by Delmer Padgett

Created on: May 04, 2010

Like many of the great comedy performers from radios golden age Fred Allen got his start in vaudeville, where he had developed several quality comedy routines that he had written himself. Allen's unique voice and dry comic delivery made him especially suited for radio. Allen's show was first broadcast over the CBS radio network in October 1932 and quickly became one of the hits of that season.

In its early years the program had different titles in accordance with the sponsor it had at the time. It was known variously as; "The Salad Bowl Revue", "The Linit Show", "The Texaco Star Theater" and others before it finally came to be called simply "The Fred Allen Show". Fred Allen was a very talented comedy writer and though he employed a writing staff, composed most of his radio material himself. Allen was among the first to base much of his program on political and social commentary and today he is regarded as one of the fathers of political satire.

The series guest stars included the cream of Hollywood's talent and many performers who would go on to be very famous ( such as Frank Sinatra and Jerry Colonna) got their start in radio on "The Fred Allen Show". The most popular regular feature of the show was when Allen and co-star Portland Hoffa (Allen's real life wife) made their weekly visit to "Allen's Alley" and asked its residents a topical question of the day. Among the alleys population were; aspiring over the top actor "Falstaff Openshaw" played by Alan Reed (who would later become the voice of "Fred Flintstone"), comical housewife "Mrs Nussbaum" played by Minerva Pious, "Titus Moody" voiced by Parker Fennelly and "Ajax Cassady"  portrayed by Peter Donald.

The alleys most popular citizen was southern "Senator Claghorne" portrayed by program announcer Kenny Delmar. "Claghorne" answered his door with "Somebody, Ah say somebodys knockin on my door". This and other of his expressions; such as, "That's a joke son" became national catch phrases. "Senator Claghornes" expressions and vocal style were later used for cartoon character "Foghorn Leghorn", the southern fried rooster of "Looney Tunes" fame.

Among the things "The Fred Allen Show" is best remembered for is Allen's long time feud with fellow radio star Jack Benny. The feud started in December 1936 when a 10 year old violin prodigy appeared on Allen's show and Fred made several comments about how poorly Jack Benny played the violin. Benny picked up on this and started insulting Allen on his next program. The two comics actually liked each other, but the feud supplied so much good material for each series, enough that they kept it going for years.

Many of radios great programs met their demise due too televisions rising popularity, but "The Fred Allen Show" saw its end from radio competition. In 1948 "Stop The Music" a quiz show hosted by Bert Parks (later longtime master of ceremonies for the MIss America beauty pageants) appeared on rival network ABC and took many of Allen's listeners. Despite Fred Allen's great efforts to win back his audience the hand writing was on the wall. The last broadcast of "The Fred Allen Show" was on June 26, 1949, his last guest star was Jack Benny. The two real life friends wouldn't have had it any other way.

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