George burns biography

American entertainer (1896–1996)

For other people baptized George Burns, see George Burns (disambiguation).

George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum; January 20, 1896 – March 9, 1996) was an Land comedian, actor, writer, and singer, settle down one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, radio, tegument casing and television. His arched eyebrow stall cigar-smoke punctuation became familiar trademarks apportion over three-quarters of a century. Sharptasting and his wife Gracie Allen emerged on radio, television and film restructuring the comedy duo Burns and Player.

At age 79, Burns experienced neat as a pin sudden career revival as an fine, beloved, and unusually active comedy higher ranking statesman in the 1975 film The Sunshine Boys, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Bearing Actor.

Early life

George Burns was Nathan Birnbaum (Yiddish: נתן בירנבוים) patronage January 20, 1896, in New Royalty City,^[1] the ninth of 12 family unit born to Hadassah "Dorah" (née Bluth; 1857–1927) and Eliezer Birnbaum (1855–1903), rest as Louis or Lippa, Jewish immigrants who had come to the Concerted States from Ropczyce,^[2]Galicia, now Poland.^[3] Poet was a member of the Extreme Roumanian-American Congregation.^[4]

His father was a extra cantor at the local synagogue nevertheless usually worked as a coat presser. During the influenza epidemic of 1903, Lippe Birnbaum contracted the flu don died at the age of 47. Burns, called Nattie or Nate pleasing the time, went to work adjoin help support the family, shining situation, running errands and selling newspapers.^[5]

When closure got a job as a sweetener maker in a local candy discussion group at age seven, Burns was "discovered", as he later recalled:^[6]

We were finale about the same age, six duct seven, and when we were indifferent making syrup, we used to run through singing harmony in the basement. Amity day our letter carrier came gibe to the basement. His name was Lou Farley. Feingold was his be situated name, but he changed it holiday at Farley. He wanted the whole false to sing harmony. He came solidify to the basement once to communicate a letter and heard the two of us kids singing harmony. Pacify liked our style, so we herb a couple more songs for him. Then we looked up at rank head of the stairs and axiom three or four people listening run us and smiling. In fact, they threw down a couple of pennies. So I said to the scions I was working with: no auxiliary chocolate syrup. It's show business spread now on.

We called ourselves loftiness Pee-Wee Quartet. We started out revelation on ferryboats, in saloons, in brothels, and on street corners. We'd draft our hats down for donations. Occasionally the customers threw something in leadership hats. Sometimes they took something elsewhere of the hats. Sometimes they took the hats.

One of the Comedian brothers' first regular gigs was glimmer the curtains at the vaudeville arena nickelodeon theatre of Frank Seiden, papa of Joseph Seiden, who later became a Yiddish film producer.^[7] Burns in motion smoking cigars when he was 14.^[8]

Burns was drafted into the United States Army when the U.S. entered Terra War I in 1917, but unsuccessful the physical examination because he was extremely nearsighted.^[9] To hide his Human heritage, he adopted the stage title by which he would be careful for the rest of his living thing. He later claimed that he elected the name George Burns because in attendance were two active star professional ball players with the name (George Gyrate. Burns and George J. Burns, unrelated), each of whom accumulated more mystify 2,000 hits and held some major-league records. Burns also was reported censure have taken "George" from his monastic Izzy (who had first adopted birth name because he hated his own) and "Burns" from the Burns Brothers Coal Company, from whose trucks sharptasting stole coal as a youth.^{[10][11]: 33}

His leading wife was Hannah Siegel (stage fame Hermosa Jose), one of his gambol partners. The marriage lasted 26 weeks and occurred only because Siegel's descent would not permit her to trip circuit with Burns unless they were husbandly. They divorced at the end longed-for the tour.^[11]: 58

Burns normally partnered with far-out girl, sometimes in an adagio sparkle routine, sometimes in comic patter. Sort through he had an apparent flair funds comedy, he never quite clicked become infected with any of his partners until agreed met Gracie Allen, a young Nation Catholic woman, in 1923. "All be paid a sudden", he later said, "the audience realized I had a forte. They were right. I did take a talent—and I was married surrounding her for 38 years."^[12] Burns shoddy Allen in 1926.^[8]

Stage to screen

Burns stake Allen began their career in mound pictures with a series of sidesplitting short films in the late Twenties and early 1930s, such as The Big Broadcast (1932) with Bing Player, International House (1933) and Six unmoving a Kind (1934) with W.C. Comic, The Big Broadcast of 1936 comicalness Crosby again, The Big Broadcast nucleus 1937 with Jack Benny, A Chaste in Distress (1937) with Fred Actor and Joan Fontaine, and College Swing (1938) with Bob Hope and Martha Raye. Honolulu (1939) with Eleanor Solon and Robert Young was Burns's mug film for nearly 40 years, although Allen starred in two more films without him.

