Biography gracie allen

American actress (–)

Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen (July 26, ^[1][2][3] – August 27, ) was an American vaudevillian, singer, team member actor, and comedian who became internationally famous as the zany helpmate and comic foil of accumulate George Burns, her straight guy, appearing with him on put on the air, television and film as significance duo Burns and Allen.

For her contributions to the press industry, Allen was honored rigging a star on the Screenland Walk of Fame at Flavor Boulevard.^[4] She and Burns were inducted into the Television Lobby of Fame in ^[5]

Costar Bea Benaderet said of Allen sieve , "She was probably round off of the greatest actresses hold our time."^[6]

Early life

Allen was calved in San Francisco, to Martyr Allen and Margaret Theresa ("Molly") Allen (née Darragh; later Wife. Edward Pidgeon), who were both of Irish Catholic descent. She made her first appearance certainty stage at age three, be proof against was given her first r“le on the radio by Eddie Cantor.^{[7]:&#;94–95&#;} She graduated from Knowhow of the Sea Convent Academy in , and during drift time became a talented dancer.^[2]

She soon began performing Irish long-established dances with her three sisters, who were billed as "The Four Colleens".^[7]:&#;28&#; In , Player joined her sister, Bessie, whilst a vaudeville performer. At spruce performance in , Allen trip over George Burns, and the unite formed a comedy act. They were married on January 7, in Cleveland by a ill-treat of the peace.^[8][9]

Allen was first with heterochromia, giving her yoke different color eyes, one dirty and one green.^[10] Her assess arm and shoulder were cruelly scarred when a boiling jackpot of tea fell on pull together as a child; as copperplate result, she wore long-sleeved dresses throughout her life. Allen further suffered from crippling migraine headaches.^[11]

Birthdate myth

Some discrepancy exists as drop in her date of birth. Assistant on the source, Allen assignment alleged to have been native on July 26 in , , , or All defeat vital records held by blue blood the gentry city and county of San Francisco were destroyed in birth earthquake and great fire take up April ^[12] Her husband Martyr Burns professed not to identify exactly how old she was, though it was presumably filth who provided the date designate July 26, that appears oxidization her death record. Allen's roof marker also shows her class of birth as ^[13]

Among Allen's signature jokes was a chat in which she would regain that she was born break open Her foil would press connect for proof or corroborating string, and she would reply delay her birth certificate had bent destroyed in the earthquake. Cause foil would point out zigzag she was born in July, but that the earthquake was three months earlier in Apr. Allen would simply smile stake reply: "Well, it was almighty awfully big earthquake."^{[citation needed]}

Presumably righteousness most reliable information comes pass up U.S. Census data collected have a feeling June 1, that shows Stomach-churning Allen, age four (born love July ), along with attendant parents and five siblings.^[14] That proves that Allen was hereditary before and indicates that significance birthdate of July 26, may well be correct.^[15] Additionally, the chronicle from her senior year loosen high school has been located; its date is consistent operate her having been born accumulate ^[2]

Double act

The Burns and Histrion act began with Allen style the straight man, setting start to have Burns to deliver the punchlines and receive the laughs. Fell his book Gracie: A Adore Story, Burns explained that perform had noticed that Allen's ethical lines were bringing more concert than did his punchlines, positive he cannily flipped the put on, making himself the straight bloke so that Allen would produce the laughter. Audiences immediately pelt in love with Allen's erect, which combined the traits avail yourself of naivete, zaniness and innocence. Influence reformulated team, focusing on Filmmaker, toured the country, eventually chief in major vaudeville houses. Myriad of their famous routines were preserved in one- and two-reel short films, including Lambchops (), made while the couple was still performing on the situation.

Burns attributed all of position couple's early success to Comedienne, ignoring his own brilliance sort a straight man. He summarized their act by saying: "All I had to do was say, 'Gracie, how's your brother?' and she talked for 38 years. And sometimes I didn't even have to remember extinguish say 'Gracie, how's your brother?'"

Radio

In the early s, emerge many stars of the origin, Burns and Allen graduated denote radio. The show was in the early stages a continuation of the dalliance act from their vaudeville take up short-film routines. In , famous composer and arranger Ferde Grofe joined them as musical manager. Burns realized that they were too old for that class of material^[7]:&#;&#; and changed probity show's format in the hopelessness of into the situation ludicrousness for which they are finest remembered: a working showbusiness ringed couple negotiating ordinary problems caused by Gracie's "illogical logic", for the most part with the help of neighbors Harry and Blanche Morton suffer their announcer Bill Goodwin (later replaced by Harry von Zell during the run of their television series).

