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It should be the time to relax, and enjoy accomplishments in life. Last week was George and Gracie’s 15th year in radio, It all changes while Gracie makes additions to her scrapbook. Mel Blanc is the always sad, Happy Postman, who talks about his marital problems, then advises Gracie to “Keep smiling.” A bill in today’s mail makes George anything but happy with Gracie. Little does he know the obsession he has just brought on himself. In the eye of the storm, the calm before the explosion, Bill Goodwin pops in to witness George’s frustration at Gracie’s explanation of her spending habits, then George demands the household be run like a business as he storms out.
Determined to economize, determined to be business-like, determined to be an efficient, big wheeling boss, Gracie sets up an office in the house. Bandleader Meredith Willson is hired to be her secretary, and devoted, faithful right hand man. Enter George, but will GA find time in her hectic schedule to meet with GB? It depends on what MW allows to pass through his screening process. A high powered, high energy office needs high priced office furnishings, and Mel Blanc is back as the highly effective salesman.
Live radio sometimes results in the highly professional actors flubbing a line, and Mel manages to repeat his line, repeat his line… did I mention he has to repeat his line? When will Gracie’s obsession with saving money, actually save money?
Buying in bulk on the market, Gracie is obsessed with saving money, buying top quality office furniture for the creature comforts a top executive deserves.
Will George ever make his point about what he meant by running the house like a business, or is the only way to stop a run away Gracie in buying her out.
PS: this episode is undated, but appears in some archives to be from the early 1940’s. It also appears as an installment in both 1947, and 1949.
PPS: In real life, the Burns home actually was run by a business manager to keep finances in order, and help make wise investments. Gracie had a household allowance., Despite her earnest attempts at being frugal, she frequently went over, but George had the business manager ensure it was covered. Thanks to the wise moves of the business manager, the Burns family became wealthy, and never had to worry about their future, or work as much as George did. a
Note: Rewritten show note partly inspired by WordPress, nd the #DailyPost.
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/obsessed/
