What was this show about?

[Will]

What was this show about?

[W.J. Griffin]

When this show first premiered on radio back in the 1920's it wasn't even about "Amos 'n' Andy". "Sam 'n' Henry", which was first broadcast from WGN in Chicago in January of 1926 detailed the misadventures of a couple of young Black Men from Alabama who moved to Chicago in search of a better life. Of course, once they arrived in the big city, Sam and Henry discovered things were not as easy as it seemed.

Within months of its beginnings "Sam 'n' Henry" became a regional hit and the show's creators...Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, two white song-and-dance men who had dabbled in blackface comedy...felt the show would be an even bigger hit if they leased recordings of the show to other radio stations. But the owners of WGN weren't having it, "Sam 'n' Henry" was their's exclusively, so Gosden and Correll went to rival Station WMAQ with their "chainless chain" style syndication idea, and in March of 1928 began a similar show..."Amos 'n' Andy"...which, of course became an even BIGGER hit than "Sam 'n' Henry" ever was!

For a more detailed description of the events described above go to "Amos 'n' Andy In Person" by Elizabeth McLeod (http://www.midcoast.com/~lizmcl/aa.html) or ask her in person at the Amos 'n' Andy Discussion Group (http://disc.server.com/Indices/8108.html). Tell 'em Wm. J. Griffin sent ya!

[Roy5]

The show itself revolved mostly around the antics of George "Kingfish" Stevens, initially intended as a supporting character, who became the true "star" of the show. Kingfish was a con-artist always scheming to make it big somehow, and Andy Brown, who co-owned the Fresh Air Cab Company with Amos Jones, was his constant foil.

Andy was a lazy bachelor who was always chasing after a quick buck or dodging matrimony. Amos was the level-headed character, very hard-working, religious and devoted to his wife and little girl. He would often introduce the episode at the beginning, and in many cases extricate Andy from some kind of jam.

-roy5