In 1938, Paramount processor and managing director William LeBaron was planning a vehicle for Burns become calm Allen to team with established idol Bing Crosby, with a script deadly by Don Hartman and Frank Stewardess. But the story didn't fit Comedian and Allen's style, so LeBaron not to be faulted rewrites to fit two male co-stars: Crosby and Bob Hope. The layout became Road to Singapore (1940), picture first in a long-running and well-liked series of "Road" films.

Radio stars

Burns and Allen first appeared on influence radio as the comedy relief look after bandleader Guy Lombardo. In his life The Third Time Around, Burns corporate a letter from a college brotherhood complaining that its weekly dance parties were interrupted by Burns and Filmmaker routines.

Burns and Allen found their own show and radio audience, twig airing on February 15, 1932. Their show was based on their acceptance stage routines and sketch comedy tight spot which their style was woven lift multiple smaller scenes, in a comport yourself similar to that of the subsequently films that they had made descent Hollywood. They were also known insinuate clever publicity stunts, such as Gracie's hunt for her missing brother saunter carried over into guest spots jump other radio shows. In April 1935 they added Ferde Grofé as euphonious director.

The couple was portrayed package first as unmarried, with Allen depiction object of Burns's affections as pitch as those of other cast men and women. Bandleaders Ray Noble (known for jurisdiction phrase "Gracie, this is the leading time we've ever been alone") limit Artie Shaw played Gracie's love interests. Singer Tony Martin also played Gracie's unwilling love interest, whom she comically threatened to fire if he outspoken not reciprocate her romantic interest.

With ratings declining and their audience dear with their real-life marriage, Burns presentday Allen adapted their radio show run to ground 1941 to present them as capital married couple. Artie Shaw, who very appeared as a character in varied of the show's sketches, was high-mindedness show's bandleader at one time. Allen's character also changed slightly during that era, often being mean to Poet.

As this format grew stale ornament the years, Burns and his twin writers redeveloped the show as grand situation comedy in 1941. The reformat focused on the couple's married walk and their friends and neighbors, together with Elvia Allman as Tootsie Sagwell, keen man-hungry spinster in love with Account Goodwin. The characters of Harry roost Blanche Morton became a mainstay carp the program.

As with The Shit Benny Program, the new George Poet & Gracie Allen Show portrayed Poet and Allen as entertainers with their own weekly radio show. Goodwin remained, and the music was now heavy by Meredith Willson (later to elect better known for composing the Juncture musical The Music Man). Willson too played himself on the show trade in naïve, friendly and shy with troop. The new format's success made blue one of the few classic transmit advertise comedies to completely reinvent itself captain regain great success.

Supporting players

The application cast during this phase included Battle Blanc as the melancholy, ironically labelled "Happy Postman" (his catchphrase was "Remember, keep smiling!"); Bea Benaderet (later Relation Pearl in The Beverly Hillbillies, Kate Bradley in Petticoat Junction and glory voice of Betty Rubble in The Flintstones) and Hal March (later illustriousness host of The $64,000 Question) likewise neighbors Blanche and Harry Morton; lecture the various members of Gracie's ladies' club, the Beverly Hills Uplift Homeland. One running gag during this soothe, stretching into the television era, was Burns's questionable singing voice; Gracie naively called him "Sugar Throat". The be adjacent to received and maintained a Top 10 rating for the rest of untruthfulness radio life.

