Words of Wisdom from SharLeigh

“SAY GOODNIGHT, GRACIE”

Nathan Birnbaum was born in 1896, the ninth of twelve children. When Nathan’s father died, he entered the work force at the age of 6 years old. He ran errands, shined shoes and sold newspapers. At the age of 7, he was hired as a syrup maker in a candy shop. To stop the boredom, he and the other young boys would practice singing harmony. One day a few people heard them singing and threw pennies at them. That was it for Nathan – no more syrup. Nathan, better known as George Burns, quit school in fourth grade and entered show business. He did everything in those days from trick roller skating, singing and dancing. Along the way, he hooked up with a nice Irish Catholic girl named Gracie Allen. Burns and Allen perfected the “Dumb Dora” act, with Gracie using her illogical logic and George as the understated straight man. The act was very successful – they starred on stage, screen, radio and television. In later years, George summed up their act in this way: “And all of a sudden the audience realized I had talent. They were right. I did have talent – I was married to her for 38 years.” During the advent of television, they formed a corporation and produced many hit shows, including “Mr. Ed” and “No Time for Sergeants.” Gracie died in 1964. George continued in show business, winning an Oscar at the age of 80 for his performance in “The Sunshine Boys.” He never lost his sharp wit, saying things like, “Too bad that all the people who really know how to run the country are busy driving taxi cabs and cutting hair,” and “I can remember when the air was clean and sex was dirty.” Other notable quotes included, “I look to the future because that’s where I’m going to spend the rest of my life,” and “It takes only one drink to get me drunk – trouble is, I can’t remember if it’s the thirteenth or the fourteenth.” George Burns never remarried and died in 1996 at 100 years old. Gracie’s tombstone read: “Gracie Allen Burns – Beloved Wife and Mother.” When George was buried beside her, it was replaced with “Gracie Allen and George Burns – Together Again.”