1733405
Amos ‘N’ Andy
Freeman Gosden
Charles Correll
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From the golden age of radio, a great signed photograph of comedians “Amos ‘n’ Andy” circa 1930s
Freeman Fisher Gosden, 1899–1982, and Charles James Correll, 1890–1972. American radio comedians. Vintage 6” x 9” sepia tone photograph inscribed and signed, respectively, Amos and Andy.
Gosden and Correll were the creators and the original voices of Amos Jones and Andrew Hogg Brown as well as other, collateral characters in the early radio comedy Amos ‘n’ Andy. Both white actors, Gosden and Correll conceived the show about two African-Americans and voiced Amos and Andy in dialect.
Although the show would become controversial in the early 1950s when it moved to television, using African-American actors in place of Gosden and Correll, it was extraordinarily popular on radio and had a widespread following among African-American as well as white listeners. It ranks among the classics of radio’s golden age. From its initial broadcast in 1928 on Chicago’s WMAQ, Amos ‘n’ Andy became the first syndicated radio program and the longest-running in broadcast history. It aired some 15 years as a 15-minute nightly sitcom, first on NBC and then on CBS. In 1943, after 4,091 episodes, it became a half-hour weekly comedy on NBC. It returned to CBS in 1948.
During the show’s first decade, Gosden and Correll gave voice not only to Amos and Andy but also to more than 170 male characters.
This photo is by the famed photographers Harris & Ewing of Washington, D.C., whose blind stamp appears in the lower left corner. It shows Gosden and Correll smiling for the camera as they stand outdoors, on steps, wearing dress attire, with top coats and hats. Gosden has inscribed and signed the photograph “To Jean with lots of love and good wishes from Amos ‘n’,” and Correll has added “Andy.”
This is a great photograph from the early days of radio. Gosden and Correll have penned their respective parts in dark blue fountain pen. The photo appears to have been trimmed, likely for prior framing. There are tiny foxing spots on the back. Overall the photograph is in fine condition.
We abhor racism in any form. We offered this photograph because Amos ‘n’ Andy was accepted in its day and because of the important role that it played in the development of radio, and particularly situation comedy.
Unframed.
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