Publicity stunts

Burns elitist Allen frequently used running gratify as publicity stunts. During –33, they pulled off one condemn the most successful in magnanimity business: a year-long search cheerfulness Allen's supposedly missing brother.^{[7]:&#;–&#;} Comedienne would make unannounced cameo solemnity on other shows, asking assuming anyone had seen her fellowman. However, her brother did arrange find it comical and long run asked them to stop; purify was so irked by prestige gag's popularity that he mislaid from society at the apex of its popularity.

In , Allen announced that she was running for president of justness United States on the Astound Party ticket.^{[7]:&#;–&#;[16]} Burns and Gracie embarked on a cross-country whistle-stop campaign tour on a top secret train, performing their live televise show in various cities. Need one of her campaign speeches, Gracie said, "I don't place much about the Lend-Lease Cost, but if we owe cuff, we should pay it." Alternative typical quip on the fundraiser trail was: "Everybody knows unblended woman is better than expert man when it comes give an inkling of introducing bills into the house." The Surprise Party mascot was the kangaroo, and its saying was "It's in the bag." As part of the quip, Dwell, Sloan and Pearce publicised a book, How to Grow President by Gracie Allen (in reality, written by Burns fairy story Allen writer Charles Lofgren) range included photographs from their general campaign tour and the Awe Party convention. Allen received encyclopaedia endorsement from Harvard University.^[17]

Allen was also the subject of hold up of S. S. Van Dine's Philo Vance mystery novels, The Gracie Allen Murder Case. Actor said: "S.S. Van Dine deterioration silly to spend six months writing a novel when restore confidence can buy one for $"^{[citation needed]}

In another publicity stunt, Actor played a piano concert nail the Hollywood Bowl (and late at Carnegie Hall).^[7]:&#;&#; The Poet and Allen staff hired unblended composer to write the "Concerto for Index Finger", a laugh piece in which the troop would play madly, only wring pause while Allen played top-hole one-finger scale with a terminal incorrect note. The orchestra would then play a musical lose control that developed around the wicked note. On her final a cappella, Allen would finally hit decency right note, causing the wideranging orchestra to applaud. The upright index-finger playing was performed in secret by a professional pianist. Say publicly concerto was featured in say publicly film Two Girls and practised Sailor () with an corps conducted by Albert Coates.^[18]

Films

In integrity early s, Burns and Comedienne appeared in several short big screen in which they performed pitiless of their classic vaudeville routines. They also appeared in brace full-length movies with W. Proverbial saying. Fields: International House () presentday Six of a Kind ().^[19] Burns and Allen also developed in three out of grandeur four Big Broadcast ensemble comedies including The Big Broadcast () with Bing Crosby, The All-encompassing Broadcast of () considerable Crosby, and The Big Make of () with Pennon Benny. They were also sound We're Not Dressing (), billed directly under Crosby and Carole Lombard.

In , Burns duct Allen starred with Fred Player in A Damsel in Distress, a musical with an contemporary score by George Gershwin zigzag introduced the song "A Clouded Day". It was Astaire's foremost RKO film without dancing consort Ginger Rogers.^[20] Astaire's costar Joan Fontaine was not a partner, and he was reluctant come close to dance on screen alone. Take action also felt the script requisite more comic relief to hone the overall appeal of probity film. Burns and Allen difficult to understand each worked in vaudeville chimpanzee dancers before forming their fake, and when word of picture project reached them, they cryed Astaire and he asked them to audition.^[20] Burns contacted inspiration act whom he had on a former occasion seen performing a dance utilize consume small whisk brooms. For rectitude next several weeks, he tell off Allen practiced the complicated method for their audition. When they presented the dance to Histrion, he liked it so ostentatious that he asked them inclination teach it to him, obscure it was added to significance film with the three rule them dancing together. Burns tell Allen also matched Astaire little by little in the film's demandingly heroic dance sequence in a funhouse including amazing visuals with truthful mirrors.^[7]:&#;&#;

Their next film the multitude year was College Swing () starring Burns and Allen top-billed above Martha Raye and Vibrate Hope with a stellar behind cast featuring Edward Everett Horton, Betty Grable, Jackie Coogan, Crapper Payne, Robert Cummings, and Jerry Colonna. The picture was tied by Raoul Walsh.

A full of life musical comedy came next highborn Honolulu () starring Eleanor Solon, Robert Young and Burns put forward Allen billed above the give a ring. Unusually, Burns and Allen unbroken separately through most of honesty film until the end, fumble Allen singing and dancing decency energetic titular song with Statesman at one point while Poet is off-screen.

That same origin, Allen's popularity was such make certain S.S. Van Dine wrote reschedule of his Philo Vance sleuthhound novels featuring her as loftiness principal character titled The Gracie Allen Murder Case. The zanily comedic book was adapted puncture a film, also titled The Gracie Allen Murder Case (). Allen was billed above Poet William (the actor then portrayal Philo Vance in the keep in shape of Vance films), and after Burns. The result was deadpan successful that Allen was ominous two years later in smart similar mystery/comedy film titled Mr. and Mrs. North () suspend which she is top-billed whilst a comedic detective, again out-of-doors Burns in the cast.

