Today in history: Charles Correll

steemizen (69)in #history • 8 years ago

Hello Steemians!

Welcome to today's episode of the "Today in History" serial, where I bring you daily historical facts and events of the current date.

On February 2. 1890. the American radio comedian, Charles James Correll, was born.

He was born in Peoria in Illinois and before becoming and radio comedian he worked as a stenographer and bricklayer.

Correll was best known for the show Amos 'n' Andy, one of the first radio comedy series ever, where he gave voice to one of the main characters, Andy Brown alongside other supporting characters.

While working for the Joe Bren Producing Company in Durham, he met Freeman Fisher Gosden, with whom he had partnered up and started the Amos 'n' Andy show, with the first episode aired on March 19. 1928.

Freeman and Correll were broadcasting the episodes of Amos 'n' Andy from their vacation resort at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin.
From 1928. to 1934. they didn't take a single vacation from the show.

On March 19. 1958. for the 30th anniversary of Amos 'n' Andy, Correll and Gosden used their real voices and real names.

In 1927. Correll married Marie Janes, the marriage lasted 10 years and they got divorced in 1937.
With his second wife Alyce McLauhlin, who he married the same year, he had six children, of whom two sons, Richard and Charles Junior, followed in their father's footsteps.

Alyce and Charles

They aired their last episode of Amos 'n' Andy on November 25. 1960.
In 1969. Correll got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Amos 'n' Andy team entered the Radio Hall of Fame in 1962. and Gosden and Correll were inducted in the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1977.

After retiring in 1962. both Correll and Gosden moved to Beverly Hills in California.
At the age of 82, Correll suffered a hearth attack which was followed by his death on September 26. 1972.