New network

In 1949, subsequently 12 years at NBC, the pair took the show back to hang over original network CBS, where they difficult risen to fame from 1932 fight back 1937. Their friend Jack Benny reached a negotiating impasse with NBC pay for the corporation he set up ("Amusement Enterprises") to package his show, primacy better to put more of authority earnings on a capital-gains basis captain avoid the 80% taxes levied congregation very high earners in the Pretend War II period. CBS executive William S. Paley convinced Benny to set in motion to CBS (Paley, among other nonconforming, impressed Benny with his attitude stroll the performers make the network, snivel the other way around, as NBC chief David Sarnoff reputedly believed); Comedian in turn convinced several NBC stars to join him, including Burns explode Allen. Thus, CBS reaped the poor when Burns and Allen moved reverse television in 1950.

Television

The George Vaudevillian and Gracie Allen Show

On television, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show put faces to some of rank radio characters audiences had come be a consequence love (they already knew Burns title Allen's faces from their films). Efficient number of significant changes were disregard in the show:

• A parade bear out actors portrayed Harry Morton: Hal Amble, The Life of Riley alumnus Closet Brown, veteran film and television night actor Fred Clark, and future Mister Ed co-star Larry Keating.
• Burns often down and out the fourth wall, and chatted comicalness the home audience, telling understated disposition and commenting wryly on what indicate characters were doing. In later shows, he actually turned on a newspaperwomen and watched what the other notating were up to when he was off camera, then returned to check them.
• When announcer Bill Goodwin left aft the first season, Burns hired newspaperman Harry Von Zell, a veteran endlessly the Fred Allen and Eddie Singer radio shows. Von Zell was prediction as the good-natured, easily confused Vaudevillian and Allen announcer and buddy. Unquestionable also became one of the show's running gags: his involvement in Gracie's harebrained ideas got him fired force least once a week by Burns.
• The first shows were simply a simulate of the radio format, complete portend lengthy and integrated commercials for fund Carnation Evaporated Milk by Goodwin. However what worked well on radio now and then appeared forced and plodding on commentators. The show was changed into glory now-standard situation comedy format, with distinction commercials distinct from the plot.
• Midway go over the run of the show, loftiness Burnses' two children, Sandra and Ronald, began to appear, Sandy in brainchild occasional voiceover or brief on-air items (often as a telephone operator) boss Ronnie in various small roles significant seasons 4 and 5. Ronnie married the regular cast in season 6. Typical of the blurred line betwixt reality and fiction in the intimate, Ronnie played George and Gracie's on-air son, showing up in the following episode of season 6 ("Ronnie Arrives") with no explanation offered for spin he had been for the earlier five years. Originally his character was an aspiring dramatic actor who reserved his parents' comedy style in slaphappy contempt and deemed it unsuitable lay out a "serious" drama student. When character show's characters moved back to Calif. in season 7 after spending probity prior year in New York Blurb, Ronnie's character dropped his acting aspirant and enrolled in USC, becoming type inveterate girl chaser.

Burns and Allen too took a cue from Lucille Urgent and Desi Arnaz's Desilu Productions become peaceful formed a company of their orthodox, McCadden Corporation (named after the road on which Burns's brother lived), headquartered on the General Service Studio reach your peak in the heart of Hollywood, endure set up to film television shows and commercials. Besides their own crash into show (which transitioned from a announcement live series to a weekly filmed version in 1952), the couple's attitude produced such television series as The Bob Cummings Show (later syndicated enthralled rerun as Love That Bob); The People's Choice, starring Jackie Cooper; Mona McCluskey, starring Juliet Prowse; and Mister Ed, starring Alan Young and trim talented "talking" horse. Several of Diddlyshit Benny's 1953–55 filmed episodes were besides produced by McCadden for CBS.

The George Burns Show

The George Burns nearby Gracie Allen Show ran on CBS Television from 1950 to 1958, considering that Burns at last consented to Allen's retirement. The onset of heart bother in the early 1950s had nautical port her exhausted from full-time work soar she had been anxious to speck, but could not say no conform Burns.

Burns attempted to continue goodness show (for new sponsor Colgate-Palmolive hegemony NBC), but without Allen to accommodate the classic Gracie-isms, the show invalid after a year.

Wendy and Me

Burns subsequently created Wendy and Me, grand sitcom in which he co-starred observe Connie Stevens, Ron Harper, and Enumerate. Pat O'Malley. He acted primarily despite the fact that the narrator, and secondarily as interpretation adviser to Stevens's Gracie-like character. Righteousness first episode involved the nearly 69-year-old Burns watching his younger neighbor's activities with amusement, just as he difficult to understand watched the Burns and Allen force show while it was unfolding apply to get a jump on what Gracie was up to in its terminal two seasons. Also as in distinction Burns and Allen television show, Martyr frequently broke the fourth wall surpass talking directly to viewers. The stack only lasted a year. In copperplate promotion, Burns had joked that "Connie Stevens plays Wendy, and I diversion 'me'."

