Speaker 1: Lamothnandy, written by Bill Connelly and Bob Moser, with Ed Murrow,
Bill hay Bing Crosby, Jack Benny Lowell, Thomas Jeff Alexander's
music You're Suly Harlow Wilcox and starring in their own
life story, Freeman Gosden and Charles Carrell Amos and Andy. The
ten thousand independent rex Al Druggists salute Amos and Andy as
they start their second quarter of a century on the
air tonight by bringing you their life story tomorrow with
the start of a special Amos and Andy sale. Yes, tomorrow, dozens,
literally dozens the rex Al products will be sold at
exactly half price. Later in the program we will list
many of these half price items, So friends, make up
your minds right now to stock up, because every time
you buy, you say at the Amos and Andy sailed
It starts tomorrow and goes on for two weeks at
Rexall drug stores everywhere and here to introduce the life
story of Freeman Gosden, Charles Carrell, Amos and Andy is
one of America's most distinguished commentators. Good Evening, Ladies and gentlemen,
missus Edmurole. Tonight, we of the Columbia Broadcasting System paid
tribute to Amos and Andy. For twenty five years, Amos
and Andy have been a familiar part of the American scene.
But who are Amos and Andy? Where did they come from? Tonight,
for the first time, the creators of these beloved characters
step out from behind the mass of their famous portrayals
to dramatize their own story, the story of Freeman Gosden
and Charles Corral. I know of no one but had
qualified to help tell you this story than the voice
so long associated with the history of Amoson handy good evening,
This is Bill hay In Where did Freeman Gosden and
Charles Corell first meet? One rainy night in Durham, North Carolina?
Right after World War One? Young Peoria born Charlie Correll
had been sent down from Chicago to stage your local
amateur show. The cast was rehearsing on the second floor
of the Elks Lodge, and Charlie, at the piano, was
having his trouble with the chorus. All right, kids, here
we go again, Why free what hold it? Hold it?
Hold it you there, Dotty on the end, You're a
cuter than a barrel of monkeys. But would you do
your uncle Charlie a favor and try to remember your
left foot from your right. That's right, that's the one.
Excuse me, you want to see me? Sorry to interrupt you,
but you are Correl, aren't you? That's right, Arlie Correll.
Can I do something for you? I'm Freeman Gosden. I
just started with the company producing shows and they set
me down to pick up some scripts and music. Oh yeah,
so you're Gosdin. Be right with your kids, are you, Freeman?
But I got all this stuff back at the hotel.
Say you're putting the same show on over in Elizabeth City,
North Carolina, aren't you, Yeah, that's right. We start rehearsals Monday. Well,
then listen, how about getting up in front of these
kids and showing them this step. I've got my hands
full with the piano. Be glad to Charlie. Listen, folks,
this is my new partner, Freeman Gosden. Oh. Now he
knows this number and he's going through it with you.
So watch him. Girls. All right, girls, here we go
one two three, one two three turned two three.
Speaker 2: Now you have a one.
Speaker 1: And thus the beginning of a partnership was formed. For
the next few years, they traveled all over the South
producing amateur shows, learning working together. Those were lean years,
the hard years. The boys did everything, produced, directed growth,
and even performed in some of the shows. Then one
night in New Orleans, they were talked into appearing on
a strange view device radio.
Speaker 3: Say this is something that with guys.
Speaker 1: The fellow says, we into this big megaphone here. Do
you think anybody will actually hear us? Well, one of
the followers here was telling me this morning they got
a phone call from a woman who lives a mile
away from the station. No fooling. That followed the earphones
is waving us again time by You're on the air. Okay,
Charlie hit it the largest largest everyone knows. They tell
your gargers gargees from your head to your clothes.
Speaker 2: And you well, while, well.
Speaker 1: Wow, you are pretty damned. But look at you, Charlie,
what look?
Speaker 2: You're simply gorgeous.
Speaker 1: Yes, that was their first appearance on radio, but outside
of a call from the woman who lived a mile
away from the station, nothing came of it. Two years
later found them working in Chicago, still waiting for that
abusive big break. Hello, Charlie, this is guys, Well where
are you? I've been waiting for you. I got us
a date. Two girls from Evanstone. One of their fathers
owns the restroom. Well, Charlie, I just left five O'Neal's office.
