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100 Years, 100 Stories
The incredible George Burns celebrates his one hundredth birthday with a priceless gift to his fans - a collection of the stories that have made him one of America's national treasures. George Burns's career has spanned the history of modern show business: he has starred in big-time vaudeville; in radio, television, the movies, and the recording industry; and on the nightclub stage. His books have topped bestseller lists for years. Now this beloved show business centenarian serves up a treat for his fans in a book of his favorite and funniest stories, each and every one from his own private stock. From recollections of events in his past to tales about friends and performers who have crossed his path - including Al Jolson, Groucho Marx, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Ann-Margret, and Goldie Hawn - George Burns brings his unique, dry humor to each unforgettable story.
214 pages, Hardcover
First published January 26, 1996
5 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
George Burns
95 books77 followersPopular American comedian acted George Burns, originally Nathan Birnbaum from 1922 teamed with Gracie Allen, his wife, to 1958; after her death, he in dramatic roles won an Academy Award for
The Sunshine Boys
(1975).
Career of this writer spanned vaudeville, film, radio, and television. His familiar arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation lasted for more than three quarters of a century. He enjoyed a career resurrection that began in the 1975 and continued through his death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
Career of this writer spanned vaudeville, film, radio, and television. His familiar arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation lasted for more than three quarters of a century. He enjoyed a career resurrection that began in the 1975 and continued through his death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 26, 2024
George Burns was a treasure but this book was disappointing.
February 21, 2022
Everyone remembers George Burns as a hilarious comedian and comedic actor, and I always enjoyed his wit and humor. This short book is filled with 100 stories about events that happened throughout his lifetime. While many of them are amusing, only a handful made me laugh out loud. A few of these stories didn't make any sense (perhaps b/c they referred to people or topics from bygone era).
While this book wasn't quite as humorous as I had hoped for, I enjoyed parts of it and plan to read other books from George to see if they make me giggle as much as the funny man once did.
While this book wasn't quite as humorous as I had hoped for, I enjoyed parts of it and plan to read other books from George to see if they make me giggle as much as the funny man once did.
November 22, 2015
Somehow this book became gold for me at work. As a youngster I despised George Burns and his brand of cheap sexist humor, but now I see his material through a "Mad Men" anthropological lens. Thanks to my grandfather and father who were Borscht Belt comedians, I can even do the accents and correct timing of the punch lines. I find that I can read aloud from this book to almost anyone over 75, and they will laugh. Even people who do not normally laugh. Some people laugh so much they start coughing and can't stop. Who knew that George Burns could elicit such mirth in 2015? I sure learned a lesson. People want to laugh. They need to laugh. And I can find a way to be funny for them.
February 2, 2016
An amusing little collection of stories and jokes from George Burns. I think some of them were true, but with his style of humor, it is not always possible to tell. Lots of Hollywood history in here. If you like George Burns, you'll like this book. If you don't, you won't. If you don't know who George Burns is, you are young and probably don't read non-electric books anyway.
June 9, 2010
A funny little book. I think it resembles the current Chicken Soup books with the theme being his life. As I read all the names in the stories it reminded me of Forest Gump. He knew a lot of people over the years and it sounds like they were all characters. I guess I should have expected it.
June 20, 2018
When I was a teenager in the 1980s my late grandmother asked me to go with her to see George Burns when he was doing a show at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA. She said he was the last of the Vaudville actors and since I liked history it would be good to see it. While I had seen the "Oh God" movies, I really wasn't all that thrilled as a teenager to go see an 80+ year old man do a comedy act but I couldn't say no to my grandmother and she had spent what was a lot of money for her on the tickets.
To my amazement, Mr. Burns kept me interested and laughing every moment of his show. He showed absolute confidence and mastery of the stage, and while some of his jokes were dated and he talked about old time actors I only vaguely knew of, his performance was amazing. He actually smoked a cigar the whole time! Although the show lasted maybe an hour over 30 years ago I still remember it vividly.
I came across this book for a dollar at a used book sale, and I am glad I picked it up. This was Mr. Burns' final book. He had not recovered from a bad fall and while he made it to age 100, he was not able to perform. But his 100 stories in this book come across just like he spoke. I devoured the book over 2 days and enjoyed it very much. It took me back to that performance I saw one time 30+ years ago.
If you want to learn a little bit about old time stage actors and film actors, and learn that yes, you can laugh and have a good time without crude language, overt sexuality and meanness, read this book. I remember Mr. Burns ended his show with a wonderful little song about how he wished to be 18 again, a song a teenager might not be expected to like, but which had me give him a standing ovation. He was a unique and talented man.
To my amazement, Mr. Burns kept me interested and laughing every moment of his show. He showed absolute confidence and mastery of the stage, and while some of his jokes were dated and he talked about old time actors I only vaguely knew of, his performance was amazing. He actually smoked a cigar the whole time! Although the show lasted maybe an hour over 30 years ago I still remember it vividly.
