The Original Amos 'n' Andy - by Elizabeth McLeod (Paperback)

About the Book

They were pioneers of modern entertainment: theirs was the first serial program specifically devised for broadcast, and the first to feature continuing characters. They invented the concept of broadcast syndication. At its height, their show was required nightly listening for a third of the nation. Many still remember it fondlyjust not in polite company. Amos n Andy, the creation of Charles Correll and Freeman Gosden, has been excoriated as a nightly racial slur, an unpleasant artifact of Americas racist past. Most critical evaluations are based upon the shows later television and radio episodes aired after Correll and Gosden had surrendered creative control, and ignore the bulk of their workover 4000 radio episodes, carefully penned by the actors, which differ markedly from the later works. Their legacy is undoubtedly mixed, but a close examination of those early radio scripts, many the only surviving record of a show, offers surprising insight into Amos n Andy and begs for a fair assessment of Charles Correll and Freeman Gosdens place in radio history.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"extensive roster of cast and credits...notes are detailed...illustrations are plentiful"-SPERDVAC Radiogram; "interesting"-In the Groove Magazine; "an important record"-Communication Booknotes Quarterly.

About the Author

Elizabeth McLeod is a journalist and broadcast historian. She lives and works on the coast of Maine.