The reason George repeats everything is because that's what a straight man does. George explained it many times. "The comedian asks a question, the straight man repeats the question, then waits for the comedian to get the laugh. I did it for so long that one day I was fishing with a friend and he fell overboard...He hollered, "HELP" HELP HELP. I repeated...HELP? HELP? HELP? While I was waiting for him to get his laugh..he drowned.
Did you know that Gracie was originally supposed to be the straight woman? The married team is amazing! One of my favorites. The duo first teamed up in 1923 following the break up of George’s partnership with straight man Billy Lorraine. Burns later recalled… “ they laughed when she asked the questions and didn’t laugh when I gave the punchline, so I gave her all the jokes.”
George described the function of a straight man was to repeat everything the comic said and then react to the punchline. He wrote all their early material and was the supervising writer the rest of the time.
Yes, she's up in heaven with all the wonderful old fashioned stars; Ginger Rogers, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Ruby Keeler, Kathryn Grayson, Janette McDonald, Esther Williams, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Clark Gable, Dick Powell, James Cagney, Frank Sinatra, and George Burns. The world and I misses them all, they were all fabulous and can never be replaced
Originally released by Paramount. In his very first monologue on their TV series in 1950, George described one of his duties in being a "straight man" to Gracie: "He must repeat everything the comedian says. For instance, if Gracie should say, 'A funny thing happened on the streetcar today', I say, "A funny thing happened on the streetcar today?'. Naturally, her answer gets a scream, and then I do one of my famous pauses {glances sideways towards proscenium arch}".
I wouldnt have recognized Gracie Allen Here if I didnt know it was a Burns and Allen Movie Good Early Burns and Allen!! George I wouldnt know either, so Young from when they had their TV show! You knowif them for sure by the Skit and Voices.
A woman I'd known for years whi got hooked on the TV series for a while after they started airing it again was surprised to find out that they'd already been stars for about 30 years before they ever decided to do the TV series! My folks had been huge fans during George & Garcie's movie days & would tell us a little about it each time George did an appearance or a show, but nothing beats actually seeing them perform some of these routines!
I've seen these shorts, heard and seen most of their radio and TV shows, and read George's various autobiographies. If that doesn't make me an expert on them, 'veggieman', I don't what did! ;)
Chester Clute has been in everyone of these I've seen so far, except for the dance number they did with Fred Astaire, & I wouldn't be surprised to find out he was still somewhere in the movie it came from!
This is my favorite Burns and Allen short.
"I don't think you'll last a week" Gosh her delivery was great
The reason George repeats everything is because that's what a straight man does. George explained it many times. "The comedian asks a question, the straight man repeats the question, then waits for the comedian to get the laugh. I did it for so long that one day I was fishing with a friend and he fell overboard...He hollered, "HELP" HELP HELP. I repeated...HELP? HELP? HELP? While I was waiting for him to get his laugh..he drowned.
Did you know that Gracie was originally supposed to be the straight woman? The married team is amazing! One of my favorites.
The duo first teamed up in 1923 following the break up of George’s partnership with straight man Billy Lorraine. Burns later recalled… “ they laughed when she asked the questions and didn’t laugh when I gave the punchline, so I gave her all the jokes.”
George described the function of a straight man was to repeat everything the comic said and then react to the punchline. He wrote all their early material and was the supervising writer the rest of the time.
Happy Birthday in heaven sweet Gracie!
Yes, she's up in heaven with all the wonderful old fashioned stars; Ginger Rogers, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Ruby Keeler, Kathryn Grayson, Janette McDonald, Esther Williams, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Clark Gable, Dick Powell, James Cagney, Frank Sinatra, and George Burns. The world and I misses them all, they were all fabulous and can never be replaced
Gracie is adorable! And when you think about it, she's never wrong, either.
Oh my gosh! George's dry humor and Gracie make me laugh, little wonder they were married!
Ah, but therein lies a tale of how they got married. "Gracie, a Love Story" tells it.
Originally released by Paramount. In his very first monologue on their TV series in 1950, George described one of his duties in being a "straight man" to Gracie: "He must repeat everything the comedian says. For instance, if Gracie should say, 'A funny thing happened on the streetcar today', I say, "A funny thing happened on the streetcar today?'. Naturally, her answer gets a scream, and then I do one of my famous pauses {glances sideways towards proscenium arch}".
No way is Gracie older than George!!! She was younger.....and much prettier! ;-) RIP Gracie!
The "Doctor-Sketch" in the "Sunshine Boys" :-)
I wouldnt have recognized Gracie Allen Here if I didnt know it was a Burns and Allen Movie Good Early Burns and Allen!! George I wouldnt know either, so Young from when they had their TV show! You knowif them for sure by the Skit and Voices.
A woman I'd known for years whi got hooked on the TV series for a while after they started airing it again was surprised to find out that they'd already been stars for about 30 years before they ever decided to do the TV series!
My folks had been huge fans during George & Garcie's movie days & would tell us a little about it each time George did an appearance or a show, but nothing beats actually seeing them perform some of these routines!
That was one of his favorite jokes- he also did it on his first TV show in October 1950, and repeated it in several of his books....
I've seen these shorts, heard and seen most of their radio and TV shows, and read George's various autobiographies. If that doesn't make me an expert on them, 'veggieman', I don't what did!
;)
Chester Clute plays "Doctor Whiffingham".
Chester Clute has been in everyone of these I've seen so far, except for the dance number they did with Fred Astaire, & I wouldn't be surprised to find out he was still somewhere in the movie it came from!
@fromthesidelines How do you know these things?
Septober and Octember! Argh.