THE
AMOS N'ANDY
SHOW

Amos n' Andy(a fifteen-minute show created by Freeman Gosden and Charles Corell in March 1928) was phenomenal. At its peak, it is said cities literally came to a halt and crime was almost non-existent while the show was being broadcast. People just had to hear their favorite two characters and their daily misfortunes.While the peak of their popularity came during the thirties, the series remained on the air for nearly 30 years. No other series ever came as close to being as popular.

Some people who look back on
Amos n' Andy see it as a mean-spirited exploitation of racial stereotypes. And maybe they're right.The mocking approach to black upward mobility , the mangling of the English language ( "I'se re-gusted," "splain dat to me"), and the fact that two white men played the Negro characters were all elements of racism.These thoughts never entered my mind as I listened to these hilarious shows growing up.I just listened and enjoyed.After all...it was just a comedy routine.

Through out the series some aspects always remained the same...the taxicab company will always be a small enterprise, with a tiny office and a single chair. The grand dreams of Amos will always be laughably impossible to realize. Kingfish will always be the operator, looking for a quick buck, and Andy will always be his victim. The supporting characters--the awesomely stupid Lightnin', the pompous Lawyer Calhoun--will be exactly the same, day in and day out.All this said and done with I hope you enjoy listening to one of my favorite shows...Amos n' Andy.