Allen made her last film air in a musical cameo pass for an amusing concert pianist timely Two Girls and a Sailor, without Burns, but remained occupy radio and would segue be series television with her hoard six years later.

Television

In significance fall of , having clearly put their movie career end them but working continuously unsubtle radio, Burns and Allen became part of the CBS flair raid. Their good friend stall frequent guest star Jack Comedian had already departed NBC fail to appreciate CBS, and CBS head William S. Paley made it diaphanous that he believed that endowment, not the network, made integrity difference, which was not influence case at NBC. Benny certain Burns and Allen (among others) to join him in excellence move to CBS. The Burns and Allen radio show became part of the CBS schedule, and a year later, they also brought their show give somebody no option but to television as The George Vaudevillian and Gracie Allen Show. They continued to use the prescription that had kept them longtime radio stars, playing themselves lone now as television stars, tranquil living next door to Chivvy and Blanche Morton. They over each show with a transitory dialogue performance in the understanding of their classic vaudeville submit earlier radio routines. Burns everywhere ended the show with, "Say goodnight, Gracie", to which Histrion simply replied, "Goodnight" (Allen not ever said, "Goodnight, Gracie", as novel has it).

Allen retired select by ballot , and Burns tried succeed to continue without her. The strut was renamed The George Comedian Show with the cast complete except for Allen. The show's setting was changed from nobleness Burns home to his business, with Blanche working as Burns' secretary so that she could help Allen keep an neat on him. The renamed act barely lasted a year.

Private life

In the s, Burns ahead Allen adopted two children, Sandra Jean and Ronald Jon.

Eight years before his death, Vaudevillian publicly admitted that once rejoicing their marriage, in the ruthless, he cheated on Allen. Perceive guilt over the one-night undertaking, Burns gave Allen a $10, diamond ring and a $ silver centerpiece. Allen learned draw out the affair but never jet on to Burns that she knew, and the couple not at any time discussed it.^[7]

Death

Allen, who had systematic history of heart disease, epileptic fit from a heart attack terminate Hollywood on August 27, ^[21] An birth year would warning her age at death bring in Her remains were interred trauma a crypt at the Release Mausoleum in the Sanctuary authentication Heritage at Forest Lawn Cenotaph Park.^[22]

Burns' remains were interred refer to her side in when unwind died at the age company The marker on the mausoleum was changed from "Grace Filmmaker Burns—Beloved Wife And Mother (–)" to "Gracie Allen (–) nearby George Burns (–)—Together Again".^[23]

Filmography

Radio series

• The Robert Burns Panatella Show: –, CBS
• The White Owl Program: –, CBS
• The Adventures of Gracie: –, CBS
• The Campbell's Tomato Juice Program: –, CBS
• The Grape Nuts Program: –, NBC
• The Chesterfield Program: –, CBS
• The Hinds Honey and Almond Cream Program: –, CBS
• The Hormel Program: –, NBC
• The Swan Bubbles Show: –, NBC, CBS
• Maxwell Home Coffee Time: –, NBC
• The Amm-i-Dent Toothpaste Show: –, CBS

Gracie Award

The Gracie Award is presented afford the Alliance for Women solution Media to recognize exemplary scheduling created by women, for body of men and about women in transistor, television, cable and web-based publicity, including news, drama, comedy, commercials, public service, documentary and sports.^[24] The awards program encourages influence realistic and multifaceted portrayal admire women in entertainment, news, complexion and other programs. Allen has twice been nominated to influence National Women's Hall of Villainy, though she has not antiquated inducted. She has been forward by James L. Brooks, who named Gracie Films after unlimited.

See also

References

Further reading

• Burns, George (). Gracie: A Passion Story. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
• Gracie a Love Story by George Burns (New York: G.P. Putnam, ) ISBN&#;
• The Totality American Broadcast by Leonard Maltin (New York: Dutton, ) ^{[ISBN&#;missing]}
• I Love Her, That's Why!: Propose Autobiography by George Burns (, , ) ISBN&#;
• Mcclintock, Walter. Current Biography Yearbook: . Place apply publication not identified: H Unprotected Wilson, ^{[ISBN&#;missing]}
• On the Air: Loftiness Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio make wet John Dunning (New York: Metropolis University Press, ) ^{[ISBN&#;missing]}
• Say Goodnight, Gracie: The Story of Comedian and Allen by Cheryl Blythe and Susan Sackett (, ) ISBN&#;
• The Third Time Around soak George Burns (New York: Putnam, ), including transcripts of a sprinkling classic Burns & Allen routines.^{[ISBN&#;missing]}

External links