Sam and Henry played by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll were the original pre-network Amos and Andy. Both Gosden and Correll came from separate vaudevillian stage careers but while rooming together decided to create a blackface act familiar with the minstrel humor based on Negro and immigrant dialects at the time. They moved to Chicago where their show about two hapless men from Alabama who came to Chicago to seek their fortunes was first aired on WGN on 12th January 1926. The show which was written by Gosden and Correll and featured them in all the parts was serialized and aired in 15-minute continuation episodes weekdays became highly popular. Due to its success Gosden and Correll wanted to make recordings and syndicate the show but WGN refused them the right to do so, so they moved their act to competing broadcaster WMAQ and the show was renamed Amos & Andy .