The "Amos 'n' Andy" Movie - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

W.J. Griffin · 09-20-2002, 10:44 AM

For those of you curious about how Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll...the original voices of "Amos" and "Andy"...performed their characters, check out their film from 1930, "Check and Double-Check", which show our boys (in blackface, mind you) going thru their paces in an otherwise bland movie about the romance between their former employer's son and a rich society girl, with Amos and Andy essentially playing comedy-relief in their own film. (Freeman Gosden was so disappointed in this effort that he and Charles Correll turned down a muti-picture deal with RKO).

In 1933 they contracted with the Van Bueren Animation studio to make two "Amos 'n' Andy" cartoons: "The Rasslin' Match" and "The Lion Tamer". Dissatisfied with the lacklustre productin values and the extreme (even for the '30's) racial caricatures, Gosden and Correll declined to make any more cartoons...and were promptly sued for breach-of-promise by Van Bueren (the suit was dropped when Van Bueren went out of business in 1936.)

Gosden and Correll made one more big-screen appearance in "The Big Broadcast of 1936"...after which, except for some early tv appearances they pretty much stuck to radio until the show was cancelled in 1960, and they went on to star in the animated prime-time sitcom "Calvin and the Colonel"...essentially "Amos 'n' Andy" as funny animals.

onefortheroad · 08-09-2003, 12:45 AM

that's cool, i'll hafta check it out, amos 'n' andy rocked

TV Knowledge Fan · 08-28-2006, 06:36 PM

..."W.J."- in "Johnny Came Lately", you might have read the section where Fred DeCordova was asked by Freeman & Charlie to direct a "test kinescope" of them as "Amos & Andy" for CBS during the 1949-'50 season. Either they or the network wanted to see if they could sustain a TV series in addition to their weekly radio show. They appeared, as always, in blackface when portraying their characters in front of the camera. There were some guest stars during that "audition", and DeCordova remembered that after due consideration by the network, Gosden & Correll sent him the only copy of that kinescope [with a generous bonus for his involvement], with orders to burn it. Fred did just that. Later, the boys sent him a plaque proclaiming, "To Our Favorite Director..". Now, why do you suppose they wanted the ONLY copy of that closed circuit kinescope of their ONLY [unaired] TV appearance as "Amos & Andy" destroyed?

09-20-2002, 10:44 AM	#1
W.J. Griffin Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 29, 2002 Posts: 527	The "Amos 'n' Andy" Movie For those of you curious about how Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll...the original voices of "Amos" and "Andy"...performed their characters, check out their film from 1930, "Check and Double-Check", which show our boys (in blackface, mind you) going thru their paces in an otherwise bland movie about the romance between their former employer's son and a rich society girl, with Amos and Andy essentially playing comedy-relief in their own film. (Freeman Gosden was so disappointed in this effort that he and Charles Correll turned down a muti-picture deal with RKO). In 1933 they contracted with the Van Bueren Animation studio to make two "Amos 'n' Andy" cartoons: "The Rasslin' Match" and "The Lion Tamer". Dissatisfied with the lacklustre productin values and the extreme (even for the '30's) racial caricatures, Gosden and Correll declined to make any more cartoons...and were promptly sued for breach-of-promise by Van Bueren (the suit was dropped when Van Bueren went out of business in 1936.) Gosden and Correll made one more big-screen appearance in "The Big Broadcast of 1936"...after which, except for some early tv appearances they pretty much stuck to radio until the show was cancelled in 1960, and they went on to star in the animated prime-time sitcom "Calvin and the Colonel"...essentially "Amos 'n' Andy" as funny animals.

08-09-2003, 12:45 AM	#2
onefortheroad #1 Cheers Fanatic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Location: Boston, waiting for Cheers Season 2 to come out on DVD Posts: 2,359	that's cool, i'll hafta check it out, amos 'n' andy rocked
	__________________ Where Everybody Knows Your Name KRAMER: Oh. So, did you make it through the night? JERRY: Yes, I'm proud to say I did! KRAMER: So, you're still master of your domain. JERRY: Yes. Yes I am. Master of my domain. But I will tell you this: I am going over to (Gestures to the nudist) her apartment, and I'm tellin' her to put those shades down! KRAMER: Woah, woah, woah. What-what did you just say? JERRY: I can't take it anymore! She's driving me crazy! I can't sleep, I can't leave the house, and I' here, I'm climbin' the walls. Meanwhile, I'm dating a virgin, I'm in this contest - something's gotta give!

08-28-2006, 06:36 PM	#3
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	If you've ever read Fred DeCordova's autobiography.. ..."W.J."- in "Johnny Came Lately", you might have read the section where Fred DeCordova was asked by Freeman & Charlie to direct a "test kinescope" of them as "Amos & Andy" for CBS during the 1949-'50 season. Either they or the network wanted to see if they could sustain a TV series in addition to their weekly radio show. They appeared, as always, in blackface when portraying their characters in front of the camera. There were some guest stars during that "audition", and DeCordova remembered that after due consideration by the network, Gosden & Correll sent him the only copy of that kinescope [with a generous bonus for his involvement], with orders to burn it. Fred did just that. Later, the boys sent him a plaque proclaiming, "To Our Favorite Director..". Now, why do you suppose they wanted the ONLY copy of that closed circuit kinescope of their ONLY [unaired] TV appearance as "Amos & Andy" destroyed?