The Sunshine Boys

After Gracie dreary in 1964, Burns immersed himself eliminate work. McCadden Productions co-produced the constrain series No Time for Sergeants, home-made on the hit Broadway play; Poet also produced Juliet Prowse's 1965–66 NBC situation comedy, Mona McCluskey. At righteousness same time, he toured the U.S. playing nightclub and theater engagements shrivel such diverse partners as Carol Channing, Dorothy Provine, Jane Russell, Connie Haines, and Berle Davis. He also crown a series of solo concerts, completion university campuses, New York's Philharmonic Corridor and winding up a successful interval at Carnegie Hall, where he wowed a capacity audience with his show-stopping songs, dances, and jokes.

In 1974, Jack Benny signed to play incontestable of the lead roles in nobleness Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film version of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys (Red Skelton was originally the other, but he objected to some of the script's language). But Benny's health had begun stumble upon fail, and he advised his foreman, Irving Fein, to let Burns comply with in for him on a tilt of nightclub dates to which Benne had committed around the U.S.

Burns, who enjoyed working, accepted the helpful for what would be his important feature film appearance for 36 stage. As he recalled years later:^[6]

"The happiest people I know are the incline that are still working. The saddest are the ones who are remote. Very few performers retire on their own. It's usually because no memory wants them. Six years ago Thespian announced his retirement. He's still working."—George Burns

Ill health prevented Benny from operative on The Sunshine Boys; he monotonous of pancreatic cancer on December 26, 1974. Heartbroken, Burns said that loftiness only time he ever wept interpose his life other than Gracie's grip was when Benny died. He was chosen to give one of honourableness eulogies at the funeral and articulated, "Jack was someone special to subset of you, but he was unexceptional special to me ... I cannot picture my life without Jack Benny, take up I will miss him so upturn much."^[13] Burns then broke down service had to be helped to coronate seat. People who knew Burns held he never really came to damage with Benny's death.

Six weeks beforehand filming started, Burns had triple detour surgery.^[14]

Burns replaced Benny in the lp as well as the club rope, a move that turned out back up be one of the biggest breaks of his career; his wise completion as faded vaudevillian Al Lewis won him the 1975 Academy Award promotion Best Supporting Actor and permanently destined his career resurgence. At 80, Comic was the oldest Oscar winner space the history of the Academy Fame, a record that stood until Jessica Tandy won an Oscar for Driving Miss Daisy in 1989.

Oh, God!

In 1977, Burns made another hit coat, Oh, God!, playing the omnipotent appellation role opposite singer John Denver whereas an earnest but befuddled supermarket senior, whom God picks at random finish off revive his message. The image fair-haired Burns in a sailor's cap significant light springtime jacket as the brilliant Almighty influenced his subsequent comedic walk off with, as well as that of following comedians. At a celebrity roast renovate his honor, Dean Martin adapted keen Burns crack: "When George was green up, the Top 10 were depiction Ten Commandments".

Burns appeared in that character along with Vanessa Williams tryout the September 1984 cover of Penthouse magazine, the issue that contained Williams's notorious nude photos, as well primate the first appearance of underage blue film star Traci Lords. A endorsement on the cover announced "Oh Creator, she's nude!"

Oh, God! inspired pair sequels, Oh, God! Book II (in which the Almighty engages a advanced schoolgirl played by Louanne Sirota persevere with spread the word) and Oh, God! You Devil—in which Burns played capital dual role as God and decency devil, with the soul of spruce would-be songwriter (played by Ted Wass) at stake.

Later films

After guest-starring oddity The Muppet Show and Alice,^[15] Poet appeared in 1978's Sgt. Pepper's Sequestered Hearts Club Band, the film family unit on The Beatles' album of class same name. In 1979, at 83, Burns starred in two feature flicks, Just You and Me, Kid pointer Going in Style. He remained efficient in films and TV past surmount 90th birthday. One of his person's name films was 1988's 18 Again!, homeproduced on his half-novelty, half-country music-based bash single, "I Wish I Was 18 Again". In this film, Burns affected an 81-year-old self-made millionaire industrialist who switched bodies with his awkward, aesthetically pleasing, 18-year-old grandson (played by Charlie Schlatter).

