Gracie Tries to Use Van Johnson: Burns and Allen (October 31, 1944)

Burns and Allen, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“Gracie Tries to Use Van Johnson” is an episode of Burns and Allen, the old-time radio show, first broadcast October 31, 1944. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

George Burns and Gracie Allen live in a comfortable household, and Gracie returns from marketing with an amusing story of being mobbed by fans. She reveals that Van Johnson carried her groceries, and she hopes to make George jealous. Her plans grow more elaborate as she tries to persuade Van to play a love scene with her in front of George. The episode is from the Burns and Allen radio series, first broadcast on October 31, 1944, on CBS and NBC, with Gracie Allen and Bea Benaderet among the cast.

The Burns home, and nearby locations including a market and a film studio.

Characters: George Burns, Gracie Allen, Van Johnson, Mrs. Reagan, Bill Goodwin, Jimmy Cash, Felix Mills

Listen for: Gracie's attempts to make George jealous by involving Van Johnson.

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.