestork1899 Hah! It's an urban legend *I fell for!* It's before my time, and "Goodnight, Grace" made perfect sense as a comedic comeback to "Say goodnight, Gracie", given what I *had* seen of their exchanges, the most memorable of which for me is Gracie's confusion between *"Septober"* and *"Octember"* (which I've sometimes used myself in the 25-30 years since I first heard that exchange on "Old Time Radio"). I looked it up to find that *you are, indeed, 100% correct!* (reference: www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/311200.html ) I can now file this with *"Beam me up, Scotty!"*

[@keymaninmusic]

That never, ever was said. You're confusing it with Laugh-in Goodnight, Dick.

[@MerleOberon]

You can tell they hadn't worked all the bugs out yet.

[@VSV659]

The salesman later played an ongoing role as Bea's ( Mrs. Morton) brother.

[@fromthesidelines]

Henry Jones did NOT appear on the series again after this episode. King Donovan began appearing occasionally as Blanche Morton's brother Roger in 1954....

[@Tre404]

Exactly, Barry.

[@sunnyangiebeenestork1899]

It does look like him, but different actor. Hal March does reappear later as Casey, Harry's real estate co-worker.

[@Knightjet93]

Quartet would be my best guess.

[@MileyonDisney]

Man, that cackling hen's laugh in the audience sure was irritating.

[@edholohan]

Who's the hyena laughing in the background?

[@hartgerald4117]

the show works better when they add there own laugh tracks.

[@fromthesidelines]

The live episodes were staged before a live audience. The filmed episodes were done without a live audience in attendance {George decided Gracie didn't need a "distraction" while filming 39 or 40 episodes every season, and would concentrate more on her scripts, as she had more dialogue than anyone in the cast). Those episodes WERE shown to a live audience, and their reactions were added to the final soundtracks before they were broadcast.

[@fromthesidelines]

Most people think about Marilyn Monroe the same way, so what's so different?

[@bubbakush5525]

l