George Tries To Impress Fifi: Burns and Allen (November 4, 1940)

Burns and Allen, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“George Tries To Impress Fifi” is an episode of Burns and Allen, the old-time radio show, first broadcast November 4, 1940. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

On the night before an election, George tells Gracie how voting works, and she gets lost in his explanations. Gracie then pulls George into a long argument about daylight saving time and geography. George is preparing for a visit from Fifi, a Follies Bergere star he has been bragging about to his friends. He asks his friends for advice on impressing her, and Artie and Otto tease him about his past romances. Fifi arrives and the group tries to make a good impression on her.

Hollywood, the night before an election, in George and Gracie's home and the rooms around it

Characters: George Burns, Gracie Allen, Fifi, Artie, Otto, Phoebe Le Mott

Listen for: Gracie's logic about daylight saving time and the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and George's attempts to impress Fifi

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.