Now he runs radio station w e p H up
at the edge one to Beach Hotel. Now he wants
us to go on the radio as a singing team,
and I told him we'd do it. Well, wait a minute,
Wait a minute, kid, how much are we gonna have
to pay? Not avent, Charlie, and get this. At midnight,
after the station closes down, the hotel gives us a
blue plates up for free. Yes, the boys went on
the air nightly for w e BA. They sang songs
when Red Robert bothering along along. They told jokes, thank god,
I'm going home to I can give the father bath,
give your father a vale. Of course, I've been sponging
off the old man per year. You wrote it, and
I'll direct it. Finally, six months and one hundred and
thirty five blue plate suppers later, they've got that big break.
Ben mcconnaugh, the head of the powerful Tribune station WGM,
sent for them. Let me get this straight, mister mccenna.
You want us to go on the air every night
and dramatize a comic strip. That's why, boys, one of
the comics from the Tribune, The Gump Testa and the Family.
I wasn't not an idea. Well, well yes, mister McKenna,
but we're a singing team. I don't think we can
handle it. You life think going to be a great
series for you. Well, I tell you if if that's
the kind of a thing you're after, I got sort
of an idea. Well what is it? Well, you see,
I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, and Charlie
has traveled all over the South. What would you think
of us doing a couple of colored characters. Yeah, now
there's something.
Speaker 3: We can handle.
Speaker 1: I don't know about that. I never thought of, mister mccanna.
There's never been anything like it on the air. I
tell you what, why don't you boys see if you
can come up with a script and some characters spend
a week it's all on it, then we can take
it from there a week. I mister mccanna, we don't
have a script for you the first thing in the morning,
won't we Charlie you can bet your bottom dollar on it.
What time is the kid, Well, it's daybreak, whatever time
that is.
Speaker 3: And we had a telling we'd.
Speaker 1: Have a script in the morning. Charlie, I've been thinking
over these comic strips. I take Mutton Jeff, and that's popular.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 1: One fellow is a great big man and the other
one's a little bit of fella. And that's what we've
got to get. Yeah, but the people aren't going to
say us on the radio. Well, we've got to do
it with our voice. Is maybe if one of us
had a high voice and the other one a little voice,
that would give them a picture. Yeah, say, guys, you're writers,
two rabbits, you know. Charlie, I think we are getting somewhere.
You can get your voice down pretty low, can't you. Well, yes,
I can get down pretty low. Keep going, get on
lower light down here, not fair? Now, listen, he can
put a he you can put a little dialect in it. Yeah.
Well I'm going to stay right down here and talk
like this year. All of this sound, brother, Gods, sounds great.
Now you hold that voice and I'll try to get
a high one. Yeah, I'll do that, and you get
on up there. How does this sound up here?
Speaker 3: We'll get up higher, get way up the.
Speaker 2: Found up here?
Speaker 3: Yeah, poor little dialect and a thing and pull a
rasp in there, like.
Speaker 1: That little fellow who worked in the drug store in Atlanta. Yeah,
put a little rafp in there. How do you got
found to you now? Brother, career A show sounds good
than me? Boy, I think we've done got something here, boy,
I sure hope though. Good e've met ladies and gentlemen.
This is your rex Hall family druggist with a few
of the half price specials at the Amos and Andy
sale that begins tomorrow. These next two weeks are the
first in the history of our rex All drug stores
when dozens, literally dozens of guaranteed rex All products will
be sold at exactly half price. Best of all, this
two weeks sail is store wide. You'll find almost a
hundred super specials, plus this unprecedented free offer. You get
an unbreakable plastic tumbler in your choice of beautiful colors,
absolutely free when you buy any of a dozen special items.
