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The Original Amos 'n' Andy: Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll and the 1928-1943 Radio Serial
This critical reexamination of Amos 'n' Andy, the pioneering creation of Charles Correll and Freeman Gosden, presents an unapologetic but balanced view lacking in most treatments. It relies upon an untapped resource--thousands of pages of scripts from the show's nearly forgotten earliest version, which most clearly reflected the vision of its creators. Consequently, it provides fresh insights and in part refutes the usual blanket condemnations of this groundbreaking show. The text incorporates numerous script excerpts, provides key background information, and also acknowledges the show's importance to radio broadcasting and modern entertainment.
223 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2005
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November 18, 2025
4.49, marked down to 4 stars by Goodreads. Scholarly look at, as the title says, the ORIGINAL concept and version of the now-controversial characters and shows. The author demonstrates, via investigation of the original scripts and contempory accounts from the late 1920s to the 1940s, that "Amos 'n' Andy" and their creators have been the victims of unfounded or exaggerated criticism arising in the 1950s and beyond.
In brief:
--Gosden and Correll were unparalleled in radio entertainment in their ability to create believable characters through sensitive writing and remarkable vocal versatility. They (especially Gosden) and they alone for many years were the voices of dozens of characters.
--The 1928-1943 radio serial, while often quite humorous, was more of a drama than an outright comedy. Very few recordings of this period are available, but the scripts exist (and they were followed verbatim).
--During the remaining years of its existence on radio and the short-lived TV version in the 1950s, the show was a standard "situation comedy" usually with different writers taking over from the creators, who still performed the major roles on the radio show. These situation comedies are what is remembered today -- and recordings exist. The TV show especially can be guilty of "racist" stereotypes.
--Much modern criticism of Amos 'n' Andy is NOT based on fact but rather sloppy analysis that has gown like a snowball through the years.
In brief:
--Gosden and Correll were unparalleled in radio entertainment in their ability to create believable characters through sensitive writing and remarkable vocal versatility. They (especially Gosden) and they alone for many years were the voices of dozens of characters.
--The 1928-1943 radio serial, while often quite humorous, was more of a drama than an outright comedy. Very few recordings of this period are available, but the scripts exist (and they were followed verbatim).
--During the remaining years of its existence on radio and the short-lived TV version in the 1950s, the show was a standard "situation comedy" usually with different writers taking over from the creators, who still performed the major roles on the radio show. These situation comedies are what is remembered today -- and recordings exist. The TV show especially can be guilty of "racist" stereotypes.
--Much modern criticism of Amos 'n' Andy is NOT based on fact but rather sloppy analysis that has gown like a snowball through the years.
Displaying 1 of 1 review