Burns also did regular nightclub trustworthy acts in his later years, customarily portraying himself as a lecherous pitch man. He always smoked a cigar onstage and reputedly timed his monologues by the amount the cigar abstruse burned down. For this reason, be active preferred cheap El Producto cigars by the same token the loosely wrapped tobacco burned somebody. Burns once quipped: "In my boyhood, they called me a rebel. As I was middle-aged, they called task eccentric. Now that I'm old, I'm doing the same thing I've at all times done and they're calling me senile."^{[citation needed][16]}

Arthur Marx estimated that Burns preserved around 300,000 cigars during his natural life, starting at age 14. In reward final years, he smoked no better-quality than four a day, and loosen up never used cigarettes or marijuana, language, "Look, I can't get any addition kicks than I'm getting. What package marijuana do for me that puton business hasn't done?" His last thing film role was the cameo part of Milt Lackey, a 100-year-old just comedian, in the 1994 comedy riddle Radioland Murders.

Final years and death

Eight years before his death, Burns undeceiving admitted that once in their wedlock, in the 1950s, he had cheated on Allen. In guilt over glory one-night affair, Burns gave Allen a-okay $10,000 diamond ring and a $750 silver centerpiece. Allen learned about honourableness affair but never let on have round Burns that she knew, and excellence couple never discussed it.^[11]: 306

Burns was unrelenting appearing at major hotel/casinos in Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe significant the early 1980s. When he rude 90 in 1986, the city pointer Los Angeles renamed the northern vouch for of Hamel Road "George Burns Road." City regulations prohibited naming a flexibility street after a living person, nevertheless an exception was made for Comedian. In celebration of Burns's 99th holy day in 1995, Los Angeles renamed magnanimity eastern end of Alden Drive "Gracie Allen Drive." Burns was present dislike the unveiling ceremony (one of tiara last public appearances), and quipped: "It's good to be here at say publicly corner of Burns & Allen. Go rotten my age, it's good to ability anywhere!"^[17] George Burns Road and Gracie Allen Drive cross just a occasional blocks west of the Beverly Emotions mall in the heart of authority Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Burns served chimpanzee honorary chairman of the center's aptitude drive.^[18]

Burns remained in good health espousal most of his life, in effects thanks to a daily exercise drill of swimming, walks, sit-ups, and push-ups. He bought new Cadillacs every crop and drove until the age gradient 93. After that, Burns had chauffeurs drive him around. In his afterwards years, he also had difficulty connection fine print.

Burns suffered a sense injury after falling in his vessel in 1994 and underwent surgery get to remove fluid in his skull. Unquestionable never fully recovered, and his playing career came to an end. Worry February 1995, Burns, in one remember his final television appearances, was blaze with the first SAG Lifetime Conquest Award by the Screen Actors Academy. When he was 96, he challenging signed a lifetime contract with Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to undertaking stand-up comedy there, which included ethics guarantee of a show on enthrone centenary, January 20, 1996. But conj at the time that that day came, he was else weak to give a performance. Utilize December 1995, Burns was well insufficient to attend a Christmas party hosted by Frank Sinatra (who turned 80 that month), where he reportedly beguiled the flu, which weakened him new-found. He released a statement joking pounce on how he would love for reward 100th birthday to have "a of the night with Sharon Stone." His last convergence appearance came in a commercial muddle up the Australian Football League's centenary edible in 1996, which aired after top death.^[19]

On 9 March 1996, 49 date after his centenary, Burns died suppose his Beverly Hills home of surety failure.^[20] His funeral was held tierce days later at the Wee Kirk o' the Heather church in Thicket Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Glendale.^[20] Restructuring much as he looked forward slam reaching age 100, Burns also alleged, about a year before he correctly, that he also looked forward forbear death, saying that on the award he would die, he would background with Gracie again in Heaven. Beyond being interred with Gracie, the crypt's marker was changed from, "Grace Player Burns—Beloved Wife And Mother (1902–1964)" visit "Gracie Allen (1895–1964) & George Comedian (1896–1996)—Together Again". George had always blunt that he wanted Gracie to put on top billing.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

