I’ve always been curious of the 1951 Classic TV show Amos N Andy
Let’s step back in time here. Amos n Andy were first on the radio from 1928-1950 and the ratings were high for the funny show of two black guys who lived in a farm in the south, who one day decide to head out to the big city of Chicago with just $24.00. Sounds good so far, only one problem, the two black guys were played by two white guys, Freeman Gosden, and Charles Correll. They not only voiced Amos n Andy, they also wrote the script for the show. And the show was an instant hit. Everything stopped in America when the show came on. But let’s face it, the fact that the characters were played by white guys which appeared in black-face in a series of movies, was insulting to America’s black communities, who at the time were engaged in an emerging civil rights movement.
CBS decides to get real, or shall we say take a chance at “being real.” They felt if the funny story of Amos n Andy was coming to TV, the characters should all be black, period. CBS pays a fortune for the television rights and assembles an awesome all black cast, Alvin Childress as Amos, Spencer Williams, Jr. as Andy, Tim Moore as “Kingfish” Stevens, and Johnnie Lee as the fast-talking lawyer Algonquin J. Calhoun and others.
At the time there weren’t many black actors on TV sitcoms, although there were some, the roles they played were that of maids, or butlers. Amos n Andy like most 1950′s comedies had, an all-encompassing set of funny characters and goofy plot lines, but it did portray African Americans as lawyers, doctors, and business owners, something that was never seen until this show. And not one show had anything to do with race. And both white and black audiences loved the show.
At the time however, many civil rights leaders didn’t like, no matter how popular the show was, a show which portrayed blacks as half-wits. The leaders felt that blacks should be given other serious roles on television, not just comedic ones. And because of the history of Amos n Andy (white playing black) the civil rights leaders saw it as a part of TV that blacks should not participate in, if anything, it was a history they wanted to erase and blot out of their minds for good.
CBS succumbed to the pressures of the civil rights leaders in 1953, just two years after a successful start, the show was canceled. CBS distributed the reruns in syndication and the ratings shot through the roof on local stations. Again the black leaders demanded the series be completely removed and in 1966 CBS does despite the economic impact for them as well as there affiliates.
I am getting the Amos N Andy
Update: I got to watch a few episodes and Amos n Andy is hilarious! You will fall in love with the half-wit, but lovable Andy, con-man, but extremely funny, “Kingfish,” fast-talking, preacher like, Calhoun, and Amos, the quiet and philosophical cabdriver. Awesome writing and cast. I LOVE the show!
2 Responses to “Classic TV Amos n Andy: Much Ado About Nothing”
I am a classic movie fan since the early 70s when I stayed up all night just to watch Mae West films at 3am Saturday mornings. Re Amos & Andy, most people today such as myself are too young to remember the TV show. I think we get the TV show and what we heard of the radio show mixed up. At the time I understand that many blacks did not like the show which portrayed blacks as half-wits. Many may have felt that blacks should be given other serious roles on television, not just comedic ones. This argument had been going on thru the 1970s. Fortunately in 2011 things have changed BUT as far as movies, the same discussion is being played out between the types of films that Tyler Perry produces. Many blacks, regardless of what you have heard, are offended my his films. Why would a man have to play the lead as a female in a comedic role? When I saw him in Star Trek 2010, I thought he would change his acting credentials. He did not since he came out with another Medea movie. Many blacks are sick of the type of films that go back to slavery and after, such as Oprah Winfrey’s Beloved. She never understood why that movie did not do well but we are sick of going back, back, back. Directors such as Spike Lee, the Hughes Brothers and others try to provide serious movies about blacks, biographical, current and futuristic. Their movies integrate blacks with whites and in the Hughes brothers case, directing all types of films such as the film In Hell with Johnny Depp. This is what I am waiting for – movies that provide us in the middle class day to day way of life since, contrary to what people think, most blacks today are middle class. We also want movies that show what the world is like today – we are integrated as a society. Take a portion of that focusing on a black family is fine but today situatons and families have changed. Also, I wish Hollywood would provide us with fresh material instead of going back and remaking classics. If you have to go back, re-make bad movies.
Agreed with all you said here. I sometimes think Hollywood lives in a world made up by them in their heads. They can’t get out of “fantasy” land. Just look at the atrocious movies that flop each and every time they think it will be a success. They are out of touch with mainstream America. I can understand your frustration with how blacks are portrayed in film & with the Tyler movies. I’ve only watched a couple of those, and like you said, it’s gotten old. I think Tyler can do better. Movies dealing with the past history of blacks have their place, but movies produced today shouldn’t be just about the history. Let’s show serious movies of what is going today with middle class black families, and other minorities for that matter. I think when one focuses on the past, one stays there. It is time for Hollywood to move forward. Don’t know that it will happen in our life time. There are powers that be in Hollywood that even the best producers have no control over. I wouldn’t hold my breath. And as far as going back and remaking “bad movies” it will be hard to do, because in my mind, there are no bad classics!
So happy to meet a classic movie fanatic as myself!