Amos 'n Andy - Call Lehigh 4-9900 3 of 3

First aired: 2/21/1952

The Kingfish accidentally answers a newspaper ad for a lonely hearts club, and when a girl shows up at his office, Andy poses as the Kingfish.

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• sitcom
• tv
• show
• cult
• classic
• 1950s
• television

[calhouric]

I loved these shows and am sorry that some may still find them offensive (perhaps understandably, given a history of ugly black face humor). My own feeling is that they were amazingly funny in the early 1950s and even more amazingly still are today.  I nearly choked laughing several times.

One choice Kingfishism I recall is him telling Andy before launching one of his classic flim flams, "Now Andy let's Simonize our watches"

[matthias1949]

That particular malpropism is from The Society Party episode that you can also find on my channel.

[ladyvolsfans]

"ain't you ever worked no place, you bum?" oh my goodness, is that ever funny!!!! and I so totally agree with calthevin1's comments above: You see blacks in roles you never saw before on tv. You see black cops black judges. This show has allot more heart then most of the black ghetto shows of today. THANKS so very much for posting.,.,

[joblack05]

A long time ago,but Classic Comedy!

Loved it

[DNRGamebirds]

Isn't that Eric Holder standing up?

[jahlaune]

That sapphire is just too much!

[418cjpaul]

a very touching episode that transcends race...

[Lampshade51]

I really think this show got a bum rap. While Kingfish, Andy, Calhoon and Lightnin' are obviously played broad for laughs, they are surrounded by (as has been mentioned) a mostly black cast of people in other roles speaking normally and acting without the usual black stereotypes of the era. I think this is probably the earliest example I have ever seen of this on screen. That in itself should merit consideration.

[sethaus75]

@calhouric Certainly aspects are stereotypical and moderately offensive. But I'm also stunned by how well black people are represented in this show in other aspects, espcially in light of the period. Rarely do you see black people in films or TV of the caliber of some of these characters. Aside from a couple of the main characters, these are well-spoken, professional, smart and dignified black people. Even the Cosby Show didn't offer this depth of strong and successful blacks.

[maverick10241]

@IstvanN1961 your so right i don't even watch this stuff on TV of today i watch these old shows like Amos n Andy, and the ones they have on tv4u they have a great bunch of old TV shows on that one and its free to watch.but these are the best and its a dam pity that people lost out on seeing them because of the NAACP.

[IstvanN1961]

@maverick10241 Thank you. It is just as silly as The Honeymooners or I Love Lucy. Ralph and Ed or Lucy and Ethel are really no different than Andy and the Kingfish. Saphire, the long suffering wife and her mean old mother who treats Kingfish like Alice's mother treats Ralph. Good, clean, silly humor. Which is a lot more than you can say about today's nasty TV.

[WSenator1]

At 8:15 - two of the writers, Connelly and Mosher, later wrote for "Leave It To Beaver" and "The Munsters." Also, the show was produced at Hal Roach Studios - earlier home of Laurel and Hardy, and Our Gang (the Little Rascals).

[Tpg4lyfe1]

Before you guys post your comments, please do a spell check!!!!