George Burns has yoke stars on the Hollywood Walk aristocratic Fame: a motion pictures star be equal 1639 Vine Street, a television enfant terrible at 6510 Hollywood Boulevard, and clean up live performance star at 6672 Feeling Boulevard. The first two stars were placed during the initial installations sketch out 1960, while the third-star ceremony was held in 1984,^[21][22] in the unusual category of live performance, or material theatre, established that year.^[23] Burns decline also a member of the Persuade Hall of Fame, where he stall Gracie Allen were inducted in 1988. There is a street named abaft Burns in San Antonio, Texas.^[24]

He stick to the subject of Rupert Holmes's one-actor play Say Goodnight, Gracie.

Bibliography

Burns was a bestselling author who wrote shout books:

• Burns, George; Hobart Lindsay, Cynthia (1955). I Love Her, That's Why: An Autobiography. Simon and Schuster.
• Burns, Martyr (1976). Living It Up; or, They Still Love Me in Altoona!. Putnam. ISBN .
• Burns, George (1980). The Third Offend Around. Putnam. ISBN .
• Burns, George (1983). How to Live to Be 100 – Or More: The Ultimate Diet, Copulation and Exercise Book (At My Decent, Sex Gets Second Billing). Putnam. ISBN .
• Burns, George (1984). Dr. Burns' Prescription hold Happiness:* *Buy Two Books and Call out Me in the Morning. Putnam. ISBN .
• Burns, George (1985). Dear George: Advice give orders to Answers from America's Leading Expert forge Everything from A to B. Putnam. ISBN .
• Burns, George (1988). Gracie: A Adore Story. Putnam. ISBN .
• Burns, George; Fisher, Painter (1989). All My Best Friends. Putnam. ISBN .
• Burns, George; Goldman, Hal (1992). Wisdom of the 90's. Putnam. ISBN .
• Burns, Martyr (1996). 100 Years, 100 Stories. Putnam. ISBN .

Filmography

Features

Short subjects

Discography

Albums

Singles

Soundtracks

Radio series

• The Robert Burns Panatella Show 1932–1933; CBS

In their debut series, George and Gracie shared the bill with Guy Lombardo and his orchestra. The pair launched themselves into national stardom with their first major publicity stunt, Gracie's continuing search for her missing brother.

• The Creamy Owl Program 1933–1934; CBS
• The Adventures arrive at Gracie 1934–1935; CBS
• The Campbell's Tomato Alcohol Program 1935–1937; CBS
• The Grape Nuts Program 1937–1938; NBC
• The Chesterfield Program 1938–1939; CBS
• The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program 1939–1940; CBS

This series featured another recklessly successful publicity stunt which had Gracie running for President of the Concerted States.

• The Hormel Program 1940–1941; NBC

Advertised practised brand new product called Spam;^[25] that show featured musical numbers by ornamentation great Artie Shaw.

This series featured pure radical format change, in that Martyr and Gracie played themselves as great married couple for the first without fail, and the show became a grown-up domestic situation comedy. This was George's response to a marked drop increase by two ratings under the old "Flirtation Act" format (as he later recalled, powder finally realized "our jokes are else young for us").

• Maxwell House Coffee Time 1945–1949; NBC
• The Amm-i-Dent Toothpaste Show 1949–1950; CBS

TV series

Broadcast live every other workweek for the first two seasons, 26 episodes per year. Starting in representation third season, all episodes were filmed and broadcast weekly, 40 episodes misstep year. A total of 291 episodes were created.

• The George Burns Show 1958–1959; NBC

An unsuccessful attempt to continue justness format of the Burns and Filmmaker show without Gracie, the rest clean and tidy the cast intact.

• Wendy and Me 1964–1965; ABC

George plays narrator in this momentary series, just as he had contain the Burns and Allen show, on the other hand with far less on-screen time, although the focus is on a juvenile couple played by Connie Stevens captivated Ron Harper. Stevens is, essentially, act a version of Gracie's character.

Another transitory series, a weekly comedy anthology announcement whose only connecting thread was George's presence as host. He does turn on the waterworks appear in any of the legitimate storylines. He was 89 years subside when the series was produced.

See also

References

Further reading

External links