Editing George Burns (section)

== Radio stars ==
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Burns and Allen first appeared on the radio as the comedy relief for bandleader [[Guy Lombardo]]. In his memoir ''The Third Time Around'', Burns shared a letter from a college fraternity complaining that its weekly dance parties were interrupted by Burns and Allen routines.

Burns and Allen found their own show and radio audience, first airing on February 15, 1932. Their show was based on their classic stage routines and sketch comedy in which their style was woven into multiple smaller scenes, in a manner similar to that of the short films that they had made in Hollywood. They were also known for clever publicity stunts, such as Allen's hunt for her missing brother that carried over into guest spots on other radio shows. In April 1935 they added [[Ferde Grofé]] as musical director.

The couple was portrayed at first as unmarried, with Allen the object of Burns's affections as well as those of other cast members. Bandleaders [[Ray Noble (musician)|Ray Noble]] (known for his phrase "Gracie, this is the first time we've ever been alone") and [[Artie Shaw]] played Allen's love interests. Singer [[Tony Martin (entertainer)|Tony Martin]] also played Allen's unwilling love interest, whom she comically threatened to fire if he did not reciprocate her romantic interest.

With ratings declining and their audience familiar with their real-life marriage, Burns and Allen adapted their radio show in 1941 to present them as a married couple. [[Artie Shaw]], who also appeared as a character in some of the show's sketches, was the show's bandleader at one time. Allen's character also changed slightly during this era, often being mean to Burns.

As this format grew stale over the years, Burns and his fellow writers redeveloped the show as a [[Sitcom|situation comedy]] in 1941. The reformat focused on the couple's married life and their friends and neighbors, including [[Elvia Allman]] as Tootsie Sagwell, a man-hungry spinster in love with [[Bill Goodwin]]. The characters of Harry and Blanche Morton became a mainstay of the program.

As with ''[[The Jack Benny Program]]'', the new ''George Burns & Gracie Allen Show'' portrayed Burns and Allen as entertainers with their own weekly radio show. Goodwin remained, and the music was now led by [[Meredith Willson]] (later to be better known for composing the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] musical ''[[The Music Man]]''). Willson also played himself on the show as naïve, friendly and shy with women. The new format's success made it one of the few classic radio comedies to completely reinvent itself and regain great success.

=== Supporting players ===
The supporting cast during this phase included [[Mel Blanc]] as the melancholy, ironically named "Happy Postman" (his catchphrase was "Remember, keep smiling!"); [[Bea Benaderet]] (later Cousin Pearl in ''[[The Beverly Hillbillies]]'', Kate Bradley in ''[[Petticoat Junction]]'' and the voice of [[Betty Rubble]] in ''[[The Flintstones]]'') and [[Hal March]] (later the host of ''[[The $64,000 Question]]'') as neighbors Blanche and Harry Morton; and the various members of Allen's ladies' club, the Beverly Hills Uplift Society. One running gag during this period, stretching into the television era, was Burns's questionable singing voice; Allen lovingly called him "Sugar Throat". The show received and maintained a Top 10 rating for the rest of its radio life.

=== New network ===
In 1949, after 12 years at [[NBC]], the couple took the show back to its original network [[CBS]], where they had risen to fame from 1932 to 1937. Their friend [[Jack Benny]] reached a negotiating impasse with NBC over the corporation he set up ("Amusement Enterprises") to package his show, the better to put more of his earnings on a capital-gains basis and avoid the 80% taxes levied on very high earners in the World War II period. CBS executive [[William S. Paley]] convinced Benny to move to CBS (Paley, among other things, impressed Benny with his attitude that the performers make the network, not the other way around, as NBC chief [[David Sarnoff]] reputedly believed); Benny in turn convinced several NBC stars to join him, including Burns and Allen. Thus, CBS reaped the benefits when Burns and Allen moved to television in 1950.