So friends, be prepared for overwhelming savings at the Amison
Andy Sale tomorrow through February twenty eighth. At rex All
drug stores everywhere. Well, one month later, Freeman Garden and
Charles Correll went on the air of Salmon Henry and
two years later it was the top program in the
Chicago area. Success seemed to be there. Then one day
they went to Ben mccanna with a proposition. Well, that's
the idea, mister McKenna. We heard that one of the
big broadcasting companies is starting a coast to coast network. Yes,
and we'd sure like to get on that network with
the mccanna boys. I understand your enthusiasm, but we here
at the station want to keep Samon Henry as our
exclusive features. But mister McKenna, we think this is the
opportunity of a lifetime for it. I know that, boys,
I know it. But after all, we own the name
Salmon Henry and we don't want to make any rash
move and take the chance of ruining the show. All right,
mister McKenna, thank you, Just the Sam. Come on, Charlie,
well he's trying to stand cold.
Speaker 3: Guys, what are we gonna do?
Speaker 1: Now? What do we do? Charlie? We quit?
Speaker 3: Yeah, well I quit.
Speaker 1: Quit Salmon Henry. Now look, Charlie, we can get just
so far and no farther staying here on one station.
Speaker 3: Yes, but God's Way could need to take Simon.
Speaker 1: Henry with us. The newspaper owns the name. We'd have
to start over from scratch. All right, We'll start over from.
Speaker 3: Scratch, guys. I don't know about this.
Speaker 1: Suppose we're a flop now, Look, Charlie, I don't know
what it is. Call it intuition or whatever you want
to but I just have a feeling we are doing
the right thing. Well, if you feel a lot strong
about it, guys, okay, let's take a crack at it.
After all, we've come a long way from the days
of the Blue Plate Supper. Thirty days later, their contract
expired and the Boys signed with the network. Opening night
was only a few weeks away, and the network was
pressing for details on the new show. Well, thanks for calling,
mister Johnson. Yes, but we'd rather not release the name
of the new program yet. Oh I think about I'm
mister Johnson. Charlie. Are getting anxious about the name of
New York so am I I wish we had one?
Not The name of this show means everything, yes, Charlie,
And we've been working on it for a week and well,
nothing seems to found as good as Sam and Henry.
Speaker 3: Yeah. Oh, come on, guys, let's go out and get
some supper.
Speaker 1: We need a snappy name like Jack and Mack or
Tim and Tommy.
Speaker 3: Yeah. Push the elevator button, guys.
Speaker 1: Charlie, we must have made a list of over five
hundred names. Yeah, I know. Oh, say how about Flappy?
Speaker 2: I'm happy?
Speaker 1: No, I don't think so, Charlie.
Speaker 3: Oh, here's the elevator.
Speaker 1: I wonder if Willie is on duty. He's a character,
isn't he. Well, well, Chucklin, Charlie and Stephen Freeman, how
are you boys? Oh fine, Willy step right in? How
are my two friends of the airway and say here
you gotta new program? Yeah that's right, it starts next week. Willy,
we're going coast to call. Well, how you like that?
Ain't you the pair for the air blag? Well, well,
look who's here? My football play in friend? Step right in?
Famous Amos? How's everything going on the elevator? Will he
having my ups and downs? Second floor going down? I'll
move back.
Speaker 3: Let the Canada get.
Speaker 1: In with the deep ladder. Well, make way for my
old friend Handy Andy. First floor. There ain't no more.
Speaker 2: Going up.
Speaker 1: Oh, hey, Charlie, what we need in these names is
something that'll catch on, something that'll be easy to Uh, Charlie,
what's the matter.
Speaker 3: Did you hear what will he called those two fellows?
Speaker 1: Yeah, famous Amos and Uh and the But Charlie, what
I mean Amos and Andy? Yeah, Amos and Andy. Well,
they are both four letter names. They're both thought of
infonius and Amos is a biblical character.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 1: And not only that. If we have a player benefit
their list of names alphabeticla, we always be right smack
at the top, right, Yeah. Amos and Andy started on
the network from coast to coast fifteen minutes nightly at
seven o'clock Eastern Timeard time, emanating from Chicago. About the
third day, they started getting out of town newspaper clippings
reviewing their show. Hey, Charlie, here's a review from a
New York paper right on top.
Speaker 3: Oh boy, what's your sake yet?
Speaker 1: Well, it's uh. You'd better read the headline yourself, Charlie. Yeah,
Amos and Andy, Radio's biggest.
Speaker 3: Flop has a riot that.
Speaker 1: Much, Harold and Amos and Andy made its debut on
the airwaves last night at seven o'clock with a thud.
