Burns and Allen – Christmas Show. 401223 (retro292)

Sponsored by Spam. Announcer, Bud Heston, Bandleader, Artie Shaw. Vocals by the Smoothies. Starring George Burns and Gracie Allen.

Gracie tells George about the film she saw with Bud at the Paramount theater. George shows off a little of his dancing prowess. It’s all to help promote the film that features Artie Shaw appearing with Fred Astaire.

The play is about to kick off, but Gracie has forgotten the scripts. As she tries to remember, she goes into a long chain of events. Artie Shaw plays a tune.

Afterward, Gracie is still trying to retrace her steps, and remember what happened to the scripts. The guitarist, Senor Lee, complains about the show, and starts a spree of talking in rhyme.
. Finally, Gracie figures she mailed the scripts as Christmas gifts. The whole gang sets out to the post office.

The disgruntled sound man is played by Elliot Lewis. He’s always upset because he has a college degree, while others on the show have little schooling. Yet, he slams doors for a living.

At the post office, the line is long, but Gracie has a plan to go to the front of it. While Gracie talks with the clerk, the gang are stuck in the back of the line, talking with eachother about their gifts for each other. Gracie takes over for the clerk, and ends up reading the letters that are sent to Santa.

After the commercial, the fun continues. Gracie tries to upsell a man from the 1 cent stamp to the 6 cent stamp. Finally, George makes it to Gracie’s window. At long last it looks like Gracie may have found her package, and the gang heads back to the studio.

When the play left off, the guys were in jail, pacing the floor, and expecting the death penalty. Suddenly, Gracie enters with bad news. Will they get the gas chamber? Something worse? . At least they get cheered up by a round of, Jingle Bells. Sang by the Smoothies, and accompanied by Artie Shaw.

Bonus Tracks:
Louis Armstrong. Zat You Santa Claus.
Spike Jones. 1942. Jingle Bells.