The Burns & Allen Show's First Commercial

Back in the 1950's, commercials were often written into the stories of the shows. Technically, you could say that the opening credits were THE first commercial, since it did say "Carnation evaporated milk is proud to present..." However, the sponsors often owned the shows, and the company name was generally thought to be part of the serie's name. For instance, The Colgate Comedy Hour.

In this clip, Gracie is talking to a tax assessor who can't seem to get her to understand that taxes fund the government, as well as social services (police, fire fighters, etc). The commercial part is very brief here, so pay attention or you'll miss it.

Several episodes are available at HoughsVideos.50Megs.Com

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• comedy
• tv
• television
• george
• burns
• gracie
• allen
• commercial
• milk
• carnation
• ad
• humor

[HoughsVideos]

This is the FIRST commercial on the FIRST EPISODE. Since this is the FIRST EPISODE, and the FIRST commercial in this episode, then any commercials that followed can't be the first.

[Vanhallen5150]

Is that May Quistel (the person that played Betty Boop)?

[deneui]

This is cool. However, while this is from the first season, it isn't the first episode. THIS is the first episode -- although it is mislabeled on YouTube: v= 3HYHYNKAA0I You can tell that it's the first episode by watching George introduce everything in the beginning, and is that's not enough, check the end (at around 29:00) where George says that they are thrilled to be on television and they're happy to be associated with Carnation Milk. This was their 1st show of the 1st season.

[gregoryagogo]

So great!

[VinylCountryMusic]

They should put the full seasons out, Burns and Allen were comic geniuses, they should release all of the episodes, almost all the DVDs out there are so grainy that you can hardly see them, they deserve better, they should atleast put something out that is as good of picture as the I Love Lucy DVDs, people would buy them, I never get tired of Gracie

[cubanbach]

THANK YOU, VCM! What a find! You're very kind! Gracie was the best...I think I was born too late! :)

[VinylCountryMusic]

There are a few good releases out there, if you are willing to pay, the radio shows are more common to find, if you go to "theburnsandallenshow dot blogspot dot com " , someone has uploaded high quality copies of the radio show, they are great, Gracie is hillarious

[cubanbach]

WHY OH WHY don't they finally but ALL THOSE YEARS on DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am tired of getting Gracie piece meal like this!

[fromthesidelines]

This was ONE of the first "integrated" commercials seen on the show in 1950. The first one {on October 12, 1950} featured Bill Goodwin describing an incident at the airport to George, and he turns it into a Carnation "commerical".

[Beatlebabyagain]

I loved the Burns and Allen Show. Gracie was so funny.