I might add, don't read a kid, it'll make you sick.
Here's another one. This one is in Washington, DC.
Speaker 3: URIs was to.
Speaker 1: Say Amos and Andy disappointing after he build up of
two weeks by network. Amos and Andy followed a sad
organ theme with something about a fresh air taxicab. This
type of program has no place in radio. Only mackerel
looking at another one, and they're all bad. Yeah, boy,
Simon Henry looks awful good right now, doesn't it. Charlie.
There's no two ways about it. We're a flop. But
what makes me feel so bad about it is if
I talked you into it. Well, now wait a minute,
wait them and it don't feel that way. We both
went into the thing and with her eyes open. Well,
it's just and I got so enthusiastic at the time, Charlie,
I wonder if you'd excuse me. I I think I'll
go out and walk around by myself.
Speaker 3: Well, I guess he wants to be alone. But even
if the kid doesn't know it, I'm out there walking
right with him.
Speaker 4: When you look at all the items I've marked in
the Wrexall magazine, ads the items that go on sale
for just half price at the Amos and Andy sale tomorrow.
Speaker 1: Yes, indeed, ma'am. This advertisement in Life Look, Colliers, Saturday
Evening Post and Farm Journal gives all the half price
items in the sale.
Speaker 4: I've marked a d and things my family needs right now,
like rex Al cold tablets and cost syrups and Vitamin
B twelve.
Speaker 1: You'll find several other rex Al vitamin products at half
price too, rex Al, Theremons, Alpha Cats, Polydrops and Polycats.
Speaker 4: And I'm going to get both of the caron known
beauty specials, the lipstick and one of the creams at
half price.
Speaker 1: You will find stag tooletries for men at have price too,
and don't forget the free tumblers and all the other
magnificence specials throughout the rex Al drug store. I won't.
Speaker 4: In fact, I'm going to make several shopping trips to
the Amos and Andy sail.
Speaker 1: Well, ma'am. It continues for two full weeks tomorrow through
February twenty eight at rex Al drug stores everywhere. Amos
and and Andy continued on the network for the second week.
There was no fan mail, and most of the critics
had reviewed the show unfavorably. This, I believe was the
lowest point in the lives of Fleemon, Gosden and Charles Correll.
Then one morning, to get their minds off the program,
the boys decided to play golf at the Tamashandraw Golf
Club in Chicago. Well, get on your shoes, Charlie, and
let's get out and play nine holes anyway. And I
hope we don't run into anybody, you know how they
are when they think your show isn't going so well. Yeah,
well let's get going. Yeah. Oh, look who's coming to
the locker room?
Speaker 3: That young father that sings with Paul Whiteman being Crawdley and.
Speaker 1: He sees us hi things, Yeah, hello, bing hi fellas
last that rubber around a bit? Huh Yeah, we're gonna
play nine holes. I get hey. By the way, I
caught your last three shows. Oh you did? Huh? Well,
you know, I think that little opera you got this
is gonna catch on.
Speaker 3: What do you mean, I don't know.
Speaker 1: There's something there that makes you want to listen tomorrow night.
I really think you got something boys, And I like
that that Andy when he says I was regusted, Well,
thank you bang. That makes us feel pretty good. Then
a few days later, on Michigan Boulevard, the boys ran
into a man they had met a few years before
in New York. Well, Freeman and Charlie. All right, boys,
Well Jack, Benny, nice to see you.
Speaker 3: Jack.
Speaker 1: I hear you open tomorrow night over at the Palace Theater.
Speaker 3: Yes, I got in from New York yesterday.
Speaker 1: Say, they're all talking about that radio show of yours
back there, Uh talking about it?
Speaker 5: Yeah, you know, to tell you the truth. At first,
I don't know. I didn't like it, but after a
few times, it kind of grows on you, you know
what I mean. Even the kids backstage are listening to it.
Speaker 1: Well, thanks a lot, Jack.
Speaker 3: Yeah, well we sure hope it catches on.
Speaker 5: Yes, boys, I really think you've got something there.
