Premier Collections: 
Amos 'n' Andy, Volume 1
Liner notes written by Ivan G. Shreve, Jr.

Click to listen to a Microsoft WMA audio clip
Click to listen to a MP3 audio clip

“There are three things which I will never forget about America: the Rocky Mountains, Niagara Falls, and ‘Amos ‘n’ Andy’...” – George Bernard Shaw

Their first meeting took place in Durham, North Carolina in 1919, as a young man from Peoria, Illinois named Charles Correll was introduced to his future partner, Freeman Gosden from Richmond, Virginia. Both men were employed by the Joe Bren Producing Company, which specialized in helping amateur talent present shows for clubs, fraternal organizations and church groups. Charlie was told by the higher-ups at Bren to seek out Freeman for advice on putting together a performance for a local chapter of the Elks Club:

"So the door opened, and this fellow walked in. I was sittin’ at the piano, and I stopped and I turned around and looked at him and I says, “Can I do something for you?” and he says, “Is your name Charlie Correll? I’m Freeman Gosden.” And that was the beginning of our getting together and our working together and we’ve been together ever since — for fifty years. The greatest thing that ever happened to me in my life, him to walk in and say, “I’m Freeman Gosden”!"

While still employed with the Bren Company, Gosden and Correll discovered that they had an unbeatable chemistry together, and so their partnership soon extended beyond their regular working hours to include stints on stage as both song-and-patter men and “blackface” artists — “blackface” being a popular form of entertainment at the time. Their first radio appearance was in 1921 and, moving to Chicago four years later, they secured work over WLS as endmen for Bren’s weekly minstrel broadcasts and over WEBH as song-and-patter artists -- where their whopping salary consisted solely of a free Blue Plate Dinner special. In the fall of 1925, the duo were hired by WGN, the Chicago Tribune’s radio station, to perform on the air for the princely sum of $250.00 a week.

WGN’s station manager, Ben McCanna, liked Gosden and Correll but felt that their song-and-patter routines were in danger of getting stale. He suggested that they consider an idea he was tinkering with: a radio adaptation of "The Gumps", one of the Tribune’s popular comic strips. Freeman and Charlie didn’t have a good deal of familiarity with the family strip - both men were unmarried and had no children - and, instead, offered one of their own ideas: a radio serial about two black men, transported from the South, who came to the “big city” to seek their fame and fortune. Taking another popular strip, "Mutt and Jeff", as inspiration, the two men felt comfortable enough with their experience in dialect humor to effectively portray what eventually became known as "Sam ‘n’ Henry". WGN balked at the idea at first, but soon reconsidered, throwing Gosden and Correll on the air on January 12, 1926. Six weeks later, the show was a phenomenon, attracting such a large following in the Chicago area that the duo were soon making stage appearances in person as their fictional characters.

WGN had a powerful transmitter, capable of broadcasting over great distances throughout the United States, but Gosden and Correll were even more ambitious: they wanted to expand the audience for "Sam ‘n’ Henry" by recording the programs in advance and sending the discs to other radio stations -- an innovation the two men dubbed a “chainless chain.” What would eventually become standard practice in radio syndication did not sit well with the powers-that-be at WGN, however; the management maintained not only that they owned "Sam ‘n’ Henry," but also that there would be no further talk of that “chainless chain” nonsense. So, before their WGN contract expired, Freeman and Charlie talked with WGN’s rival WMAQ about a possible move. Owned by the Chicago Daily News, the team found WMAQ much more receptive to the concept; the fact that WMAQ would be getting Gosden and Correll by basically stealing them from WGN probably didn’t hurt matters, either. Given WGN's legal position, the two men couldn’t take the "Sam ‘n’ Henry" name with them...so they settled on a more alliterative title instead: Amos ‘n’ Andy.

"Amos ‘n’ Andy" premiered over WMAQ on March 19, 1928 and quickly surpassed the popularity of "Sam ‘n’ Henry". Again, the program’s concept revolved around two black Southerners who left farm jobs in Georgia for positions in Chicago, only to discover that the tall grass they left in the Peach State was a whole lot greener than that of their new locale. Amos (Gosden), the smaller and younger of the two, was an excitable and enthusiastic character with an admirable work ethic and a fierce streak of loyalty to his friends. Andy (Correll), much larger and slower, frequently preferred taking the shortcuts down life’s highway of steady employment -- but he, too, was loyal when the chips were down...as they often were. In the early days of the serial, the men bought a dilapidated taxi cab and started their own business: The Fresh-Air Taxi Company, Incorpulated. In addition to the leads, "Amos ‘n’ Andy" also featured a colorful array of supporting characters, most of whom belonged to a fraternal organization known as “The Mystic Knights of the Sea.” The most memorable of these was George Stevens who, as lodge president, had dubbed himself the Kingfish. The Kingfish was even more averse to work than Andy; he was, in fact, a con artist who occupied his time fleecing his innocent friends in a never-ending series of shady get-rich-quick schemes. (The Kingfish’s charisma and gift-of-gab were such that the real-life governor of Louisiana, Huey Long, soon adopted the colorful nickname as his own.)

The success of "Amos ‘n’ Andy" over WMAQ soon attracted the attention of the National Broadcasting Company. Though experiencing some financial problems at the time, NBC was looking for prestigious and successful programs to air nationally and was anxious to sign Godsen and Correll to a long-term contract. Once signed, the Lord & Thomas advertising agency sold the program's sponsorship one of their biggest clients, Pepsodent toothpaste, and "Amos ‘n’ Andy" went national over NBC Blue on August 19, 1929...beginning a run that would continue on network radio, in one form or another, for the next thirty years.

Throughout much of its radio history, "Amos 'n' Andy" was broadcast in a five-day-a-week quarter-hour serial format. However, in the fall of 1943, due to a slow decline in the ratings, Gosden and Correll revamped the show into a half-hour weekly situation comedy. Concerned about the quality of the new version (and also in maintaining the quality of his performances) Correll had most of the programs of the new series recorded on 16" transcription discs for his personal library. In the 1970s, Correll had the programs professionally transferred from discs to top quality 1/2" tape -- but explicitly requested that the commercials for Rinso, by then the show’s sponsor, be edited out at the same time. Thus, though the programs in this new Premier Collection may be commercial-free, they're all taken right from Charlie Correll’s own transcription collection. The audio fidelity of these shows is astounding - in fact, they sound far better than when they were first heard over NBC in 1943 and 1944 - and have been painstakingly restored for your enjoyment.

Here is the complete content of this exciting new Premier Collection:

Uncle
Andy’s wealthy Uncle Gregory is planning on paying him a visit, but how will Andy explain the absence of the wife and luxurious apartment which he described in his letters? The program, the first broadcast in the new half-hour format, features Charles Coburn in a guest appearance as a veterinarian. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernest Whitman, Ruby Dandridge, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, October 8, 1943 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Piano Lesson
When Andy graduates from a correspondence course in how to play the piano, the Kingfish hatches a scheme that lets the correspondence alumnus teach piano...including giving lessons to piano virtuoso Jose Iturbi! With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Elinor Harriot, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, October 15, 1943 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Libel
The Kingfish is being sued for slander and, to secure legal advice, he resorts to pawning Sapphire’s engagement ring. Armed with the knowledge that “judges are crooked,” he’s soon set straight by the adjudicator in his case: guest Walter Huston. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernest Whitman, Ernestine Wade, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, October 22, 1943 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Trunk
Andy is the owner of a sealed trunk he won at an auction. A sinister Peter Lorre is anxious to get his hands on the contents and, in making overtures to the Kingfish, allows the con man to put another one over on the ever-gullible Andy. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernestine Wade, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, November 5, 1943 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Matrimonial
A young woman named Juliet Williams mistakes the Mystic Knights of the Sea lodge hall for a matrimonial agency -- but the $50.00 she’s willing to pay to land a husband certainly won’t keep the Kingfish from marching her and Andy down the aisle. Lionel Barrymore guest stars as a psychiatrist who attempts to assist Andy with his fear of marriage. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernestine Wade, Ruby Dandridge, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, November 12, 1943 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Thanksgiving
In this classic broadcast, Andy doggedly searches for a turkey in order that his nephew and his soldier friends can enjoy a hearty Thanksgiving dinner. When there’s nary a gobbler to be had, he attempts to enlist the help of guest Spring Byington. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Elinor Harriot, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, November 19, 1943 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Friendship
Amos and Andy have a disagreement over the concept of friendship, and to prove to Amos that he has lots of friends, Andy spreads a rumor that he’s about to come into a sizeable sum of money. Andy’s ruse lands him in the hospital and at the mercy of a mad “intern”, played by guest Donald Meek. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernestine Wade, Ruby Dandridge, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, November 26, 1943 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Counterfeit
The Kingfish rents the lodge hall’s basement to a trio of shady characters who make money the old-fashioned way: they print it! Chester Morris guest stars as “Muscles,” the leader of the counterfeit gang. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Wally Maher, Will Wright, Hattie McDaniel, Vivian Dandridge, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, December 3, 1943 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Baby Carriage
Andy’s attempt to return a set of glass bookends at a department store somehow snowballs into a rumor that Brother Crawford and his missus are expecting a bundle from heaven. Not even guest star Ginger Rogers can straighten out this mess! With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernestine Wade, James Baskett, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, December 10, 1943 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Shirtwaist
The Kingfish and Andy attempt to explain to a marital relations expert, guest Robert Benchley, how their desire to go into the laundry business was the root cause of Kingfish’s marital troubles. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernestine Wade, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, December 17, 1943 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

New Year’s Eve
In need of a tuxedo to attend a New Year’s gala, Amos allows himself to be talked into renting one from his “pal” the Kingfish. Later, Andy dreams that a desperate 1943 - played in gangster-style by guest Edward G. Robinson - has holed up in the lodge hall in dread of the New Year. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, December 31, 1943 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Soldier
In the soup with his wife Sapphire for the umpteenth time, the Kingfish plans to gain her sympathy by pretending to have enlisted in the armed services. While getting a picture taken to maintain the fiction, the Kingfish runs afoul of guest star Pat O’Brien...Colonel Pat O’Brien, that is. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernestine Wade, Will Wright, Wally Maher, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, January 7, 1944 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Violets
While working as an assistant in a floral shop, Andy gets his would-be girlfriend some violets as a gift and has Lightnin’ deliver the bouquet....but the lodge hall janitor mixes up the order with some orchids that guest star Adolphe Menjou has purchased for his wife. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Elinor Harriot, Joseph Kearns, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, January 14, 1944 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Culture
Sabina Emerson, Andy’s new girlfriend, wants no more of her would-be suitor until he cleans up his act and becomes more refined and sophisticated. Andy’s convinced that, in becoming guest star Charles Boyer’s valet, some of Boyer’s patented suave will rub off on him. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Bea Benaderet, Vivian Dandridge, Ruby Dandridge, Paula Winslowe, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, January 21, 1944 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

$1,000 Bill
This memorable outing finds Andy the lucky recipient of a thousand-dollar bill, which prompts him to run into the lap of luxury...and to be the lucky escort for guest Ethel Waters’ night on the town. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernestine Wade, Joseph Kearns, Will Wright, James Baskett, Lou Lubin, Roy Glenn, Ernest Whitman, Vivian Dandridge, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, January 28, 1944 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Missing Persons
Amos convinces Andy and the Kingfish that opening a missing persons bureau would be right up their alley. Among their first clients are the Crawford’s; Mrs. Crawford is anxious to locate her long-lost brother...but Brother Crawford is willing to pay Andy and the Kingfish not to find him! With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernestine Wade, Jester Hairston, Joseph Kearns, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, February 4, 1944 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

WAC
Amos suggests to Andy that he participate in a morale-boosting exercise by “adopting” a soldier and corresponding with him on a regular basis. Trouble is, Andy’s “he” is a “she” - which leads to a hilarious comedy of errors involving Mr. and Mrs. George “Kingfish” Stevens. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernestine Wade, Will Wright, Elinor Harriot, Madaline Lee, Ruby Dandridge, Jester Hairston, Vivian Dandridge, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, February 11, 1944 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Diamond Ring
Andy wants to get Amos’ wife Ruby a special gift for her birthday, but his finances dictate that said gift must be purchased at the five-and-dime store. Imagine his surprise when the “diamond” ring he purchases turns out to be the real McCoy! With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Ernestine Wade, Jean Vander Pyl, Lou Lubin, Will Wright, Ernest Whitman, Joseph Kearns, Richard LeGrand, Elinor Harriot, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, February 18, 1944 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Sunday, Monday, or Always
The Kingfish and Henry van Porter have decided to start up a songwriting publishing company. They take on Andy as a partner after hearing him hum a tune he’s convinced he wrote — but the composers of “Sunday, Monday, or Always”, Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen, see things a little differently. The show also features bandleader Kay Kyser and vocalist Harry Babbitt as guests. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Joseph Kearns, Paul Phillips, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, February 25, 1944 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

Madam Queen #1
Andy needs his old nemesis Madam Queen’s signature on a document in order to collect the sum of $600.00 from a long-ago investment. The problem is, the Kingfish has gotten wind of this and the two men are soon racing to be the first to locate her whereabouts. With Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Joseph Kearns, James Baskett, Ruby Dandridge, and announcer Harlow Wilcox.
Friday, March 3, 1944 – 30:00 – NBC, sponsored by Rinso

The complete content of this website, including all text, illustrations, and audio content © 2008 First Generation Radio Archives. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this website may not be duplicated or reproduced in any way, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of the copyright holder.