Taking a bit of time this holiday season to add some Classic tele to the menu of my Christmas Coffee brew. I couldn't go without dedicating a post to that of 'The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show,' or as my Mom and I called it, simply, "Gracie."
If you are familiar with the husband and wife duo (and what Classic Film/Radio/Tele lover is not, am I right?), you can understand why the show's title got narrowed down to size.
Prior to the network, Antenna TV, bringing this classic back to the tele, I had seen a few reruns for the first time (after hearing so much about it growing up, from my dad), several years ago, not too long after I had graduated from high school. It was aired during the holiday season for a couple of weeks, as some networks seem to do around this time of year. Getting everyone all holiday spirited, only to go back to regular scheduled programming at the stroke of the new year.
|
But thanks to the debut of Antenna TV a few years ago, soon came the birth of "Gracie" on a regular scheduled time, all year round, so it would turn out. We NEVER missed it.
For now, I'll skip the dedication my Mom and I had for the show, as that is a subject I've chatted about often before (for "Radio Memories" read here). This CINEMA COFFEE Chat I want to share with you some "Gracie" recommendations from their tele show and their radio program from where their TV show was birthed, (not forgetting their act itself coming from their even earlier years working the Vaudeville circuit).
PHOTO Credit: Getty Images
I can understand and appreciate those who prefer the Gracie on radio over that of the tele. The literal mind of Gracie does seem to work a better punchline than seeing it "worked out" in full view. Not to mention the guest stars on the radio program, from Cary Grant, Paul Henreid, Clark Gable, James Mason, to Ray Milland! Then again, to be fair, radio had some heavy hitters on a lot of Old Time Radio Programs ... Lux Radio Theater, Screen Guild Theater, 'n Company, I'm lookin' at you.
Yet, I have to say, the introduction of Larry Keating as Blanche's husband made up for any Hollywood A-Lister's they may be lacking on its tele run. For my Mom and I, he was the best Harry Morton of all the Harry Morton's previous.
The actors to portray the character of Harry varied a bit through the years, beginning with Hal March for three months (October to December) in 1950, going to John Brown for six months (January to June) in 1951, sticking until 1953 with Fred Clark, before finally introducing Larry Keating who would remain with the show until 1959, after Gracie had retired from the series all together in 1958.
|
Larry's introduction into the role of Harry Morton came with an announcement from George Burns to the audience, "in character," (as was a part of his character, to break the fourth wall during various moments throughout the show), explaining the change of Harry Morton's character with a brief history of the changes to his character previously. For us, the chemistry between Bea Benaderet's "Blanche Morton," Gracie's faithful friend and wife of Harry Morton, and Larry Keating's "Harry Morton," could have ran a show all its own. Believe me, if your looking for a laugh or a lifted holiday spirit, let me recommend through various links I've found online that we'd watch when aired on Antenna TV as our favorites for a good dose of The Mortons, beginning with these starter episodes:
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: Christmas in Jail
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: The Old Mink Coat (A Christmas Gift)
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: Gracie Thinks She and George Are Moving to New York
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: Harry Morton's Cocktail Party
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: The Burns' and Mortons Going to Hawaii
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: One Week To Live
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: The Romance of Harry Morton and Countess Braganni
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: Gracie Adopts a Great Dane
And as a bonus: Guest Star, Jack Benny
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: The Old Mink Coat (A Christmas Gift)
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: Gracie Thinks She and George Are Moving to New York
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: Harry Morton's Cocktail Party
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: The Burns' and Mortons Going to Hawaii
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: One Week To Live
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: The Romance of Harry Morton and Countess Braganni
The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: Gracie Adopts a Great Dane
And as a bonus: Guest Star, Jack Benny
For those who prefer the radio Gracie, I'm sharing a few links I've found that were listened to at various time through an OTR app I'd play constantly, too with laughs and lifted holiday spirits to share your way too:
GEORGE HAS A COLD: Guest Star, Marlene Dietrich
CARY GRANT SPEAKS TO THE UPLIFTERS: Guest Star, Cary Grant WAR BOND DRIVE: Guest Star, Ray Milland GETTING FRANK SINATRA: Guest Star, Frank Sinatra ALAN LADD MAKING GEORGE JEALOUS: Guest Star, Alan Ladd BRIAN AHERNE'S SHORTS: Guest Star, Brian Aherne JOHN GARFIELD, THE GANGSTER: Guest Star, John Garfield BETTER OFF AS A LAWYER: Guest Star, Claudette Colbert GEORGE IS A BETTER ACTOR THAN CLARK GABLE: Guest Star, Clark Gable |
But before you beginning your watch and listen, be sure to pour:
"Another cup of Maxwell House Coffee, George?"