Speaker 1: Well, a lot of other people began to feel the
way Jack and Bing did. The fan mail began to
trickle in the boy's spirits lifted. They worked harder, the
experimental with their voices and created new characters. First, they
added a great favorite with the listeners. Lighteners. I ask
the mos MARZAO, wh're right on over there? It's a
social man about town. Henry Van Porter well, now, if
you'd excuse me, Japan, I'm having a fitting with my tailor.
He's put the new patch on the seat of my pants.
The Hensack brother Crawford. I want to tell you boys
that my wife is very unhappy and she won'ts stand
for you. Yes, And this time went on all of
those other warm human characters, Ruby Taylor, this blue Sapphire,
the old battle Axe, Maat Pending, Rookie Harris, Fred Gwyndell,
and Madame Queen, and of course the greatest character of all,
that lovable old rascal, the Kingfish. How the marger don't
forget me as all brothers in that que paternity of
missus Knight of the season. Perhaps the greatest tribute of
all paid to Freeman Gosman Charles Carrell, was one night
at a huge benefit in New York's Madison Square Gardens.
Lowe Thomas, the famous radio news commentator who preceded Amos
and Andy for years on the air, was chosen to
introduce the boy. I can think of few things like
you to give me greater pleasure than to introduce your
radio favorites. When I die, this would be my effetaph.
Here lies the body of a man who is heard
by millions of people who were waiting to hear Amos
and Andy. Well, that was it. That was their success.
The rest of the story is familiar to all of us.
As the years went on, Amos and Andy made new
changes in their program, the most significant being when they
went from fifteen minutes to a half hour. Changes come
and go. But I'm sure you feel as I do.
But amoson Andy have never left that wonderful plate in
our heart. Now, before I turn you back to Ed Muddle,
I'd like to say once more I did for so
many years. This is Bill Hay biding you all good
night and get next to you all. Well, that's the
story of Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, the story of
amoson Andy, two names that are sure to go down
as part of an Erican folklore. It's only fitting that
tonight the entire radio industry gives special recognition to these
two men. To pay this tribute, we have an event
unique in broadcasting history, the heads of two great networks,
David Sarnoff of NBC and William Paley of CBS, appearing
on the same program to pay tribute to Amoson Andy First,
I would like to introduce the Chairman of the Board
of the Radio Corporation of America and head of the
National Broadcasting Company, Donald Sarner. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
I am very proud to join hands with my friend
Bill Paley, Chairman of the Board of Columbia Broadcasting System,
in paying tribute to Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, who
created and portrayed the characters of Amos and Andy on
radio for the past quarter of a century. I extending
you boys my highest regard and esteem for your brilliant
and important pioneer work in the progress of radio broadcasting,
and for your faithful adherence to the highest ideals of
good entertainment. We in the National Broadcasting Company. I'm proud
to have introduced this program to the listeners of America
and to have broadcasted over our coast to coast network
for fifteen years. Congratulations to you, Freeman, and to you Charlie.
And now the Chairman of the Board of the Columbia
Broadcasting System, William S. Paley. I'm very happy to join
General Soarnoff, whose leadership and contributions have meant so much
to broadcasting in paying tribute to Freeman Gosden and Charlie Correll.
By bringing pleasure to millions of listeners for more than
a quarter of a century, they have firmly established themselves
in the affections of their fellow citizens. They have also
created a great radio institution, one which I believe will
live forever in the folklore of America. Freeman and Charlie,
it gives me great pleasure to.
Speaker 6: Salute you, not only as an old friend, but also
on behalf of the Columbia Broadcasting System and the countless
millions of your devoted listeners throughout the country. Our warmest
wishes go out to you both.
Speaker 1: This is Freemon Gosden again. Before we say good night,
Charlie and I would like to thank everyone who appeared
on our program tonight, but most of all, we wanna
extend our deep appreciation to you, our listeners, who have
made it possible for us to start our twenty sixth
year on the air. Yes, that's right, remember beginning tomorrow
through February twenty eighth. It's the special Amos and Andy Saale,
and be sure to be with us at the same
time next Sunday when your rectoral Druggist will again present
the Amos and Andy Show, transcribed and directed by Cliff Powell.
Stay tuned for the Bing Pousby Program, which follows immediately
over most of these same stations. This is the CBS
Radio Network WBAN in Danville, Illinois,