Amos 'n' Andy
On 19th August 1929, Amos 'n' Andy, the radio comedy program, made its debut on NBC starring Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll.
A few years ago now, I remember thinking that Amos 'n' Andy were the oldest recordings we had, but when I dug a little deeper, I managed to find five old episodes of Sam & Henry from 1926.
Sam & Henry was the original pre-network Amos 'n' Andy, created by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll as a blackface act familiar with the minstrel humor based on Negro and immigrant dialects at the time, and centered around two men from Alabama who came to Chicago to seek their fortunes.
It was an immediate hit, and due to its success, Gosden and Correll wanted to make recordings and syndicate the show, but WGN refused them the rights, so they moved to a competing broadcaster and the show was renamed Amos 'n' Andy.
The 15 minute daily situation comedy was probably the most popular radio show of all time, with a listening audience estimated at 40 million - almost one-third of Americans living at that time!
Amos 'n' Andy were the commonest of common men, and they symbolised the poor Joe with no money, no job and no future, and it was the first significant serial utilising the elements of sympathetic characters, comedy and suspense.
In February 1953, a special 25th Anniversary of the Amos 'n' Andy Show was broadcast. The show was given the following introduction, and was narrated by Bill Hayes:-
"For twenty five years, Amos 'n' Andy were a familiar part of the American scene. But who were Amos 'n' Andy? Where did they come from? In this special anniversary show, for the first time, the creators of the beloved characters step out from behind the masks of their famous portrayals to dramatize their own story. The story of Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll."
The show would become the highest-rated comedy in radio history, but by 1951, when Amos 'n’ Andy” came to television, changing attitudes about race and concerns about racism had virtually wiped out the practice of blackface, and CBS cancelled the series after a national boycott led by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
The radio series is rated as five star on RUSC by our listeners, and this review sums up the feeling on it perfectly:-
Superb show - wonderful scripts , well acted and a believable cast. Certainly a golden gem from Old Time Radio. In today's politically correct atmosphere it wouldnt stand a chance , but if you look at the humor it transcends time perfectly. My favourite comedy show on OTR.
Mark
If you haven't listened before, why not give it a try today!
Happy listening my friends,
