Freeman Fisher Gosden

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Freeman Fisher "Gozzie" Gosden (May 5, 1899 – December 10, 1982) was an American radio comedian, and pioneer in the development of the situation comedy form. He is best known for his work in the Amos 'n' Andy series.

[edit] Biography

Freeman Gosden was born in Richmond, Virginia. During World War I he served in the United States Navy as a wireless operator, which prompted his great interest in the young medium of radio. While attending school in Richmond, Gozzie worked part time in Tarrant's Drug Store at 1 West Broad Street.

In 1921 Gosden first teamed up with Charles Correll to do radio work, presenting comedy acts, sketches, and hosting variety shows. Their first regular show came in 1925 with their WEBH Chicago show Correll and Gosden, the Life of the Party. On this show the two told jokes, sang, and played music (Correll played piano and Gosden banjo).

In 1926 Gosden and Correll had a hit with their radio show Sam & Henry on Chicago radio station WGN. Sam & Henry is considered by some historians to have been the first situation comedy.

From 1928 to 1960 Gosden and Correll broadcast their Amos 'n' Andy show, which was one of the most famous and popular shows on radio in the 1930s. Gosden voiced the characters "Amos", "George 'Kingfish' Stevens","Lightning", "Brother Crawford", and some dozen other characters.

In 1977, Correll was inducted in the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame along with Gosden.[1]

Freeman Gosden died from congestive heart failure in Los Angeles, California in 1982 at the age of 83.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "NAB Hall of Fame", National Association of Broadcasters. Retrieved on 2008-05-03. 
  2. ^ "Freeman F. Gosden is Dead at 83. Amos in Radio's 'Amos 'n Andy'", New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-24. "Freeman F. Gosden, who created the role of Amos in Amos 'n Andy, the comedy in Negro dialect that was one of the most popular and longest-running programs on radio, died yesterday morning at the U.C.L.A. Medical Center in Los Angeles of heart failure." 

[edit] External links