Our act ended with a typical boy-girl song, which led into the both of us dancing together. During this dance we used a gimmick which I think I originated. It's been used many times over the years--in fact, it's still being used and it still works. Gracie and I would dance together, and four times during the number I would stop the music--we would tell a joke--and then continue dancing. It went like this:

[George and Gracie go into a dance]

GEORGE
Stop!
[music stops]
Gracie, how is your cousin?

GRACIE
You mean the one who died?

GEORGE
Yeah.

GRACIE
Oh, he's fine now.

GEORGE
Music! [music starts and the dance continues]

GEORGE
Stop!
[music stops]
Gracie, how's your uncle Harvey?

GRACIE
Oh, last night he fell down the stairs with a bottle of scotch and never spilled a drop.

GEORGE
Really?

GRACIE
Yeah, he kept his mouth closed.

GEORGE
Music!
[music starts and dance continues]

GEORGE
Stop!
[music stops]

GRACIE
My sister Bessie had a brand new-baby.

GEORGE
Boy or girl?

GRACIE
I don't know, and I can't wait to get home to find out if I'm an aunt or an uncle.

GEORGE
Music!
[music starts and dance continues]

GEORGE
Stop!
[music stops]
A funny thing happened to my mother in Cleveland.

GRACIE
I thought you were born in Buffalo.

GEORGE
Music!
[music up--and into dancing exit]

Well, that was the routine Gracie and I did the first time at the Palace. And we were really a big hit. I know, I was there.

      --George Burns