Bob Burns
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Born Name:
Robin Burn
Born Date: August 2, 1890
Born Place: Greenwood, Arkansas
Died Date: February 2, 1956
Died Place: Encino, California
Occupations: Film, radio, actor, comedian
Brief Biography: Bob Burns was a highly influential American radio and film comedian during the 1930s and 1940s, known as "The Arkansas Traveler" and "The Arkansas Philosopher". Famous for his homespun "hillbilly" stories and his self-invented musical instrument, the bazooka, he was a major comedic figure of his era.
Early Life and "Bazooka" Invention:
Musical Beginnings: As a teenager, he played trombone and cornet in the local band and formed his own string band.
The Bazooka: Around 1905, while practicing in a plumbing shop, he created a novelty instrument from a gas pipe, a funnel, and a whiskey glass. He named it a "bazooka," a term he coined from "bazoo" (meaning a loud-mouthed person).
Military Service: During World War I, he served as a sergeant in the Marine Corps, leading a jazz band in Europe and playing his bazooka.
Radio and Film Career:
Breakthrough: After working in vaudeville, he made a major breakthrough in 1935 by auditioning for Paul Whiteman’s radio show, where he was an instant hit with his improvised Arkansas stories.
Kraft Music Hall: He became a regular with Bing Crosby on the Kraft Music Hall (1936–1941), telling tales of his fictional relatives "Uncle Fud" and "Aunt Doody".
Radio Show: He later had his own programs, The Arkansas Traveler (1941–1943) and The Bob Burns Show (1943–1947).
Film Roles: He appeared in numerous comedies, including Rhythm on the Range (1936) with Bing Crosby, Mountain Music (1937), and Our Leading Citizen (1939).
Style: Known as a "philosophical hillbilly" or "Arkansas Traveler," he portrayed a self-effacing, humorous character who, while appearing as a rustic, often outwitted city slickers.
Personal Life and Later Years:
Wealth: A successful investor in real estate, he retired from entertainment in 1947.
Final Years: He lived on his 200-acre model farm in Canoga Park, California.
Legacy: He was posthumously inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. The military rocket launcher developed in WWII was named a "bazooka" after his instrument.
Born Date: August 2, 1890
Born Place: Greenwood, Arkansas
Died Date: February 2, 1956
Died Place: Encino, California
Occupations: Film, radio, actor, comedian
Brief Biography: Bob Burns was a highly influential American radio and film comedian during the 1930s and 1940s, known as "The Arkansas Traveler" and "The Arkansas Philosopher". Famous for his homespun "hillbilly" stories and his self-invented musical instrument, the bazooka, he was a major comedic figure of his era.
Early Life and "Bazooka" Invention:
Musical Beginnings: As a teenager, he played trombone and cornet in the local band and formed his own string band.
The Bazooka: Around 1905, while practicing in a plumbing shop, he created a novelty instrument from a gas pipe, a funnel, and a whiskey glass. He named it a "bazooka," a term he coined from "bazoo" (meaning a loud-mouthed person).
Military Service: During World War I, he served as a sergeant in the Marine Corps, leading a jazz band in Europe and playing his bazooka.
Radio and Film Career:
Breakthrough: After working in vaudeville, he made a major breakthrough in 1935 by auditioning for Paul Whiteman’s radio show, where he was an instant hit with his improvised Arkansas stories.
Kraft Music Hall: He became a regular with Bing Crosby on the Kraft Music Hall (1936–1941), telling tales of his fictional relatives "Uncle Fud" and "Aunt Doody".
Radio Show: He later had his own programs, The Arkansas Traveler (1941–1943) and The Bob Burns Show (1943–1947).
Film Roles: He appeared in numerous comedies, including Rhythm on the Range (1936) with Bing Crosby, Mountain Music (1937), and Our Leading Citizen (1939).
Style: Known as a "philosophical hillbilly" or "Arkansas Traveler," he portrayed a self-effacing, humorous character who, while appearing as a rustic, often outwitted city slickers.
Personal Life and Later Years:
Wealth: A successful investor in real estate, he retired from entertainment in 1947.
Final Years: He lived on his 200-acre model farm in Canoga Park, California.
Legacy: He was posthumously inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. The military rocket launcher developed in WWII was named a "bazooka" after his instrument.