Radio Greats
The stars of Radio and the scientits behind
it all.
Gracie Allen
NBHF 1977 Inductee
Gracie Allen was the
vaudeville act girl with one green eye and one blue, gone national star.
She was born in San Francisco, California on July 26, but it is uncertain
what year due to a lost birth certificate in the 1906 California Earthquake.
School records suggest she was born in 1887, while the popular belief is
1902. It doesn't truly matter though; all you need to know is that Gracie
Allen existed. Starting out as an "Allen Sister" Irish step-dancer with
her three sisters, Allen soon moved on to a solo vaudeville act in 1911,
until she met George Burns in 1922. They made their first performance at
the Hillstreet Theatre in Newark for $5.00 a day. Being engaged to another
man, Gracie took no romantic interest in Burns at first, until he finally
convinced her he was the one four years later. (They later adopted two
children, Ronald John and Sandra Jean.) Their comedic vaudeville act started
out as Burns and Gracie sharing funny lines, but was soon transformed into
a straight man comic gal routine. In 1926, BBC radio picked up on the act,
and for five months, Burns and Allen starred in their own radio sitcom.
Soon the States picked up on it, and on February 15, 1932, "The Adventures
of Gracie" was aired on CBS radio. Movies were also a source of employment
for the two throughout the '30's. In 1945, "The Burns and Allen Show" was
broadcast on NBC radio. When the show was put off air in 1950, CBS again
asked George and Gracie to perform, except this time on National television.
Success followed the high-pitched voice comedienne and her beloved husband
(who affectionately called her "Googie") until her retirement in 1958.
On August 27, 1964, the 5'0 tall, 100 pound Gracie Ethel Cecile Rosalie
Allen died from a massive heart attack in Los Angeles, California. Even
though she is not here with us, people will always remember the intelligent
actress and the unforgettable scatterbrained character she played.
Page created by Kelse Kloza October
13, 2002
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12/28/2003
