Vivian Vance
Vivian Roberta Jones enjoyed a long career on Broadway, in films & of course, TV.
Lucille Ball: "I find that now I usually spend my time looking at Viv. Viv was sensational. And back then, there were things I had to do—I was in the projection room for some reason, and I just couldn't concentrate on it. But now I can. And I enjoy every move that Viv made. She was something."
Gracie Allen
Possibly the funniest woman ever- Grace Ellen Rosalie Allen made her stage debut at age 3 in vaudville as a singer & dancer. Along with her husband George Burns, she was half of one of the greatest double acts in show biz. Burns explained that he noticed Allen's straight lines were getting more laughs than his punchlines, so he cannily flipped the act over & he made himself the straight man & let her get the laughs. Audiences immediately fell in love with Allen's character, who combined the traits of stupidity, zaniness, & total innocence. As is often the case with performers who play dumb, Gracie was, in reality, highly intelligent. The reformulated team, focusing on Allen, toured the country, eventually headlining in major vaudeville houses. Many of their famous routines, including "Lambchops" were preserved on early 1 & 2-reeler short films made while the couple was still performing on the stage. George Burns attributed all of the couple's early success to Allen, modestly ignoring his own brilliance as a straight man. He summed up their act in a classic quip: "All I had to do was say, 'Gracie, how's your brother?' & she talked for 38 years, & sometimes I didn't even have to remember to say 'Gracie, how's your brother?'"
Allen died of a heart attack in 1964, & she is buried at Forest Lawn. Burns was interred at her side when he died 32 years later. "Gracie Allen & George Burns — Together Again," reads the engraving on the marker.
In later years Burns admitted that following an argument over a pricey silver table centerpiece Allen wanted, he had a very brief affair with a Las Vegas showgirl. Stricken by guilt, he phoned Jack Benny & told him about the indiscretion. However, Allen overheard the conversation & Burns quietly bought the expensive centerpiece. Nothing more was said. Years later he discovered that Allen had told one of her friends about the liason finishing with, "You know, I really wish George would cheat on me again. I could use a new centerpiece."
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