Fred Allen

Fred Allen

Birth : 1894-05-31, Cambridge - Massachusetts - USA

Death : 1956-03-17

History

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   Fred Allen (May 31, 1894 – March 17, 1956) was an American comedian whose absurdist, topically pointed radio show (1932–1949) made him one of the most popular and forward-looking humorists in the so-called classic era of American radio. His best-remembered gag was his long-running mock feud with friend and fellow comedian Jack Benny, but it was only part of his appeal; radio historian John Dunning (in On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio) wrote that Allen was radio's most admired comedian and most frequently censored. A master adlibber, Allen often tangled with his network's executives (and often barbed them on the air over the battles), while developing routines the style and substance of which influenced contemporaries and futures among comic talents, including Groucho Marx, Stan Freberg, Henry Morgan and Johnny Carson, but his fans also included President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and novelists William Faulkner, John Steinbeck and Herman Wouk (who began his career writing for Allen). Ironically, in view of his often barbed observations of the medium, Fred Allen was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for contributions to television Description above from the Wikipedia article Fred Allen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.  

Profile

Fred Allen

Movies

The Great Radio Comedians
Self (Archive footage)
Documentary about radio comedies primarily focused on Burns & Allen, Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy, The Jack Benny Program, Fibber McGee & Molly, The Bob Hope Show, and The Fred Allen Show.
O. Henry's Full House
Sam "Slick" Brown (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
Five O. Henry stories, each separate. The primary one from the critic's acclaim was "The Cop and the Anthem". Soapy tells fellow bum Horace that he is going to get arrested so he can spend the winter in a nice jail cell. He fails. He can't even accost a woman; she turns out to be a streetwalker. The other stories are "The Clarion Call", "The Last Leaf", "The Ransom of Red Chief", and "The Gift of the Magi".
We're Not Married!
Steve Gladwyn
A Justice of the Peace performed weddings a few days before his license was valid. A few years later five couples learn they have never been legally married.
Is Everybody Listening?
Fred Allen - Fred Allen Radio Program
A documentary about the 82% of US citizens that listen to the radio for their entertainment, news and sport.
It's in the Bag!
Fred Floogle
The ringmaster of a flea circus inherits a fortune...if he can find which chair it's hidden in.
Love Thy Neighbor
Fred Allen
Capitalizing on the famous radio 'feud' between comedians Jack Benny and Fred Allen. The two stars play versions of themselves, constantly at each other's throats due to real and imagined slights.
Buck Benny Rides Again
Fred Allen (voice)
Radio star Jack Benny, intending to stay in New York for the summer, is forced by the needling of rival Fred Allen to prove his boasts about roughing it on his (fictitious) Nevada ranch. Meanwhile, singer Joan Cameron, whom Jack's fallen for and offended, is maneuvered by her sisters to the same Nevada town. Jack's losing battle to prove his manhood to Joan means broad slapstick burlesque of Western cliches.
Sally, Irene and Mary
Gabby Green
Manicurists Sally, Irene and Mary hope to be Broadway entertainers. When Mary inherits an old ferry boat, they turn it into a successful supper club.
Thanks a Million
Ned Lyman
A show troupe is engaged by Judge Culliman, who is running for Governor, to enhance his political campaign. When the inebriated Judge has to be replaced in doing his campaign speech by the troupe crooner, Eric Land, his political backers decide that they want him to run for Governor in the Judge's place. Romance, music, political corruption and the election results follow.
Success
Writer
Elmer proposes to Molly, but she says he needs her fathers permission. He wants Elmer to become a ballplayer, but his eyesight keeps getting him into trouble. Elmer also needs a new pair of glasses.
Fred Allen's Prize Playlets
Mr. Fiasco, a producer of plays gets three plays explained to him. In one of the plays, a man chooses scotch for a drink and dies. In the second play the man slaps his new wife in the face for nothing. The final play the man leaves his wife for work. The wife greets the iceman who knows the husband just left. He is greeted with open arms. The husband returns early and knows the iceman is under the table. After his wife gives him a lump of sugar, he smashes the iceman on the head with a lump of ice. Mr. Fiasco has the man thrown out.
The Installment Collector
Newspaper Editor