"Sure, pour me a cup Gracie."
"You know, Maxwell House is always good to the laaaast drop."
"That drop's good too."
Now curl up on the couch and listen or watch a little "Gracie" ... #ForMyMom
"Another cup of Maxwell House Coffee, George?"
"Sure, pour me a cup Gracie."
"You know, Maxwell House is always good to the laaaast drop."
"That drop's good too."
Now curl up on the couch and listen or watch a little "Gracie" ... #ForMyMom
For my other CINEMA COFFEE blog pieces:
#ForMyMom Cinema Coffee ... | COFFEE CINEMA: Talking Streetcar | CINEMA COFFEE: "Et tu, Brute?" | CINEMA COFFEE: "La Chocolaterie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Milk? I loathe milk!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Elderberry Wine ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The choice I never had ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The smell of Mimosa" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Mighty like a Rose" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Don't cry on the rolls" | CINEMA COFFEE: "You're the first Kansas I ever met" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Everybody calls me Gracie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "What the devil are Belinskis?!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Hello friends and enemies." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Stop remindin' me of heaven." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Even Gatsby could happen" | CINEMA COFFEE: "I made a wish" | CINEMA COFFEE: Audie Murphy | CINEMA COFFEE: Put The Blame on Mame | CINEMA COFFEE: "Just Singleton." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Where I Come From, Nobody Knows" | Film Therapy: Coping through Cinema | CINEMA COFFEE: Socks fall down | CINEMA COFFEE: "The moon's reaching for me" | CINEMA COFFEE: The Horne: Luso World Cinema Blogathon | CINEMA COFFEE: Aunt Bettye Lightsy | CINEMA COFFEE: I never lose | CINEMA COFFEE: "I have a mother!" | CINEMA COFFEE: THE SIGN OF GEMINI | CINEMA COFFEE: Venus Rising | CINEMA COFFEE: Stan vs Geek | CINEMA COFFEE: "Positively the same dame"
#ForMyMom Cinema Coffee ... | COFFEE CINEMA: Talking Streetcar | CINEMA COFFEE: "Et tu, Brute?" | CINEMA COFFEE: "La Chocolaterie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Milk? I loathe milk!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Elderberry Wine ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The choice I never had ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The smell of Mimosa" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Mighty like a Rose" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Don't cry on the rolls" | CINEMA COFFEE: "You're the first Kansas I ever met" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Everybody calls me Gracie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "What the devil are Belinskis?!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Hello friends and enemies." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Stop remindin' me of heaven." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Even Gatsby could happen" | CINEMA COFFEE: "I made a wish" | CINEMA COFFEE: Audie Murphy | CINEMA COFFEE: Put The Blame on Mame | CINEMA COFFEE: "Just Singleton." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Where I Come From, Nobody Knows" | Film Therapy: Coping through Cinema | CINEMA COFFEE: Socks fall down | CINEMA COFFEE: "The moon's reaching for me" | CINEMA COFFEE: The Horne: Luso World Cinema Blogathon | CINEMA COFFEE: Aunt Bettye Lightsy | CINEMA COFFEE: I never lose | CINEMA COFFEE: "I have a mother!" | CINEMA COFFEE: THE SIGN OF GEMINI | CINEMA COFFEE: Venus Rising | CINEMA COFFEE: Stan vs Geek | CINEMA COFFEE: "Positively the same dame"