I came across this book for a dollar at a used book sale, and I am glad I picked it up. This was Mr. Burns' final book. He had not recovered from a bad fall and while he made it to age 100, he was not able to perform. But his 100 stories in this book come across just like he spoke. I devoured the book over 2 days and enjoyed it very much. It took me back to that performance I saw one time 30+ years ago.
If you want to learn a little bit about old time stage actors and film actors, and learn that yes, you can laugh and have a good time without crude language, overt sexuality and meanness, read this book. I remember Mr. Burns ended his show with a wonderful little song about how he wished to be 18 again, a song a teenager might not be expected to like, but which had me give him a standing ovation. He was a unique and talented man.
June 27, 2019
.I Purchased a copy of this book. This is my personal review.
Book Notes:
Format: Hardcover
Title: 100 years, 100 stories - I like the title
Cover: Picture of George Burns in a Gold and Black Frame - I Like it.
About the Book:
One story for every year that he had been alive, George Burns shared the stories he'd told for years to family, friends and audiences, as a parting gift to those that were interested in knowing them.
My Review:
I am so glad I found this book, I love Burns and Allen, and I adore, "Gracie: A Love Story", but this book felt different, it was just George telling his stories. Some of the stories went places, some did not. Others were sweet, a few were random and a handful were 'inside stories'. Still, all the stories shared the same charming narrative, even if you couldn't tell which ones were really true. What I liked most about the book, and what I wished there was more of, were the Author's notes, that's when it felt like you were really hearing him, not so much the character with the big finish (like the stories had). It was short and sweet, and the extra free stories at the end left me still wanting so much more from a legend of a person.
Side Note: After reading this story, I found a documentary on his life called, "The George Burns Story: A Century of Laughter" with footage of George Burns telling some of the stories in his routine which was pretty cool.
Quote that best sums up the book:
Book Notes:
Format: Hardcover
Title: 100 years, 100 stories - I like the title
Cover: Picture of George Burns in a Gold and Black Frame - I Like it.
About the Book:
One story for every year that he had been alive, George Burns shared the stories he'd told for years to family, friends and audiences, as a parting gift to those that were interested in knowing them.
My Review:
I am so glad I found this book, I love Burns and Allen, and I adore, "Gracie: A Love Story", but this book felt different, it was just George telling his stories. Some of the stories went places, some did not. Others were sweet, a few were random and a handful were 'inside stories'. Still, all the stories shared the same charming narrative, even if you couldn't tell which ones were really true. What I liked most about the book, and what I wished there was more of, were the Author's notes, that's when it felt like you were really hearing him, not so much the character with the big finish (like the stories had). It was short and sweet, and the extra free stories at the end left me still wanting so much more from a legend of a person.
Side Note: After reading this story, I found a documentary on his life called, "The George Burns Story: A Century of Laughter" with footage of George Burns telling some of the stories in his routine which was pretty cool.
Quote that best sums up the book:
"How about that - a hundred years old and I'm still learning" (pg 12)
June 19, 2022
It is quite common for comedians (at least the amateurs) to steal jokes from one another. Milton Berle is so well known for this that he made it a part of his persona and personal legend, George Burns was, of course, a contemporary of Milton Berle, but does not appear to have stolen any of his jokes.
To celebrate his 100th birthday, George Burns promises 100 jokes or stories or anecdotes. As was not unusual for him, he over-delivers. The stories he tells are usually very amusing, and the book as a whole is very entertaining. For the most part, however, these are not a list of jokes one could readily tell to others, nor even make your own, as they primarily involve personalities long dead, but whose fame and familiarity are essential to many of the stories. (A grand exception to this description is Chapter Eighty-Four, which is a joke that should prove to be timeless, and which made me actually laugh out loud!)
This book also has an advantage of being somewhat autobiographical, and thus giving the reader additional insight into the interesting person that George buns was. He was very obviously worth knowing. going through this book is not unlike sitting of the porch with an old, but quick-witted, neighbor. It is friendly and relaxing and makes you glad you came to visit.
To celebrate his 100th birthday, George Burns promises 100 jokes or stories or anecdotes. As was not unusual for him, he over-delivers. The stories he tells are usually very amusing, and the book as a whole is very entertaining. For the most part, however, these are not a list of jokes one could readily tell to others, nor even make your own, as they primarily involve personalities long dead, but whose fame and familiarity are essential to many of the stories. (A grand exception to this description is Chapter Eighty-Four, which is a joke that should prove to be timeless, and which made me actually laugh out loud!)
This book also has an advantage of being somewhat autobiographical, and thus giving the reader additional insight into the interesting person that George buns was. He was very obviously worth knowing. going through this book is not unlike sitting of the porch with an old, but quick-witted, neighbor. It is friendly and relaxing and makes you glad you came to visit.
