There's a channel that still shows reruns of both Burns and Allen and the Jack Benny show. I have several episodes waiting to watch on my tivo right now. Actually, I was really, really touched recently, because I caught the last "appearance" that Gracie made.
Gracie retired. She had an ongoing heart problem. So, she didn't appear publicly much anymore. But George had some failed tv show. Anyway, he guested on the Jack Benny show and he did a story where he and Benny were partners, but then Benny dumped him and George went on to get a new partner, which turned out to be Gracie. We didn't see her on camera but we heard her VOICE. Benny is listening to them do their routine backstage and they're getting all of these laughs and I think he's like, "Aw, they'll never amount to anything."
Anyway, Gracie died shortly after this and I just thought how it would have felt to be a viewer back then and realize that that Benny show would have been the last time you'd hear her. (I mean, this was before we knew they'd be in reruns for the next 50 years). I would have been beside myself. I have a great deal of affection for her.
And George outlived her by decades, but he never stopped speaking of his great love for her. Beautiful, beautiful stuff.
Michele
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