The Burns and Allen Show TV Show

When The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, aka , began on CBS Television October 12, 1950, it was an immediate success. The show was originally staged live before a studio audience (during its first three months, it originated from the Mansfield Theatre in New York, then relocated to CBS' Columbia Square facilities in Los Angeles). Ever the businessman, Burns realized it would be more efficient to do the series on film (beginning in the fall of 1952); the half-hour episodes could then be syndicated. From that point on, the show was shot without a live audience present, however, each 
installment would be screened before an audience to provide live responses prior to the episodes being broadcast. 

After the live series ended, the shows were filmed at General Service Studios. The sets were designed to look like their real-life residence, often using an establishing shot of the actual house at 312 Maple Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Although extensively remodeled, that house still exists today—including the study over the garage where George would "escape" from Gracie's illogical logic. Burns lived in that house for the rest of his life.

One running gag of the TV show involved a closet full of hats belonging to various visitors to the Burns household; guests would slip out the door unnoticed, leaving their hats behind, rather than face another round with Gracie. The format had George watching all the action (standing outside the proscenium arch in early live episodes; watching the show on TV in his study towards the end of the series) and breaking the fourth wall by commenting upon it to the viewers. Another running gag was George's weekly "firing" of announcer Harry Von Zell after he turned up aiding, abetting or otherwise not stopping the mayhem prompted by Gracie's illogical logic.


EPISODES IN THIS GREAT SET.

1 The Kleebob Card Game 
3 The Property Tax Assessor 
4 Harry Morton's Private Secretary 
5 Gracie's Checking Account 
7 Rumba Lessons 
8 Happy Hmm-Hmm 
12 The Income Tax Man 
16 Emily Vanderlip Stays with the Burns's 
21 Too Much of the Morton's 
23 Gracie and Blanche Become Vegetarians 
26 Gracie Throws a Wedding 
28 Beverly Hills Uplift Society 
33 Christmas with Mamie Kelly 
39 Gracie Loses her Engagement Ring 
42 Jack Benny Steals George's Joke 
44 George Tries to Write a Speech 
45 The Fortune Teller 
53 Wardrobe Woman's Trip to Hawaii 
54 Dinner Party for Atomic Scientist 
55 Gracie Worries about George's Sneezing 
56 Buying a Boat 
58 Gracie and Blanche Hire Gigolos 
59 Ballet Tickets 
60 The Skating Pierson's 
61 Harry Thinks about Silky Thompson 
63 Gracie Thinks George is Going to Commit Suicide 
64 VonZell Dates a Married Woman 
65 Uncle Clyde 
66 Gracie Thinks Harry is in Love with Her 
67 Harry Wants to Trade his House 
68 We're Not Married (with Jack Benny) 
69 Mayor Bowrin Comes to Dinner 
70 Georgie Jessel and the Cigarette Girl 
71 Gracie on a Train-Murder 
72 Gracie Tries to Marry off Von Zell 
73 Swamp Party 
74 Up All Night-Burglar 
75 Buying a Ranch 
76 George in the Army 
77 Gracie Reports the Car Stolen 
78 Gracie Pretends She's a College Boy's Mother 
79 Buying a Mountain Cabin 
80 The Missing Fur Stole 
81 Spanish Lessons 
82 The Black Eye Fraternity 
57 Gracie has George's Portrait Painted 
83 Von Zell's Old Girlfriend Visits 
86 Surprise Party Mix up 
87 Cousins Perry and Pete 
88 Gracie Thinks George is Going Solo 
90 Gracie Witnesses a Holdup 
91 Locked Out of the House 
92 Gracie Falls in a Department Store 
93 The Iron Deer 
94 Gracie Helps Harry Get a New Account 
95 Gracie Gets a Jury Summons 
96 Gracie Thinks Blanche is a Kleptomaniac 
97 George and Harry are Mad at Each Other 
98 Getting a Business Manager 
99 The Raccoon Coats 
100 Gracie Thinks Von Zell is Broke 
102 Gracie Trades the House 
103 George and Gracie go to a Movie Premiere 
104 Gracie Tries to Earn More Than George 
106 Uncle Harvey's Growth Formula 
107 Visitor From London 
108 Gracie Tells the Papers George Beats Her 
109 Gracie Discovers George's Secret Weakness 
110 Gracie Sells the Car 
111 Gracie Wins a TV Set 
112 Fan Mail From Violet McGonigle 
113 Going to the Opera 
114 Harry is Missing 
115 Gracie Sees a Psychiatrist 
116 Gracie's Old Boyfriend Visits 
117 Gracie Tries to Get George Into College 
118 Columbia Makes the Burns and Allen Story 
119 An Elephant Sits on Gracie's Fender 
120 George's Black Eye 
121 Dolores DeMarco, George's Old Partner 
123 Happy Hmm-Hmm 
127 Emily Vanderlip's Elopement 
128 Gracie Runs for City Council 
129 Trouble Choosing a Movie to See 
130 Gracie Buys a Toaster Wholesale 
131 Exchanging Houses with the Gibson's 
132 George the Gambler 
133 Gracie Throws a TV Party 
134 The Do-It-Yourself Show 
136 Gracie Throws a Baby Shower 
137 George Becomes an Author 
139 Gracie Thinks She and George Are Moving to New York 
140 The Stolen Ruby Clip 
141 Gracie Saves the Morton's Marriage 
142 The Antonelli String Quartet 
143 Gracie Loses a Phone Message 
144 Harry Morton's Alumni Banquet 
145 Gracie thinks Bob Cumming's is in Love with Her 
146 Gracie's Mother Comes to Visit 
147 The Glendale Eagle Publicity Stunt 
148 Friars Club Tribute Dinner 
149 Blanche and Clara Bagley Leave Their Husbands 
150 Gracie Hires a Valet for George 
151 Vanderlip's Parakeet 
152 Blanches Brother Roger Visits 
153 The Missing $5 and Baby Pictures 
154 Gracie Takes up Painting 
155 The Solid Gold Trombone 
156 Harry and the Countess 
158 Gracie Hides Joey Bagley's Dog 
159 George Tries to Get Out of a Yachting Trip 
160 Gracie Tries to Get a Parking Ticket Fixed 
161 Gracie Buys a Wall Safe 
162 Dr. Kirby's Problem Clinic 
163 Gracie Wants the House Painted 
164 Gracie Plays Talent Scout for an Impressionist 
165 The Burns's Plan a Day at The Beach 
166 The Uranium Mine 
Gracie Thinks George has a Criminal Record 
Gracie Gets a Visa Extension 
Gracie Tries to Cure Roger's Amnesia 
Trip to Hawaii 
Swami 
Beverly Hills Society 
The Bank President 
Breaking Up the Team 
The Mailman and the Divorce Attorney 
Surprise Birthday Party for Harry 
Free Trip to Hawaii 
Gracie's Checking Account 
Harry Morton's Male Secretary 
The Income TAX MAN 
Space Patrol Kids Visit 
Teenage Girl Spends the Weekend 

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