Fred Allen

Fred Allen

Born: May 31, 1894
Died: March 17, 1956
in Cambridge - Massachusetts - USA
​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

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Movies for Fred Allen...

The Great Radio Comedians
Title: The Great Radio Comedians
Character: Self (Archive footage)
Released: May 11, 1971
Type: Movie
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.
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Title: Judge for Yourself
Character: Himself
Released: August 18, 1953
Type: TV
Judge for Yourself, at first subtitled The Fred Allen Show, is a Mark Goodson and Bill Todman nontraditional court show/quiz show, with comedian Fred Allen as the emcee. It aired on NBC from August 18, 1953 to May 11, 1954. Dennis James was the series announcer but took over as host in January 1954. Each week three performers – singers, dancers, musicians, or comedians – were judged by two panels, one of professional entertainers and the other from the studio audience. If one of the amateur judges rated the acts 1, 2, or 3 in the same order as the celebrities, that individual would win a $1,000 prize. Two instrumental jazz groups that appeared on Judge for Yourself had considerable success thereafter, vibraphonist Terry Gibbs and the Marian McPartland Trio. The original intent of the series was to allow Allen to interact with guests, much as Groucho Marx did on his own NBC series, You Bet Your Life. The complicated format first employed, however, was revamped in the middle of the season. On the episode which aired on January 5, 1954, the professional judges were dropped, and the studio audience panel rated new songs to predict future hits, the comparable format of ABC's Jukebox Jury, which also aired in the 1953–1954 season.
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O. Henry's Full House
Title: O. Henry's Full House
Character: Sam "Slick" Brown (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
Released: August 7, 1952
Type: Movie
Five O. Henry stories, each separate. The primary one from the critics' 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".
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We're Not Married!
Title: We're Not Married!
Character: Steve Gladwyn
Released: July 11, 1952
Type: Movie
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.
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Title: The Jack Benny Program
Character: Fred Allen
Released: October 28, 1950
Type: TV
Laugh along with funnyman Jack Benny as he brings his underplayed humor to TV along with regular performers from his radio show days.
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Title: The Colgate Comedy Hour
Character: Self
Released: September 10, 1950
Type: TV
The Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC network from 1950 to 1955. The show starred many notable comedians and entertainers of the era, including Eddie Cantor, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Fred Allen, Donald O'Connor, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Bob Hope, Jimmy Durante, Ray Bolger, Gordon MacRae, Ben Blue, Robert Paige, Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Broadway dancer Wayne Lamb and Spike Jones and His City Slickers.
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Title: Your Show of Shows
Released: February 25, 1950
Type: TV
Your Show of Shows was a live 90-minute variety show that was broadcast weekly in the United States on NBC, from February 25, 1950, until June 5, 1954, featuring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. Other featured performers were Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, Bill Hayes, Judy Johnson, The Hamilton Trio and the soprano Marguerite Piazza. José Ferrer made several guest appearances on the series. The series was telecast from the now-demolished International Theatre at 5 Columbus Circle and the Century Theater, now demolished, in New York. During 2002, Your Show of Shows was ranked #30 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
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Title: What's My Line?
Character: Self - Mystery Guest
Released: February 2, 1950
Type: TV
Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while blindfolded, their identity - by asking only "yes" or "no" questions.
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Title: What's My Line?
Character: Self - Panelist
Released: February 2, 1950
Type: TV
Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while blindfolded, their identity - by asking only "yes" or "no" questions.
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Is Everybody Listening?
Title: Is Everybody Listening?
Character: Fred Allen - Fred Allen Radio Program
Released: September 5, 1947
Type: Movie
A documentary about the 82% of US citizens that listen to the radio for their entertainment, news and sport.
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It's in the Bag!
Title: It's in the Bag!
Character: Fred Floogle
Released: April 21, 1945
Type: Movie
The ringmaster of a flea circus inherits a fortune...if he can find which chair it's hidden in.
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Love Thy Neighbor
Title: Love Thy Neighbor
Character: Fred Allen
Released: December 27, 1940
Type: Movie
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.
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Buck Benny Rides Again
Title: Buck Benny Rides Again
Character: Fred Allen (voice)
Released: May 31, 1940
Type: Movie
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.
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Sally, Irene and Mary
Title: Sally, Irene and Mary
Character: Gabby Green
Released: March 4, 1938
Type: Movie
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.
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Thanks a Million
Title: Thanks a Million
Character: Ned Lyman
Released: November 13, 1935
Type: Movie
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.
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The Still Alarm
Title: The Still Alarm
Character: First Fireman
Released: June 30, 1930
Type: Movie
Two hotel guests are told the hotel is on fire, but the other guests and firefighters seem unconcerned.
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Fred Allen's Prize Playlets
Title: Fred Allen's Prize Playlets
Released: November 25, 1929
Type: Movie
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.
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The Installment Collector
Title: The Installment Collector
Character: Newspaper Editor
Released: April 19, 1929
Type: Movie