October 11, 2017
I was disappointed ... I have always liked George Burns and thought he was funny. I'm not sure if the jokes didn't translate well to the page, or if I'm just not in the right generation to appreciate the stories in this book, but most of them left me going "huh?" There were a few that had me laughing, but overall it was not as enjoyable as I had anticipated.
October 15, 2019
This was a quick read. Not sure what I think but it was enjoyable. It is amazing to read a comedians words twenty years later and a lot of their jokes are just not funny anymore. But he is definitely a funny guy.
May 29, 2023
This was a cute little book. I grew up watching him. I knew a ton of the people he told stories about, so I really enjoyed that aspect of it. There were a few stories that I didn’t understand at all. Maybe it’s because he is so far ahead of my time. I’m not sure. Fun, quick read.
November 13, 2025
yes 100 stories. some are cute, a few are funny, some make no sense whatsoever. each is a page or two long so not much reading is involved. but he dropped every Hollywood name that moved there from Vaudeville! Say good night Gracie.
January 3, 2018
Name-dropping short bits from one of the best comedians.
February 4, 2019
One hundred very funny stories told by George Burns. A book that I wouldn't mind reading again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2020
I love books that make me laugh.
April 6, 2023
The title intrigued me but who is George burns?
May 20, 2023
Lots of laughs. Lots of entertainment history.
October 4, 2024
This book was filled with a lot of funny stories told only the way George could tell them. I laughed a lot!
April 11, 2025
100 years, 100 stories, only a few of them really good. Quite disappointing. Guess it's a matter of taste.
September 23, 2025
I enjoyed this book because I enjoyed George Burns
February 10, 2017
With the exception of Jack Benny (who is in a category of his own), there are few comedians like George Burns. Timeless humor and brilliant wit. This book of short anecdotes from his life is simply put, funny. The type of "funny" where you can read the same story 2, 3, or 4 times and still laugh riotously each time. He gives a fascinating look into the Vaudeville and Hollywood era of comedy, without any of the cheap tabloid "tell-all" feeling you get with so many of the other auto and biographical books published now. Definitely a book to be read again and again.
January 13, 2016
If you're a fan, you will definitely get some good laughs. The book is a collection of 1- to 3-page stories from his very full life. Reading, I could hear George regaling his audience as from a stage, or maybe Johnny's couch. The book also provides some historical tidbits about vaudeville, the Marxes, Jack Benny, and, of course, his beloved Gracie.
FYI, With books like this, I don't read more than a couple of stories at a time (good for subway platforms); I find it ups the impact of each. If you go straight through, I'm thinking you'd be done in an hour.
FYI, With books like this, I don't read more than a couple of stories at a time (good for subway platforms); I find it ups the impact of each. If you go straight through, I'm thinking you'd be done in an hour.
September 9, 2016
This was a really quick read. The stories were all short and, for the most part, entertaining. George Burns knew pretty much everyone in show business and his wit remains funny even now. Not sure how many of his tales were actually true, but they made me smile and laugh--something we all need every now and then. This is the third book, I've read by him and I must say that I enjoyed the other two much more. So glad that George Burns left us some written material. It would be a shame if all of his memories had been lost from Vaudeville to Radio to Movies to Television--he did it all.
October 30, 2009
A wonderful collection of stories/jokes from George Burns about himself, Gracie, and their friends over the years. While reading the book you can almost hear Burns' voice, as the stories are written with his particular comedic delivery. It's a very easy read as well, as all of the stories are pretty short. And just to show that Burns hadn't lost his edge upon reaching 100 years old, the preface and author's notes are written just as well as the rest of the book.
April 22, 2010
I love George Burns, but some how I was expecting more from this. Some stories made me giggle out loud, some just fell flat -- I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. Worth reading if you're a fan of Burns and entertainers from his time. (And for the record, my favorite stories are 58, 64, and 79.)
February 27, 2013
A wonderful book of 1 to 3 page anecdotal stories. I've always loved George Burns, though he was about 66 when I was born. If your older, or a fan of early television and movies, or vaudeville, you'll really enjoy this book. If you're not, but like funny stories, you'll probably still enjoy it.
December 6, 2011
I liked him but this book wasn't as funny as I thought it would be. It was pretty old timey and vaudeville like and I don't find much humor in that but hey, he lived to 100 years old and was a great talent and legend! :)
February 6, 2017
I expected more. These stories are barely anecdotes.
Disappointing.
Disappointing.
September 7, 2009
George recalls 100 humourous events in his life. I laughed out loud several times. Quick read and light-hearted.
Read
August 23, 2010One of the things my grandpa left for me when he passed away because if there's one thing I love it's an old man who can make me smile.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews