List of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show episodes

Gracie mistakenly believes George wants to invest in a ranch, so she starts looking for him. George has no such desire, and has Harry Von Zell in a bearded disguise pose as a doctor to tell Gracie that George's health will not allow him to live on a ranch. Harry Morton dabbles in real estate and has his partner Casey (Hal March), wearing the exact same doctor's disguise as von Zell, advise George that he needs to move to a ranch for his health. When the two men wind up in the same room with Gracie, she decides she does not want to buy a ranch after all.

Harry Morton is due for a doctor's examination for an insurance polilcy. Inspired by her dress maker Mary's (Paula Winslowe) account of the Army Reserve improving her husband Charlie's' health, Gracie insists George also enlist in the reserve. George brushes off the idea, and their friend General Peterson (Bert Moorhouse) tells her George is too old. Nevertheless, at her insistence, he sets up George for a physical in the Burns home with an Army doctor (Grandon Rhodes). Harry Morton walks into the Burns living room, and is mistaken for George by the doctor, who pronounces him in perfect health. Gracie realizes the mistake and visits the recruiting office to enlist George, and is told George is too old for the Army. George goes to Harry's house and is mistakenly examined by Dr. Mangrum (Rolfe Sedan), the insurance doctor.

Gracie snags her foot in a worn department store carpet and falls, ruining her stockings. She thinks she damaged their carpet and will be held financially responsible. The store is trying to compensate her so she does not sue them. They offer her $25, but she believes that is what she has to pay. The department store thinks Gracie is negotiating, and eventually offer her $300 and then $500. The store sends Dr. Wilburn (Grandon Rhodes) to examine her, and they raise their offer to $10,000. Mr. Burke (Lester Matthews), the store's claims adjuster, gives George the check and says their doctor will make Gracie normal again. George tears up the check and says he needs Gracie the way she is.^[33]

Morton buys a $200 iron deer for his lawn. When George says he "can't see it", he is referring to Morton's reasoning for buying the deer, but Gracie thinks George is losing his eyesight. Harry tells Gracie she should get some insurance on George in case he has an accident. Arthur Stebbins (Pierre Watkin), the insurance man, suggests to Gracie that George see an eye doctor first. Joseph Kearns, who portrayed an unnamed eye doctor in Season 2, returns as Doctor Merkin to examine George's eyes.^[35][36]

Gracie reads an article which claims one in five men has a secret vice and after asking four other men she concludes George is the one. Meanwhile, Mr. Vanderlip tries to straighten out Gracie's bank account. George and the two Harrys try to sneak off to the fights, while Blanche and Gracie want to go to the movies. George lies and says they want to play cards while the women are gone. In order to convince the women, George and Harry von Zell invent the game of Kleebob on the spot. Gracie however, catches on and says Kleebob is played exactly like a game George once taught her when he wanted to get out of another social event (refer to Season1, Episode 1).^[43][34]

Harry Von Zell absent-mindedly leaves a wrapped gift for "Howard Richards' wife" in the Burns home, after using their telephone. Blanche and Gracie find it, and they believe it was a surprise gift from George. They do not want George to know Gracie does not remember whatever it is for. Blanche and Gracie go out to buy a present for George. He hears about it from someone who saw them shopping, and he also is trying to remember what the occasion is. Gracie invites von Zell to the party, and he does not know the occasion. Gracie hires Mrs. Bellows (Kathryn Card) to cook for the occasion, but she does not know what it is. George makes a bet with Gracie that she does not know what they are celebrating, so she hums, "Happy hmm hmm to you", and claims it is the ninth anniversary of the event. Everyone at the party asks Dobson the butler what the occasion is, but he also does not know. When George hands her a gift, she asks where the other gift was. Harry Von Zell tells her the wrapped gift was accidentally left by him, and he later retrieved it. Lois January appears as Harry's Date. George Eldredge appears as a Party Guest.

When Mrs. Reeves (Isabel Randolph), president of the Beverly Hills League of Women Voters, asks for Gracie's support in the upcoming city council election, Gracie mistakenly thinks she is being asked to run for the office herself. Gracie goes door-to-door campaigning, and gives George her accounts of her experiences on the Beverly Hills campaign trail. Harry Morton refers her to his press agent friend Charles Lowe (Douglas Fowley) to be her campaign manager. In her visit to Beverly Hills Police Chief Rogers (Joseph Crehan), she leaves the impression that there is a gambling den going on in the Burns house, leaving George to straighten it out. Gracie eventually drops out of the race. Martha Wentworth appears as Mrs. Gilbert.

Gracie causes some confusion at the tailor shop where George is being fitted for some suits. When Gracie realizes how much money she thinks she can save by buying wholesale, she orders a full room of kitchen appliances for herself, and duplicates the order for Blanche. After the huge order arrives, a policeman (Robert Foulk) threatens to give George a ticket because all the items are blocking the sidewalk. Gracie says that if the policeman can give tickets to someone else, he certainly can give one to George. George calls the wholesaler up to return everything. When the truck comes, Gracie also gives them the two suits that were just delivered from the tailors. Ronnie Burns appears as Mr. Evans, a customer. Joseph Kearns appears as Mr. Tavelman, George's Tailor. George E. Stone appears as Frankie, Tavelman's assistant.

George invites two newspapermen, Jack Hellman (Ross Elliott) from Variety and Leo Guild (Donald Curtis) from The Hollywood Reporter, over to view George and Gracie's first TV show of the new season. Gracie, meanwhile, goes through a book store and invites total strangers over to the house to watch. Harry von Zell tells Gracie that it probably wasn't a good idea to invite those people over and she should call them and tell them not to come. Gracie misunderstands and calls Helman and Guild to tell them not to come. George gets a hold of the newspapermen and re-invites them. After moving back and forth from George's house and the Morton's house, George, Helman and Guild wind up watching the show in a bar. King Donovan appears as a book store clerk. Irene Tedrow appears as a customer. William Forrest appears as the man with the Greeting Cards.

Gracie wants to throw a surprise baby shower for the mailman's daughter at the Brown Derby. George is completely against it as Gracie does this type of thing all the time and he gets stuck paying for it. Meanwhile, Blanche suggests that George fill in as a fourth for Harry's bridge game. George does not want to do that, either. He changes his mind about the shower and hires Mrs. Webber (Doris Packer) to decorate his house, thinking the shower will be there. George winds up playing cards with Harry Morton's stuffy friends (Richard Deacon and Forrest Lewis) and beats them. After the game, he comes home to an empty decorated house. Betty Lynn appears as Virginia Beasley, daughter of Mr. Beasley the mailman. Mary Lawrence appears as the Woman Clerk.

Gracie delivers her unique talent of reasoning at the driver's license bureau. Mr. Harkness (John Gallaudet), the Drivers License Clerk, is having a hard time understanding Gracie's answers. He finally finds out Gracie already has a drivers license and asks her why she is applying for one. Gracie tells him she wants another one for her other purse. Meanwhile, George's decides to write his autobiography. Gracie asks Mrs. Foster (Louise Lorimer), an authors wife, what a writer's wife is supposed to do. George's friends lavish him with praise and gifts after learning he is writing the book. Jack Goodman from Simon & Schuster comes by and says if the first 3 chapters of the book are funny, he'll publish it. George's friends come by and laugh at everything he reads, even the contract. Ken Christy appears as a Policeman.

Gracie overhears Bob Cummings say "I'm in love with your wife," as he is reciting script dialogue to George and Harry von Zell for his TV show. Not knowing it is just TV dialogue, she concludes that she is the object of his affections, and tries in her unique fashion to encourage George to fight to keep her. Gracie's dressmaker friend Jane (Elvia Allman) gives Gracie advice on repelling Cummings. Gracie and Cummings finally get it straightened out.

For George, it is a business meeting with Howard Williams (Pierre Watkin) at his beach house. For Gracie, it is a chance to have fun with all her friends at the beach. Unfortunately, each time they're prepared to leave for the beach, some interruption detains them. Six hours later, they all finally leave for the beach and Howard Williams shows up at the Burns house. Kathryn Card appears as housekeeper Mrs. Johnson. John Alvin appears as the man with the Petition. Vivi Janiss appears as Mrs. Myers. Jean Wiles reprises her role as Harry von Zell's girlfriend Alice.

The two Harrys have been out on an unsuccessful uranium prospecting expedition. Gracie and Blanche overhear George talking on the phone to his writers about developing a story about uranium prospecting. However, they believe he is bragging to someone about discovering the biggest uranium strike ever. The Mortons, as well as Gracie and Harry von Zell become upset that he is not sharing the wealth. The two Harrys come up with a plan to get part of Georges mine by offering him a partnership in their non-existent mine. George knows what they're up to and doesn't fall for it. Gracie sees mining engineer J.J. Hartford (Paul Harvey) to learn about uranium and get some samples. This causes even more confusion about who actually has a mine.

Blanche's brother Roger shows up unexpectedly, upsetting Harry Morton. This causes such a rift between Blanche and Harry, Blanche tells Gracie that she is leaving him. Not knowing about Roger, George suggests that Blanche move in with them until things settle down. Gracie invites Roger to stay as well. George decides to move in with Harry Morton. Harry von Zell introduces Gracie to his friend Mr. Trent (Walter Woolf King), a divorce lawyer. George sees Gracie talking to Mr. Trent and misunderstands. Meanwhile, Roger is having two sisters he met, who happen to be dancers, come by. Jenny (Barbara Knudson) and Penny Miller (Ruta Lee) audition for George and Harry Morton. Gracie and Blanche see this and misunderstand. The sisters explain things to Gracie and Blanche.

Gracie mistakes an old photograph of "The Jolly Jailbirds" skit George used to do with his old vaudeville partner Danny Goodman (Jack Lomas), for the real thing. Rather than asking George directly about the photograph, she takes it to the Beverly Hills police station to get answers about George's past. Beverly Hills PD turns her away, and then calls George to alert him about Gracie's visit. George has Goodman dress in an old prison uniform and hides him in the closet to play a prank on Gracie, by telling her Goodman just escaped from prison. Gracie goes to the Mortons house and tells the Mortons and Harry von Zell and then calls the police. Meanwhile, George goes off to put a prison suit on as well. When Gracie, the Mortons and Harry von Zell confront Danny with a gun, he runs away. The police show up just as George comes down in the prison outfit. They arrest everyone for playing a practical joke on the police. Ray Teal appears as Lt. Boyd. Frank Gerstle appears as Sgt. McDuff. Robert Brubaker appears as a Policeman.

Gracie befriends a young French woman named Jeanette Duval (Lita Milan) who has immigration problems. Gracie's solution is to marry her off to Harry von Zell to keep her from being deported, which he refuses because he does not want to ruin his relationship with his girlfriend Alice. But Gracie interferes and convinces Alice that Harry is marrying someone else, so Alice gets upset and takes off Harry's ringing, giving it to Gracie. Gracie gives Jeanette the ring and tells her she will go off and find von Zell. Harry Morton walks in and Jeanette mistakes him for von Zell. Harry von Zell sees Jeanette wearing his ring, so he faints. George brings everyone together to explain things. Alice's brother Jim (Ronnie Burns) agrees to marry Jeanette. Howard Wendell appears as Mr. Downs at the immigration office. Edward Ashley appears as Jean Parnell. Sandra Burns appears as Miss Ferguson the receptionist at the immigration office.

In an attempt to get Roger out of their hair, Harry Morton has found a job for him in another state. Roger fakes amnesia – but he lets George in on the scam, knowing no one else would believe it is a ruse. To find a cure, Gracie goes to Dr. Wilbern (Raymond Greenleaf) and claims she is the one with amnesia. Wilburn decides to go and speak to George about Gracie. Roger calls his friend Joe Ferguson (Anthony Warde) because he wants Joe to pretend he's a doctor and examine him. George overhears the plan. When Dr. Wilbern shows up, George believes he is Roger's friend and gets him to leave. George tells the two Harrys that he called Dr. Gibbons, an amnesia specialist, to expose Roger. Joe Ferguson shows up and everyone thinks he's Dr. Gibbons. Joe says that Roger has a severe case of amnesia and everyone is mad at George for doubting Roger.

Lucille Vanderlip is planning a barbeque party. She is also buying Chester a new rotisserie as a surprise and asks Gracie if she can have it sent to the Burns house. Gracie asks George if they can get a barbeque for the yard, but he says no. George is convinced that Gracie is really throwing a party at home. Harry von Zell thinks George is acting strangely and sends Dr. Briskin (Thomas Browne Henry) to check him out. George believes the doctor is a chef who came to teach him how to barbeque. Thinking Gracie is still having people over, George decides he needs to order enough food for them. A busload of people on a tour of celebrity homes stops in front of the Burns house. George invites the entire busload of tourists into the house thinking they were Gracie's guests. Herb Vigran appears as the delivery man, who repeatedly tries to deliver a portable rotisserie. Ronnie Burns appears as a tourist on a bus tour. Hugh Sanders appears as the bus driver.

Harry Morton and George refuse to take Blanche and Gracie to Hawaii. Blanche's brother Roger Baker returns and to avoid him, Harry decides to take Blanche to Hawaii. Once George finds out Roger is moving into the Burns' guest room, he tells Gracie to get the tickets. After rethinking having Roger watch both houses while they are away, George pays him to return to Seattle. On the ship, George mentions that he gave Roger money to bring the wives some flowers and he never showed up. Gracie says that he did show up and she had him wait in the other cabin to surprise them.

George and Gracie, and Harry von Zell, accompany Blanche and Harry Morton on a train trip from California to New York where Harry Morton will be working for several months. Word is out that nuclear scientist Professor Eldridge (Paul Harvey) is on the train. Everyone wants to meet "one of the greatest scientists in the world," so he's traveling incognito as Mr. James. George and Gracie are on the cover of TV Guide. Gracie asks Eldridge for the cover of his issue to send to her mother. Eldridge is star-struck and they play several hands of cards together. George mistakes him for a card sharp trying to take advantage of Gracie. Harry von Zell finds a man who fits the description of the scientist, traveling salesman Mr. Meeker (Damian O'Flynn), and he and George think Meeker is Eldridge. Believing he is doing a favor for the professor, George pays Meeker's hotel room bill. George arranges for reporters to come to a party to get pictures of Gracie with Eldridge. When Meeker demonstrates the toy he peddles, George and Harry realize their mistake. Gracie invited her new card-playing friend Mr. James to the party and the reporters recognize him as Professor Eldridge. Robert Carson appears as Mr. Maddis. John Alvin appears as Reporter #1. Roy Glenn appears as the Train Porter. Bess Flowers appears as Mrs. Eldridge. Carl Reiner appears in one of his very first acting roles, as a hotel waiter.^[60]

Ronnie joins his parents in New York, intent on becoming a dramatic actor. Judi Meredith, under the name Judi Boutin, makes her first appearance in the series as Velma Rogers. George wants Ronnie to follow in his footsteps and go into comedy. Velma performs a scene with Ronnie from William Inge play Picnic to convince everyone that Ronnie should be allowed to follow his dream of being a serious actor. (The film adaptation would be released just seven weeks later.) All of George's friends agree that Ronnie should do dramatic acting. George writes him a check for tuition. John Gallaudet appears as Sonny Werblin, George's agent. Sandra Burns is a voice on the telephone. Peter Brocco appears throughout the New York episodes, as Peter the waiter, who is so amused by Gracie's logic that he keeps jotting down notes on all her comments.

Ronnie meets Harry von Zell's latest girlfriend, opportunistic Sabrina Doyle (Paula Hill), who's hoping he can get her on the show. Gracie and Blanche are incensed that von Zell is cheating on his California girlfriend Alice. They tell Sabrina that von Zell used to date Sophie Tucker, and Gracie sends a message to Alice in California. When Harry can't get her a part on the show, Sabrina dumps Harry for Ronnie, because George will do anything to make him happy. Ronnie breaks a date with Velma to go out with Sabrina, in spite of Velma's offer to take him to hear bongos that "he" (alluding to Marlon Brando) played after he made On the Waterfront. Ronnie tells George that he's only interested in Sabrina because he wants experience for a part in a play where he falls in love with an older married woman. George convinces him that Sabrina isn't the right older woman because she's too young and unmarried, so Ronnie dumps Sabrina for Blanche. Ronnie invites Blanche out to go dancing and George takes everyone out for an evening at the Rainbow Room.^[62]

George is going over and correcting some of the mistakes in his upcoming book with Irene Knox (Peggy Knudsen) from the publisher. But, he is repeatedly interrupted. Ronnie aspires to be a great stage actor, and rebrands himself as Cobb Cochran. Gracie thinks that if she and George change their names, Ronnie wouldn't have to. Gracie takes the stage name of Lola E. Benedict, which George takes in stride, authorizing a department store to accept her charges in that name. Ronnie overhears him, and believes George is two-timing Gracie. Ronnie tells Harry von Zell, who tells Harry Morton, who tells Blanche, who tells Gracie. Gracie thinks the other woman is Ms. Knox. The situation is clarified when Gracie and Blanche confront George and Irene. Barbara Knudson appears as Lola the Waitress.^{[3][4][5][63]}

Ronnie wants to get a motorcycle because Marlon Brando has one. Harry Morton is trying to impress a new client. Harry asks George if he will help by throwing a cocktail party in his suite. Gracie and Blanche go to a bookstore to help promote George's autobiography I Love Her, That's Why!. While there, Blanche hits a man she believes has made inappropriate advances towards a woman (Adrienne Marden). The man turns out to be Mr. Forsythe (Russell Hicks), the man that Harry is trying to impress. That evening Mr. Forsythe comes by Harry's place. When Blanche sees him, she has Gracie pretend to be Harry's wife so as to not ruin the deal. In the end, Blanche explains the mistake to Mr. Forsythe, who forgives her. Howard Wendell appears as Mr. Martindale, the bookstore owner. Isabel Randolph appears as Mrs. Harrington, a customer. Kathleen Freeman appears as Helga. ^[64]

Harry von Zell and the Mortons talk about how they heard a musical is being made from George's autobiography. Harry Morton mentions how singing stars Eddie Fisher, Perry Como and Tony Martin (who do not appear on the show) are suggested as actors who could play the lead in the musical. The three decide that they want to invest in the musical. Meanwhile, Ronnie and Velma endlessly rehearse their own play. At a party for the investors, everyone is excited about the potential for the show. George refuses to allow the musical unless he can do the singing himself. Everyone takes their checks back. At the end of the episode, George and Gracie sing and dance a duet. Composer Mack Gordon appears as himself. Lewis Martin as Mr. Loomis. ^{[65][3][4][5][63]}

Ronnie wants to share a Greenwich Village apartment with fellow actor Jim Boardman and his father (Frank Wilcox). George believes Ronnie is mostly interested in his dating prospects there. Gracie is opposed to Ronnie's leaving and living the starving artist lifestyle. Ronnie is bringing Jim over for dinner and to meet his parents. Gracie decorates the place in a "artsy" style so Ronnie will see he doesn't have to leave. Ronnie tells Jim that he won't be moving after he saw how much effort Gracie went to to keep him home. Not knowing this, Harry von Zell tells Gracie she used the wrong approach. She should make Ronnie think she wants him to go, and then he'll probably stay. That backfires and Ronnie says he will now move. It turns out Mr. Boardman is not a starving artist and is actually quite wealthy. After another attempt by Gracie, Ronnie decides to stay home.

Ronnie is to bring Mr. Channing (Thomas Browne Henry), the head of the Dramatic School, over to meet Gracie and George. Ronnie is concerned that George makes a good impression. Meanwhile, Lola the waitress is down in the dumps because her boyfriend Al the cab driver (Peter Leeds) hasn't proposed marriage after 6 years together. Gracie tells Lola that she needs to make herself more attractive to other men. And while she is out doing that, Gracie will fill in for her waitress job. George is having lunch with Mr. Channing and things do not go well when Gracie waits on their table. Gracie has Harry von Zell takes Lola out and makes sure they get into Al's cab. In the end, von Zell gets beat up, Al proposes to Lola and because he feels sorry that Ronnie has the parents he does, Mr. Channing gives Ronnie a great dramatic part. Dick Elliott appears as a Stout Man in the Restaurant.

It's George's and Gracie's anniversary, and a party is planned. Despite saying they wouldn't, George and Gracie's get each other gifts. Archie Boardman (Frank Wilcox) drops by and tells George and Gracie he won't be able to make the party as he and his wife (Fay Baker) had an argument. Mrs. Boardman thinks there's something going on between Archie and his new model. Gracie has Mrs. Boardman over and tries to show her she needn't be jealous. But in Gracie's effort to "fix" things with the Boardmans, she winds up "unfixing" everyone else.

George gets Ronnie a job on the Jackie Gleason Show because George wants him to pursue comedy. The Mortons give George a hard time for making decisions for Ronnie, especially as he wants to be a dramatic actor. Ronnie tells Velma he doesn't want to do the show, but he doesn't know how to tell his father. Ronnie decides to stay with the play he's now rehearsing and not do Jackie Gleason. Because of something Gracie did, George believes Ronnie turned down the part in the play. Ronnie tells George that he didn't turn down the part. After the two discuss it, George gives his support for Ronnie's career choice. Hayden Rorke appears as director Mr. Howard.^[66]

Myrna Hansen plays attractive hotel cigarette girl Marie Rigney, who charms all the men and makes Blanche and Gracie jealous. When she gives Gracie a vague message about Ronnie's tickets for a trip to Connecticut, Gracie assumes her son is planning to elope with her. Blanche suggests that Gracie should talk to Marie and her parents. Gracie tells Mr. and Mrs. Rigney (James Flavin and Isabel Withers) that their daughter is eloping with Ronnie. The Rigneys confront George and he explains how Ronnie is going to Connecticut to see a play with a friend of his. ^[67]

For Christmas, Harry Morton invites his father and Blanche invites her brother Roger. The problem is that neither Harry nor Blanche know about each others relative coming. Unfortunately the hotel is almost booked solid, so Blanche asks Gracie if she might be able to get a room for her brother. Harry books a room for his father and when Gracie finds out, she believes he knows about Roger and booked it for him. Harry and Blanche have a fight when they each find out about the relatives. There is more confusion with Gracie still trying to get a room. In the end, Harry's father and Roger can't make the trip. Meanwhile, Ronnie and his friend Jim Boardman want to make stage plays about the gritty realism in life, and want to work in a Pennsylvania coal mine to absorb the atmosphere. Douglass Dumbrille appears as Mr. Arthur J. Cahill.

Note: This episode's vaudeville Afterpiece is titled "Christmas with Gracie's Family."

Ronnie and his friend Jim want funding for their new play. Harry Morton and von Zell have read the play and tell George it's pretty bad. The boys want to get George in a good mood. Ronnie tells Jim that George puffs his cigar to signal the audience to laugh, which is exactly what Ronnie and Jim do while George smokes. George catches on quickly, and tells them that a really big laugh makes his cigar explode. After reading their play, George refuses to fund the play. Gracie pawns the diamond ring George gave to her for Christmas to finance the play. She tells Ronnie and Jim that George loved the play and hands them the money. George calls everyone's bluff about the funding, and insists he play the lead and sing in the production. He then tells the boys the play is no good and Ronnie returns the money. Herb Vigran appears as The Cab Driver.

John Hoyt appears as over-protective father William J. Brewster, whose daughter Mary (Lisa Gaye) is rehearsing a play with Ronnie. Harry von Zell fills in as a corpse for the rehearsal and scares Olga the maid. When Mr. Brewster arrives the two are rehearsing a love scene and he mistakes it for the real thing. Brewster drags Mary out of the room, saying he's taking her back to Omaha. Harry von Zell tells Gracie and Blanche he has a scheme to teach Brewster a lesson and keep Mary in New York. They will put Brewster and Blanche in a similar compromising situation. Things don't quite go as planned, but Brewster comes to realize he was wrong.

Gracie takes out an expensive ad in Ronnie's charity dance program without telling George. After hearing from Mr. Channing about the ad and then listening to one of Gracie's stories about how she needs some money, George agrees to pay for the ad. Gracie uses hotel cigarette girl Marie (Myrna Hansen) as bait to boost ticket sales. Gracie winds up with a room full of men waiting to go to the dance with Marie. When they find out Marie is going with Ronnie, they all want their money back. George pays them all off.

Ronnie and his friend Jim Boardman are taken skiing by Jim's father (Frank Wilcox). Jim laments that his father spends too much time with him. He even ruins their chance to spend some time with two girls they met, Sally Fletcher (Mary Webster) and Tina Clayton. Gracie urges George to be a better father and spend more time with his son. Meanwhile, Harry Morton tells Blanche how close he was with his father. They would regularly go butterfly hunting together. Gracie is upset with George because he's been gone for a couple days. He was actually practicing his skiing so he could go with Ronnie. George returns with his arm in a sling. Ronnie, not knowing where George was, tells him how happy he is that his father isn't like Mr. Boardman. Ronnie mentions how Mr. Boardman is always hanging around and spoiling their fun.

A fight erupts between George and his son when unscrupulous talent agent Jack Devlin (Lyle Talbot) offers Ronnie a contract. The talent agent is less interested in Ronnie, than he is in having George put some of his acts on George's show. Gracie asks Devlin to tear up Ronnie's contract, and hauls Harry von Zell along to pose as George. Devlin is not fooled by von Zell. George solves the problem by telephoning Devlin and telling him that Ronnie is underage and he can't hold him to the contract. Meanwhile, Ronnie dreads embarrassment when his latest girlfriend Sally Fletcher's high society parents (Walter Woolf King and Frances Mercer) come to dinner. Jack Benny has a cameo at the end.

Gracie and Blanche notice how gallant Ronnie is with his friend Ann. They wish their husbands would be that way, as they were during their courtship. Harry von Zell suggests to them that maybe their husbands aren't as romantic anymore because they don't make an effort to be more attractive. Meanwhile, Harry Morton's father (Russell Hicks) is due to arrive and he and Blanche do not get along. Morton asks George if he can have his father stop at George's apartment first so he can prepare Blanche. Gracie hires a Gigolo (Maurice Marsac) to teach George how to be romantic again. Gracie mistakes Mr. Morton, Sr. for the gigolo. The gigolo arrives adding to the confusion.

Alice (Jean Willes), Harry von Zell's old girlfriend, comes to see him in New York. He believes that she plans to propose marriage. She is actually coming to tell von Zell that she has married Don Emory (Robert Bray). Gracie manages to complicate matters by spreading a rumor that von Zell secretly wed Marie, the cigarette girl. Ronnie and Marie have a date for that night. Harry Morton tells Gracie that Ronnie is going out with a married woman. George explains things to Gracie. Don Dillaway as The Doorman. ^[70]

Gracie and Blanche have been shopping. Gracie brings home a lot of packages which she tries to hide from George. George pretends to not see them. George tells Ronnie the reason he did that was to get Gracie in a good mood. He wants to return to California for a couple days to visit his friends. After a convoluted conversation about seeing a movie, Gracie wants George to have his eyes checked. When he balks at the idea, she visits the optometrist (Raymond Bailey) with Harry von Zell. Gracie presumes George's refusal to wear glasses is a matter of male vanity, so she insists all of their friends wear glasses as an example for George. Noel Drayton appears as Mr. Sheridan.

Marla English appears as Ronnie's latest girlfriend Myra, the daughter of an Indian Maharajah (Donald Randolph). When Ronnie admires her car, she offers to give it him. Myra refers to his acting role model Marlon Brando as "the American Sabu". Gracie and Blanche make every effort to meet the Maharajah whose retinue has taken over an entire floor in the hotel. When Ronnie says he is bringing Myra to dinner, Harry Morton instructs George on proper etiquette around the Maharajah. Gracie and Blanche disguise themselves as Eastern Princesses. They even get Harry von Zell to dress up. George and Morton see the three and get into the elevator with them, pretending to not recognize them. George and Morton then have a little fun at their expense. At dinner time, the Burns and Mortons mistake Tigor the Servant (Peter Mamakos) for the Maharajah. Everything gets straightened out when the Maharajah shows up. Mel Welles appears as The Guard.

Harry Morton tells Blanche that the women who belong to an elite women's club are the wives of very influential businessmen that could help him. Morton is terrified that his career will be ruined if Gracie joins the club, so he asks Blanche to not let Gracie know about it. Mrs. Winstrell (Katherine Warren) from the club comes to see Blanche. There is the usual confusion when Gracie also stops by. Meanwhile, Ronnie and his parents baffle everyone when they practice Stanislavski Method acting.^[71] Doris Packer makes the first of several recurring appearances as Mrs. Millicent Sohmers in the socially elite town of Oyster Bay, New York

Ronnie lands the lead in a production of Cyrano de Bergerac. But he worries that he lacks the talent to play the part, so his parents and friends go to great lengths to boost his confidence. Blanche's visiting niece Linda (Ann Stebbins) from Seattle meets Ronnie. But, she meets him wearing his Cyrano nose and leaves quickly. Later, Linda sees Ronnie without the false nose. Instead of sightseeing in New York as her uncle intended, Linda goes out to dinner with Ronnie. William Schallert appears as The Waiter ^[72]

After Gracie walks off with some plants from Central Park, Harry Morton tells her that she has committed a crime. She decides to phone the police and turn herself in. Sgt. Herbert Wilkins (John Gallaudet) comes by to talk to Gracie. He tells Gracie he couldn't possibly arrest her for taking the bulbs and suggests she go to the Park Commissioner. Mr. Lambert (Howard McNear), of the Park Commission, tells Gracie that if the police won't do anything, neither can they. He asks her if she would feel better if she paid for the bulbs, which she does. Bert Keith (Dabbs Greer), from the Daily News, hears that Gracie bought the bulbs and wants to write a story about how Lambert is selling taxpayer property. George straightens everything out between Lambert and Keith. Meanwhile, Ronnie takes up fencing for his latest stage outing. ^[73]

There is a little confusion about how Ronnie's performance was the night before between George, Gracie and Harry von Zell. Misrepresenting herself as a widow, Gracie fibs her way into an audience with playwright Raymond Curtis (Paul Cavanagh), to help Ronnie get a part in his next play. George, pretending to be a Mr. Johnson, gleefully plays along when Mr. Curtis asks Gracie to his apartment for a romantic dinner. Gracie wants to bring the "Widow Morton" along to the dinner. Raymond talks George into coming to be Blanche's date. When Ronnie shows up pretending to be a waiter, the hoax is revealed. Mr. Curtis finds the whole thing quite amusing.

Ronnie makes plans to hold a party for his class in the family's suite. He asks Gracie if she could make sure that George isn't around so he won't do his act. Gracie inserts herself and George into a party invitation for Blanche Morton, from Oyster Bay society hostess Mrs. Millicent Sohmers (Doris Packer). Mrs. Sohmers believes she can straighten out Gracie's convoluted logic, but the conversation gets even more confused, to the point Mrs. Sohmers thinks she is invited to a party with the Burnses. Meanwhile, Gracie then tells George to pack because they are going away for the weekend. She won't tell George were they're going, but he knows the place she says. Gracie takes George across the hall to the Morton's apartment. Eventually, everybody crashes Ronnie's private party, and George sings.

Emily Vanderlip (Elinor Donahue) is coming for a vist and the Morton's and Gracie believe she needs to be chaperoned. What they don't know is that Emily has eloped with Airman Second Class Frank Foster (Robert Ellis), in spite of her parents wanting the couple to wait until Foster completed his military service. Ronnie already knows they eloped, but covers up when Gracie meets Frank. Ronnie has to drive Frank back to the base as he forgot his pass. Emily's parents rented a separate hotel room for her visit to New York, but Gracie, not knowing Emily is married, insists she stay in the Burns suite. Gracie then sends George to sleep in Emily's hotel room. Frank, finding George sleeping in Emily's hotel room, confesses everything. George manages to set up some alone time for Emily and Frank. Mr. Maddis tells Gracie that Frank just went for drive with his wife. Gracie, misunderstanding, decides to speak to Frank's General (Morris Ankrum). The General explains to Gracie that Frank is married to Emily. Ross Elliott appears as The Captain.

Ronnie's drama school is losing money and decides to put on its usual production of "Othello" to raise funds. George talks Mr. Channing into doing a variety show instead, with the type of vaudeville skits that Gracie and George used to do. At first the students are against doing comedy, but Ronnie talks them into it. Diane Jergens appears as Diane. Judy Clark appears as Sophie Tucker. ^[74]

Note: Among the highlights: Ronnie and a schoolmate performing a Burns and Allen routine; Gracie's one and only dramatic moment in the entire series, perhaps her entire career; George getting his due as a vaudeville expert (rather than simply being subjected to the endless put downs he normally gets); Gracie emceeing the show-within-a-show all by herself (she very rarely performed without George); and several pastiches of classic vaudeville acts, like Eddie Cantor's and Sophie Tucker's.

Everyone praises George for the way he directed the show at Ronnie's school the previous evening, but when he graciously accepts their compliments he's accused of having an inflated ego. Ronnie and his friend Jim Boardman apply for employment at a house of burlesque. Mr. Boardman tells George he is not happy about his son's decision. But, it turns out Jim was turned down. Ronnie, however, was given a 3 month contract. George is surprised Ronnie wants to do comedy instead of dramatic acting. Jack Albertson appears as Eddie 'Bozo Schultz' Wilson. ^[75]

Pat (Carolyn Craig), the daughter of socially-conscious snob Mrs. Millicent Sohmers has been out on several dates with Ronnie. Gracie starts a rumor that Ronnie will be marrying into the Sohmers family. Mrs. Sohmers would rather Pat became engaged to someone of her family's social status, like Dick Sloan. Millicent asks Blanche to help explain to Gracie how she feels about Ronnie and Pat dating. The usual confusion ensues. Pat confides to Ronnie that Dick has asked her to marry him and Pat would like Ronnie's impression of Dick. Ronnie thinks Dick would be perfect for her. Millicent comes to believe that the Burns family is well connected in society. So, when Pat announces she will marry Dick, Millicent wants to talk her into marrying Ronnie. Hayden Rorke appears as Alfred Tyler Griffin. ^[76]

Edward Colton (Damian O'Flynn), a theatrical agent, is offering Ronnie a movie contract. Because of the length of the contract, Ronnie would like to think about it. Gracie misunderstands a phone call and thinks that George was offered a movie role without her and that he's turning it down. Not wanting to hold George back, Gracie first tells him she's retiring, then she says she's teaming up with Harry von Zell. Gracie decides to get a job with magician Mendoza The Great (Harry Mendoza). Her job is to assist the magician and look amazed at Mendoza's tricks. During a performance, Mendoza tries to make Gracie disappear in a cabinet. She gets things mixed up and after some confusion, George, Gracie and Ronnie appear in the cabinet. George gets to explain to Gracie that the movie contract is for Ronnie. ^[77]

Gracie wants to alter her new dress by herself. Not knowing the dress is by Paris dress designer Gaston Broussard (Steven Geray), George tells her to take it to the designer to get it altered. George and Gracie fly to Paris, along with Harry von Zell, son Ronnie and the Mortons. Coincidentally, Gaston Broussard is also on the plane. Both George and Broussard have identical briefcases with the initials "GB" on them. Gracie sees the briefcase with Gaston and takes it, thinking it is George's. Gaston's friend Yvette (Jacqueline Beer) sees George's briefcase and takes it, thinking it is Gaston's. After they land, the briefcase mix-up is straightened out and Broussard fixes Gracie's dress. Comedian Benny Rubin appears as an English man standing in line when they disembark in Paris. Adelle August appears as Joan The Stewardess. ^[78]

Before leaving Paris, Blanche and Gracie visit dress designer Gaston Broussard, and arrange to be New York retailers for his original creations. Meanwhile, Ronnie's in love with Yvette and both are sad as Ronnie will be leaving soon. But then they find out that she will be going to New York to model Broussard's dresses. At the airport, George finds out about the dress shop from Broussard. When George confronts Gracie about it, she avoids the subject. On the plane, Harry von Zell tries to make time with Joan the Stewardess, but something Gracie says ruins his chances. John Wengraf appears as 1st Customs Officer. Eugene Borden appears as 2nd Customs Officer. Jean De Briac appears as Elderly Lover. ^[79]

George refuses to give Gracie the money to open a dress shop with the wardrobe she bought in Paris. He insists on sending the dresses back to France. Gracie enlists Harry Von Zell to intercept the inventory before it is mailed and hide it in Blanches apartment. Harry Morton finds the dresses and returns them to George. Gracie then enlists Ronnie to get the dresses. She even manages to get Mrs. Sohmers to finance the store. Gracie sells dresses, decides to get out the dress business and it still costs George money. Ronnie is dating attractive French model Yvette. ^[80]

When Ronnie locks himself in his room to rehearse a role, Gracie thinks he's heartbroken because Yvette has gone back to Paris. She hires beautiful model Mona Patterson (Kathleen Case) to pose as George's new secretary in hopes that Ronnie will fall for her. Not knowing what Gracie is up to, George tells her he doesn't need a secretary. Gracie still tries to get Ronnie and Mona together. Ronnie introduces Harry von Zell to Mona, and Gracie promptly gets rid of him. Gracie tells Mr. Boardman about Ronnie's love sickness. Mr. Boardman suggests to George that Ronnie find something to get his mind off of Yvette, such as butterfly collecting. When Ronnie gets his outfit for the part he's playing, Gracie thinks he's joining the Foreign Legion. George explains to Gracie that Ronnie is not love sick. Walter Woolf King appears as The Doorman. ^[81]

George visits the Friar's club for a massage. He falls asleep and accidentally gets locked in for the night. Gracie calls the police to report him missing and there is some confusion during Gracie's description of George. While on the phone with the police, George comes home. To make matters worse, Harry Von Zell borrowed George's coat and left it at the Stork Club while on a date. The hat-check girl (Jil Jarmyn) from club returns the coat to Gracie. She describes the woman who was with who she believed to be George. Furious, Gracie has Mr. Brewster (John Hoyt), a divorce lawyer, come over. George explains to Mr. Brewster and Gracie that it was von Zell at the Stork Club. Trying to help, Harry Morton tells Gracie that it was he who borrowed the coat and went to the club. Thinking George is still lying, Gracie has Mr. Brewster come over again. George brings in a large group of witnesses to prove his story. Anthony Warde appears as Sgt. Gibney.

While planning with Blanche for a surprise party for Harry Morton, George tries to sidetrack loose-lipped Gracie to keep her from spoiling the surprise for Morton. He tells her the surprise party is for son Ronnie. When Gracie learns that Ronnie has a date with Felicia Norris (Lisa Gaye), she tells him he has to be home because they're having a surprise party for George. Harry Von Zell is told by someone else that George is planning to surprise "Harry", and comes to believe it is for him. Gracie finds the gifts George and Blanche bought for Morton. She doesn't think they are appropriate for Ronnie and exchanges them for something she thinks Ronnie will like. At the party, a confused Harry Morton opens the presents Gracie exchanged and Gracie rides around on a scooter. George explains things to everyone. Richard Deacon appears as Mr. Dayton. ^[82]

Blanche threatens to resign from The Ladies of Oyster Bay if Gracie isn't permitted membership, but first she must pass a literary quiz. Mrs. Sohmers (Doris Packer) decides to help Gracie cheat. Gracie winds up memorizing the questions and not the answers. Mrs. Sohmers then decides to put the answers in various places around the apartment. That plan doesn't work out too well, but the ladies of the committee find Gracie so charming they let her join the club. Meanwhile, Harry Von Zell offers to teach Ronnie judo. Katherine Warren appears as Mrs. Winstrell.

Note: This episode's vaudeville Afterpiece is titled "The Beach."

Gracie has driven Mrs. Sohmers to the brink of insanity. Mrs. Sohmers consults Psychologist Dr. D. L. Henricks (Dabbs Greer). Meanwhile, Harry von Zell tries to shock Gracie by pouring a glass of water into his pocket as a trick. After another session with Mrs. Sohmers, Dr. Henricks cannot believe anyone could say the things that Gracie supposedly says. He is convinced that Mrs. Sohmers is delusional. The Doctor would like to speak with one of Mrs. Sohmers friends and asks to talk to Blanche. Blanche can't make the appointment and sends Gracie instead. Thinking that Gracie is Blanche and after talking with her, Henricks believes Blanche is having problems as well. Henricks goes to the Burns apartment and thanks to George, there is even more confusion. Mary Lawrence appears as The Nurse.

Ronnie has a luncheon date with Sally (Mary Ellen Kay) the switchboard operator. Harry Morton is offered a new position which would require him and Blanche to stay on the road for two years. Blanche and Gracie take over the hotel's switchboard operations to prevent him from placing a call to accept the job. Morton at first wants to take the job, but then changes his mind. Not knowing this, the girls take great delight in pranking George, Harry von Zell and Harry Morton. George and Harry Morton figure it out and turn the tables on them. Patricia Hardy appears as Flo. Ross Elliott appears as Mr. Randolph. ^[83]

Ronnie left for California 3 days ago and Gracie already misses him. Gracie, the Mortons, and Harry von Zell are all set to return as well, but George pretends he knows nothing about it. Returning from New York earlier than expected, they surprise Ronnie, who is keeping company with 20 co-ed students. The boys live in the Burns house, and are captivated by Gracie's stories. Ronnie has made the Morton house available to the girls, and Blanche and Gracie soon become part of their group. Harry von Zell offers to have George and Morton stay at his place for a while. But when they get there, there are friends of Ronnie's in the apartment as well. Jody McCrea appears as Bill. Judi Meredith appears as Judi. Mary Webster appears as Linda. Robert Ellis appears as Charlie. ^[84]

Ronnie has to write a paper on a Shakespeare play. Meanwhile, Harry Von Zell begs George to get him an audition with producer William Goetz. Gracie decides to help Ronnie and goes to speak to his teacher Dr. Baxter to find out his favorite play. The teacher tells her it's King Lear. When Gracie finds out that Ronnie's paper is on the play Julius Caesar, she decides to rewrite Ronnie's paper. Dr. Baxter speaks to George about Ronnie's confusing paper. George says it's like that because Gracie helped. Ronnie finds his original paper and gives it to Dr. Baxter. Blanche pretends to be Gracie and George plays along at first. George tells von Zell that Baxter is William Goetz and gets Harry to audition in front of him. Shakespearean scholar and authority Dr. Frank C. Baxter appears as himself. Sandra Burns is briefly heard via telephone, but not seen. ^[85]

Gracie puts a dent in their car and tries to hide it from George. Gracie then borrows Blanche and Harry Morton's car, getting a parking ticket in the process. The police officer (Dennis King Jr.) leaves an unusual note on the ticket that causes Blanche to suspect Harry of having an affair with a "very cooperative" woman. Gracie wants to help Blanche find out who the woman was, so she hires Private Detective Shaw (Anthony Warde) to look into it. Shaw comes back with a description of the woman and George immediately recognizes her as Gracie. Meanwhile, Harry Morton invites Gracie to a restaurant to try to have her convince Blanche there is no other woman. Shaw's assistant, who has been following Harry, sees the two of them together. George tells Blanche that the woman in the car was actually Gracie. When the assistant tells Blanche what he saw at the restaurant, Blanche believes George was lying to help Harry.

Harry von Zell pretends to have a sprained wrist, so he doesn't have to do a fight scene on the next show. He tells George that he hired the Henderson Brothers (Gil Perkins and Sol Gorss) as stunt men to fill in for him. The Burns' are interviewed by TV Guide reporter Dan Jenkins (John Hoyt) who hopes to talk to the real normal Burns', not their zany TV personas. Jenkins soon learns that he won't get a normal interview from Gracie. Meanwhile, Ronnie joins the school cheer leading squad. Mrs. Sohmers (Doris Packer) visits and hopes to meet her matinée idol Francis X. Bushman. They ask Gracie if she could arrange it. While Jenkins tries to interview George, the Henderson Brothers come by to show George what they can do. Their stunt men routine causes Jerkins to leave. George actually gets Mr. Bushman to meet Mrs. Sohmers. Jenkins returns with his editor Mr. Penant (Raymond Greenleaf), because Mr. Pendant doesn't believe things are that crazy at the Burns house. While there, Mr. Pendant witnesses Gracie try and pass von Zell off as Mr. Bushman and Ronnie practicing with his cheerleader squad. Yvonne Lime appears as Linda. ^{[86][3][4][87]}

Mrs. Sohmers has decided to move to California and is going house hunting in Pasadena because she doesn't want to live near Gracie. As part of his college fraternity initiation, Ronnie must say and do the opposite of what people would normally expect. Gracie plays along with the boys. Because Blanche isn't home, Real Estate Agent Mr. Armstrong (Herbert Rudley) speaks with Gracie and she believes that the Morton's are moving to Pasadena. Gracie decides she will have to move to Pasadena as well and asks Mr. Armstrong to put her house up for sale. She tells this to Mrs. Sohmers and not wanting to move where Gracie will be, Mrs. Sohmers asks to buy the Burns house. After speaking to Blanche, Mrs. Sohmers tells Gracie about the misunderstandings with who's moving. Not knowing that the initiation is over, Harry von Zell tells George to offer Gracie and Ronnie the expensive gifts they wanted, knowing they will have to turn them down. Gracie and Ronnie except and George fires von Zell. Robert Ellis appears as Ralph Grainger. ^[88]

Harry Von Zell makes plans to treat the Burns and Mortons to a night on the town. He wants them to meet his new friend Vivian Abbott (Mary Lawrence). Vivian is younger than Harry and somehow she was led to believe Harry is only 32. Meanwhile, Gracie learns Ronnie's skipping a school dance and jumps to the conclusion that her son is bashful. Gracie tries to set up a date for him and show him how romantic her and George are. Harry and Vivian show up at the Burns' house. Harry has to go to the Morton house and leaves Vivian at the door by herself. Gracie thinks Vivian is a date for Ronnie. Three more girls from the fraternity show up, but it turns out Ronnie already had a date. Gracie takes Harry's tickets for a show and takes all the ladies out.

Gracie is writing a letter to her sister Hazel. She goes to the Morton's to borrow a stamp. Not knowing it's worth, Gracie takes Harry's hundred-dollar Madagascar Imperial stamp from his cherished collection. Harry Morton tells George that he suspects his no-good brother-in-law Roger (King Donovan) took the stamp. Gracie gives George the letter to mail and he sees the stamp on it. George doesn't say anything about the stamp to the others and puts the letter in a desk drawer. Gracie finds it and then gives it to Roger to mail and he sees the stamp. Thinking that he still has the letter, George says that everyone should chip in money to give as a reward to the one who returns the stamp. Roger returns the letter and takes the reward. ^[89]

Gracie attempts to ship George's new gray suit to Roger, but when George gets wind of it, he intercepts the package at the post office. In an attempt to cover up what she did, Gracie claims the suit and three of her dresses were stolen. Blanche, knowing Gracie's plot, tells Harry about the burglary. Harry Morton calls Sgt. Webber (Hugh Sanders) of the police and requests an extra patrol to prevent any robberies at his house. Harry von Zell and Ronnie play along with Gracie's story, but George is on to them. Sgt. Webber comes by the Burns house and has a confusing conversation with Gracie. Jody McCrea appears as Dave. Robert Foulk appears as Policeman Jim. ^[90]

Ronnie asks George to chaperone his ski trip, but George says no. Meanwhile, Harry von Zell asks George for a raise and gets turned down. Gracie tells Harry that he should marry Vivian Abbott (Mary Lawrence) so they can accompany the kids. Harry says he won't see her again as she is going to New York to take a job. After Gracie tells George that Harry needs the raise to get married, George gives him the raise. George finds out that Vivian is leaving so he pranks Harry by telling him that because of the raise she is now staying to marry Harry. Gracie starts planning the wedding. Harry figures if he gets fired, Vivian won't want to marry him. He goes to insult George, but George gives him a bigger raise and then another bigger raise. In the end, there is no wedding and George lets Harry keep the raises.

Ronnie lands a job as an electric-razor salesman in a department store to earn some Christmas money. Gracie thinks Ronnie needs to make bigger commissions, so she gets him promoted to refrigerator sales. She does this by buying three refrigerators. Not knowing about the promotion, Harry von Zell suggests to George that he buy razors for his staff as Christmas presents. George calls the store and unknowingly orders seven refrigerators to be delivered to his staff. Believing that the Morton's are giving him a nice gift, George calls the store again and unknowingly has a fridge sent to the Morton's. Once he realizes it was refrigerators he bought, George fires von Zell.

Ronnie is in love with Madeline Craig (Susan Luckey), the girl behind the perfume counter at the store where he works. Through a mix-up, Gracie believes Ronnie has taken up with her mother (Adele Jergens). Gracie tells Blanche and Harry von Zell how old the woman looks. Harry suggests Gracie get Ronnie fired and that way he won't see the woman anymore. Gracie's attempt fails. She then sees Madeline, and not knowing who she is, asks if she would like to go out with Ronnie. Gracie tells Madeline that hopefully that will stop Ronnie from running around with the older woman. Madeline tells Ronnie that they are finished. George straightens everything out between Ronnie and Madeline. John Eldredge appears as Floorwalker Willoughby. Marjorie Stapp appears as Miss Hersch. ^[91]

Prof. Robert Gordon (Frank Wilcox) tells Gracie that Ronnie wants to drop out of college in order to spend more time with his girlfriend Madeline. After speaking to Madeline, Ronnie agrees to stay in school. Not knowing this, Gracie, in her unique way, tries to inspire Ronnie to stay in college. She makes up a tall tale of George going broke, and ties it in to George's not finishing school. Nothing could be further from the truth about George's finances, but Ronnie is even more determined to quit school and find a job to help the family. George learns what's going on and helps perpetuate the rumor about his finances. But when Gracie starts taking in boarders to raise more money, George has to tell her he's not broke. ^[92]

Narrating from a prison cell, George recounts the strange tale of how a string of pearls that he bought as a Christmas gift for Gracie wound up landing him in jail. It starts by Gracie and Blanche planning a way to get their husbands into the jewelry store. Then they try to have their husbands coax each other into buying their wives gifts. The men buy the gifts and then proceed to hide them, but the wives find them. Meanwhile, Ronnie needs some extra money to buy his mother's present. Ronnie and Harry von Zell come up with a scheme to get the money from George. George eventually gives the money to Ronnie, but von Zell doesn't know it. Harry then tells Gracie how Ronnie needs the money and she decides to pawn her pearls and hide some fake ones. Ronnie shows George a pearl necklace that he bought for Gracie. George gets arrested when he tries to return the fake pearls. The whole gang celebrates Christmas with George in his cell. John Stephenson appears as The Jewelry Clerk. George E. Stone appears as Joe. Frank Mills appears as The Professor in Jail. Paul Birch appears as The Police Desk Sergeant. ^{[3][4][5][68][87]}

George, Morton and von Zell need a loan from banker Chester Vanderlip (Grandon Rhodes) to secure a business deal, so George and Gracie throw a dinner party and invite him. George tells Gracie to make sure that Blanche's shifty brother Roger is not there, as he doesn't want Roger to somehow get involved with the deal. George doesn't know but Gracie has already invited him. Gracie asks Ronnie what she should do. Gracie and Ronnie come up with the idea that it should be a costume party, that way no one will know who's who. George goes along with the idea, as he doesn't think Roger could afford a costume. Harry Morton tells George that Roger got a costume and is still showing up. When Mr. Vanderlip shows up in costume, George mistakes him for Roger and throws him out. George, Morton and von Zell find out it was Chester they threw out and go out after him. The Vanderlips come in through the back way. When George, Morton and von Zell come back to the front door, Chester answers it and throws them out. Sarah Selby appears as Lucille Vanderlip. Jean Willes appears as Geraldine. Gloria Marshall appears as Roberta.

Ronnie and Ralph return from a visit to Tijuana, Mexico, where they became fascinated with bullfighting. Gracie gets mad at George for not taking an interest in Ronnie's hobbies. Gracie and Harry Von Zell travel to Tijuana where Gracie hires a retired bullfighter to tutor her son. Meanwhile, the Mortons try to dupe George into believing Gracie has left him. Knowing where Gracie really is, George plays along with them. By the time Gracie and von Zell return, Ronnie's attention is focused on modern dancing instead.

While being tutored by brainy and plain looking friend Mildred McCoy, Ronnie and Ralph can do nothing but talk about beautiful Joyce Collins (Jackie Loughery) and the prom that evening. Joyce comes by and agrees to go to the prom with Ronnie. Because no one asked her to go, Gracie decides to give Mildred a makeover. Meanwhile, a fight ensues when Harry Morton unintentionally insults Blanche's looks. Ronnie tells George that Joyce is now going to the prom with one of his friends named Bill because he just bought a fancy new car. George pays Ronnie to take Mildred. Joyce shows up because Bill stood her up. A beautifully made over Mildred tells Gracie she now has a date with Bill. Ronnie winds up taking Joyce to the prom. George shows off his magic Genie. ^[93]

The new term is starting at school and Ronnie has to decide what profession to take up. Ronnie explains the aptitude test that he has recently taken to Gracie and Blanche. He mentions how Dr. Craegmoor (Hayden Rorke) says everyone should take the test, even if they already have a job. Meanwhile, Harry von Zell tells George he is unhappy because the writers never have him get the girl in the show. Gracie believes George is unhappy being in showbiz. Craegmoor comes by and tells Gracie that Ronnie's test shows he should be an actor. Gracie wants Craegmoor to give George an aptitude test. Harry von Zell shows up and asks Craegmoor to put in a good word for him to George. Harry then goes and hides in a closet. George, knowing what is going on and that von Zell is in the closet, asks Craegmoor if he would like to replace Harry on the show. Craegmoor thinks he's going to be an actor and von Zell panics.

Ronnie, his friend Ralph and their girlfriends plan to head to Palm Springs for an unchaperoned week. Gracie decides that she and George and the Mortons should come along. Ronnie asks his father's intervention to get her to butt out. Meanwhile, Harry Von Zell loses his voice. Gracie tells George he doesn't look well and needs some rest, but he says they're not going to Palm Springs. Blanche gets Harry Morton to want to go when she tells him her brother Roger is coming for a week. George talks tightwad Harry out of the trip by detailing how much a week in Palm Springs would cost him. Gracie has Dr. Hendricks (Harry Cheshire) look at von Zell, telling the Doctor he's George. She hopes to get a certificate that says George needs to take a trip and rest. Knowing what's going on, George dresses up as a doctor and lets everyone know George is not going to Palm Springs. George and Gracie's real-life daughter Sandra plays a waitress. ^{[3][4][5][87]}

Gracie learns that when Ronnie reaches age 21 in four months, he can get legally get married without first asking her permission. She decides to play matchmaker for him, whether he is interested or not. To play along, George suggests Gracie go to a matrimonial agency. George then replaces a picture of Ronnie with a picture of Harry von Zell. But, Gracie misunderstands Mr. Tucker (Roy Roberts) of the agency and brings a picture of George. Mr. Tucker shows the picture of George to a Mrs. Crowley (Eleanor Audley). She comes by to see George and except his proposal. Harry is there and tells Gracie what happened. Gracie plays along and has Tucker send over Mr. Campbell (Harry Antrim) for her. George sets up Mr. Campbell with Mrs. Crowley.

Ronnie tells Gracie that Ralph got a new car for passing the semester. Veteran actress Jean Willes plays fortune teller Madam Olga, whose predictions of a financial windfall lead Gracie to splurging on a new automobile for Ronnie. The Morton's and Harry von Zell wonder how George acquired the windfall and why he didn't tell them about it so they could get in on the deal. Gracie goes back to Madam Olga to find out how George made all the money. Knowing what is going on, George calls Madam Olga and tells her to come to the house. While she is there, George explains to the two Harrys what actually happened. Sandra Burns is heard as the telephone operator.

Ronnie's girl friend Joyce's (Jackie Loughery) father is in town from Oklahoma. Ronnie hopes that George can make a good impression. Meanwhile, Harry von Zell would like a week off to play a part in a dramatic TV show. Gracie sees Ronnie's friends Lou (Jody McCrea) and Edie (Marian Collier) romantically make up after a fight. Gracie and Blanche deliberately pick fights with their husbands, so they can do the same. The plan works for Blanche, however Gracie can't seem to get a fight started with George. Mr. Collins (Robert Carson) comes by and George and him get along great. Ronnie tells George what Gracie is trying to do. George then picks a fight with Gracie, but she won't make up.

Gracie wants to hire Michael Rockford (Frank Wilcox), a high-priced decorator, to redo the bedroom. But she doesn't want George to find out until after the work is done. Gracie needs to get George out of the house for two days. At first she calls Harry von Zell and tells him that George will go duck hunting with him. Harry shows up at 4:30 in the morning and George fires him. Gracie and Ronnie then cook up a story that the house must be fumigated to rid it of termites. The plan then is for George to take Gracie to Palm Springs for a couple of days. While they are gone, Ronnie and Ralph hope to have a party. George knows what's going on and agrees to go to Palm Springs. He then plays a trick on Harry Morton to make him believe his house is infested as well, so Harry and Blanche could go along on the trip.

Ronnie tells George that he has just meet Kathy and he knows she is the girl he is going to marry. Blanche tries to convince Harry to redecorate their bedroom, but he is not interested. Michael Rockford, the Burns' decorator, tells Gracie that he has an opportunity to buy an art collection for $15,000, and asks if he can receive his payment early. Gracie misunderstands and thinks she owes him 15 grand and not the actual $800.00. She tries to get George to sign a check without him knowing, but that doesn't work. Gracie then asks Harry von Zell for the money, but he doesn't have it. She then tries to get a bank loan. George talks to Mr. Rockford and the misunderstanding is cleared up. Sandra Burns appears as the voice of Joyce on the phone.

Ronnie's girlfriend Kathy is also dating Ronnie's friend Ralph Grainger. Gracie gives her engagement ring to Ronnie, to give to Kathy, to keep her away from Ralph. Gracie then leaves Blanche to explain to George where the ring went to and she tells him that it fell into the kitchen sink drain. George calls a plumber to find the ring, but Harry von Zell thinks he can do it. Cuthbert Jantzen (Howard McNear), the plumber, shows up. So does Kathy and she shows George the engagement ring Ronnie gave her. Realizing Blanche made up the story, George finds a way to get back at her. He tells Mr. Jantzen that there is a pretty widow living next door and she is looking to get married. Mr. Jantzen mistakes Gracie for the widow. In the end, George makes sure Kathy keeps the ring.

Harry Morton is in Omaha and Blanche is upset when he writes her a very uncaring letter. Gracie agrees to let plumber Cuthbert Jantzen's four daughters stay at the house while he is in San Diego. Ronnie tells George that he broke up with Kathy Shaw (Kathy Marlow) because she is so jealous. Ronnie says that he is through with women forever and then he meets the Jantzen girls. Kathy comes by to apologize and after seeing the daughters with Ronnie, she says they are still not engaged. Ronnie straightens things out with Kathy. Meanwhile, Harry von Zell wants to take the daughters out to dinner, but winds up taking George, Gracie and Blanche. Sandra Burns appears as a telephone operator. Yvonne Lime appears as Joy Jantzen. Mary Ellen Kay appears as Joan Jantzen. Mary Livingstone appears as herself. ^[94]

Mr. McAfee (Ralph Dumke) has decided to take his son Brian (Robert Easton) out of college because he's been there nine years already. George suggests that Gracie, Blanche and Ronnie go speak to Mr. McAfee, not knowing he lives in Texas. Once George realizes that they've gone to Texas, he decides to go after them. Harry von Zell wants to go along, convinced there's an oil deal in the making. Gracie, with Blanche posing as a Professor, try to talk Mr. McAfee into leaving Brian in school. But, it's George that gets him to say yes. S. John Launer appears as Mr. Cifford the Desk Clerk. Judi Meredith assumes the recurring role of Ronnie's girlfriend from Texas, Bonnie Sue McAfee. Sandra Burns is heard as the telephone operator. ^{[3][4][5][87]}

While in Houston, Ronnie is trying to find a way for Bonnie Sue to be able to audition for George. Blanche and Gracie believe they have found a stray puppy, but Fifi actually belongs to hotel manager Mr. Paris (Lewis Martin). Gracie would like to keep it. Guests are not allowed to keep animals in the hotel, so she and Blanche decide to hide the dog from George and the hotel staff. Meanwhile, Harry von Zell is dressed up as a cowboy so people will think he's from Texas. George speaks to Mr. Paris and suggests he buy another dog before his wife finds out. Gracie hopes to smuggle the dog out of the hotel in von Zell's cowboy hat, but the dog gets away and goes back to Gracie's room. Mr. Paris brings the new dog to the lobby and von Zell, thinking it is Fifi, grabs it and brings it back to Gracie's room. Everyone winds up in the room for a loud, then quiet finish.

Ronnie has a part in the Pat Boone movie Bernardine, produced by Samuel G. Engel. Gracie fears George will be furious that their son is putting his education on the back burner. George finds out from Engels that Ronnie's in the picture and is happy about it. Not knowing this, everyone bends over backwards to cover for Ronnie. George plays along until the truth comes out. Sandra Burns appears as Engel's secretary. Herbert Rudley appears as Sam Engels. ^{[3][4][5][87]}

Note: This episode's Vaudeville Afterpiece is titled "Bowling."

Gracie arranges to find a wife for plumber Cuthbert Jantzen via an ad in the "Personals" column. But she was less than truthful in her description of him. Meanwhile, Ronnie approaches George for acting advice. A Julie Aames (Lois Collier) writes that she will meet with Cuthbert. Gracie gave her address as his, so now she asks Harry von Zell to get George out of the house for awhile. George finds out what Gracie is up to, but plays along. Gracie now has Blanche try to get George to leave. A young Julie arrives and after seeing how old Cuthbert is, she leaves.

Gracie and Blanche agree that their husbands aren't always romantic. They also agree that they don't always do things to encourage them. Gracie decides to give George a candlelight breakfast. Harry Morton returns from his business trip a day early. George convinces him to don a beard, sport a French accent and romance Blanche, who plays along with the gag. Gracie catches them and concludes Blanche is having an affair. Gracie goes to a gym to find a big strong man to remove the bearded man from Blanches house. The strong man mistakenly throws Harry von Zell out of the house. Guest appearance by Steve Reeves as Foley the strong man.^[3][4][87]

The publicity department of the studio sends Ronnie on several dates with a new Italian actress named Maria Tornini (Lita Milan). This causes problems with his real-life girlfriend Kathy Shaw as he has to keep breaking dates with her. Gracie asks Harry von Zell to go to the studio, pretend to be Maria's father and tell them he doesn't want her to go out with Ronnie. But von Zell doesn't think he could pull it off. Blanche tries to talk her husband into doing it as he speaks Italian, but Harry refuses. Gracie and von Zell go to see Jim Denton (Francis DeSales) who is in charge of publicity. However, Denton doesn't fall for their ploy. Maria brings her boyfriend Pietro with when she comes to speak with George. She says Pietro doesn't understand that her dates with Ronnie are purely for publicity. George comes up with a plan to make everyone happy.

Gracie is going out to lunch with Ronnie, so George asks Blanche if she'll go out and have lunch with him. Ronnie is back in college after his brief stint at movie acting. All his friends rib him about his movie career. Aspiring Texas actress Bonnie Sue McAfee arrives in Beverly Hills. Her brother Brian begs Gracie to find a way to get her to return home to Texas. Gracie tells Bonnie Sue to give up show business, so she won't be as unhappy as Gracie is. Gracie tries to convince Bonnie Sue and Harry von Zell that George beats her because she gets all the laughs. Bonnie Sue auditions for George and he finds a way to have her agree to go back to Texas. Sandra Burns plays the waitress.

With the money he made from the movie he was in, Ronnie puts a down payment on a 22-foot cabin cruiser. But, because he's not 21, he needs his father's credit for the balance. Mr. Strickland (Forrest Lewis), credit man from the boat store, calls George and George says he'd be happy to sign the agreement. Thinking George will be against it, Gracie enlists her friends to think of a plan to convince him that the boat is a wise investment. Meanwhile, Frank MacDougal (Ralph Clanton) from the BBC comes to town to renew the contract for the show. He calls George and says he'll be coming by for a signature. When Mr. MacDougal arrives, Gracie thinks he's from the boat store and hides him in the closet. Mr. Strickland then arrives and George let's everyone know he's signing for the boat. George lets Mr. MacDougal out of the closet. Hugh Sanders appears as Mr. Kendall, boat salesman.

Gracie has everything all set for Ronnie and his friend Ralph to sail to Tahiti on Ronnie's cabin cruiser. Joy Jantzen (Yvonne Lime) and her sister June arrive in town. The boys realize what they'll be missing out on if they go. Gracie still wants the boys to go on the trip. Ronnie wants George to think up an excuse for them to cancel the Tahiti trip. George tells Gracie that Ronnie can't go because he doesn't have a captain's license. Gracie tries and fails to get Ronnie a license. John Gallaudet appears as The Coast Guard Officer.

Bonnie Sue McAfee's brother Brian is due to graduate from college, but he mistakenly thinks he hasn't earned a diploma. He turns to Gracie for advice. Gracie goes to speak with Prof. Clinton (Frank Wilcox), but he says that if a student didn't pass the exam, there is nothing he can do. It's not until Gracie leaves that Prof. Clinton realizes who she was talking about and he knows Brian graduated. Prof. Clinton asks George to let Brian know the good news. After hearing from Harry Morton how he graduated, Gracie convinces Brian to fake a broken leg so they can hold a phony ceremony in her home. In front of Brian's family, she has Harry pretend to be the Dean and present Brian with the diploma. But her plan goes awry when George shows up with Prof. Clinton and a real diploma. Jack Benny makes a cameo appearance.

Ronnie has a lunch date with French foreign exchange student Marie Bordeau (Jacqueline Beer). George gives Ronnie a French phrase to use, but it doesn't mean what George says it does. Meanwhile, Blanche invites her mother to visit for a week as Harry will be out of town. But, Harry's business trip is canceled at the last minute, so Blanche's mother Natalie may have to stay with the Burns'. Not wanting George to know, Gracie tries to pass off Natalie as Marie. George knows what Marie looks like, but he plays along. Blanche forces Harry to ask Natalie to stay with them. (Benaderet in dual roles of both Blanche Morton and as her mother Natalie Baker.) ^[3][4][87]

While having lunch with the Jantzen girls, Ronnie believes he is an expert on women. Gracie butts in and starts matchmaking for her plumber Cuthbert Jantzen (Howard McNear) once again. Gracie meets Ruth Emerson (Jean Willes) from the advertising agency that the Jantzen girls are modeling for. She tells Ruth to come by the house and meet Cuthbert. Gracie tells George what's going on. George wants to make things interesting so he sets it up so Ruth meets Harry von Zell instead of Cuthbert. Harry misunderstands what Ruth is talking about and thinks he's being offered a job. But Ruth believes they are talking about marriage. Gracie wants to have the wedding rehearsal that evening thinking Ruth met Cuthbert. Confusion ensues when everyone shows up that evening, each expecting something else. Robert Cummings makes an appearance as his Love That Bob television series character Bob Collins. ^[95]

Ronnie and his friend Ralph Grainger apply for jobs as lifeguards at an Acapulco resort. They practice lifeguard maneuvers by rescuing Harry von Zell from the family pool, after Gracie tricks von Zell into falling backwards into the pool. Blanche and Gracie want to vacation in Acapulco, so Blanche tells her husband Harry that the alternative is having her brother Roger spend the summer with them. Ronnie and Ralph find out the lifeguard jobs they applied for are in the children's wadding pool and they now want out. Mr. Velasco is to come by and test their lifeguard skills, so the boys decide to leave. George and Morton come up with a plan to get out of going to Acapulco and it works. But something von Zell says causes the trip to be back on. Barbara Darrow appears as Peggy. Rodolfo Hoyos Jr. appears as Gomez. ^[96]

Ronnie and Ralph prepare for a calypso-themed party. George and Ronnie plays bongos while George sings a made up calypso song. In an effort for the two to become better friends, Blanche wants Harry to take George on a fishing trip. But the men mutually agree that George should fake a backache. Harry von Zell calls Tony Montenaro the Trainer to work on George's back. George tells Tony that there's really nothing wrong with his back. Harry von Zell agrees to get a workout first to show George there's nothing to it. Harry can barely move after the workout.

Ronnie had his 21st birthday party last night. George tricks Harry von Zell into washing his car. Ronnie wants to take Marie Bordeau (Jacqueline Beer) to Malibu for a couple days. Marie proposes marriage to Ronnie so she can stay in the country. Ronnie panics and tells Gracie he wishes he wasn't 21 anymore. Gracie and Blanche see Mr. Syms (Benny Baker) at the Bureau of Records. Gracie gets Ronnie's birth certificate changed to say he is only 14 years old. George now gets von Zell to mow his lawn. Marie comes by to tell Ronnie she was only joking about getting married. ^{[97][3][4][87]}

Douglass Dumbrille plays Brig. Gen. Masterson whose son Bill (Mason Alan Dinehart) is expected to attend the West Point academy, which in that era only accepted unmarried men. Bill, however, just married Kay Adams, so Gracie tries to create a diversion by telling the General that Ronnie and Kay are the ones married. Bill is supposed to take a physical for West Point. Gracie tries to pass Harry von Zell off as Bill, but the Doctor (William Bakewell) knows better. George tells the General the truth. At first the General is angry, but after George speaks with him more, he is delighted with the news. Meanwhile, with the rise of television westerns, George and Harry Von Zell shamelessly jump aboard the western bandwagon. ^[98][99]

Ronnie is girl-crazy at school, ignoring his studies. Prof. Maynard Henderson (Lewis Martin) tells George that he will have to drop Ronnie from his class unless he does better. Gracie goes to the Mortons looking for help with Ronnie. While there, Harry Morton says he is tired of being served pot roast all the time. This gives Gracie an idea. She intends to hire several models to be around Ronnie all the time, hoping he will tire of looking at pretty girls. Meanwhile, Harry Von Zell is still dressed as a cowboy and wants to do a western skit. Ronnie promises to study harder now that he has the girls phone numbers. Raymond Bailey appears as Mr. Hartman. Marianne Gaba appears as Miss Illinois. ^[100]

Bonnie Sue McAfee (Judi Meredith) wants to overcome her native Texas drawl to generate more attention from potential casting directors. Blanche mentions how Italian actresses such as Gina Lollobrigida are gaining popularity at the time. Gracie decides to remake Bonnie Sue into Italian actress Tina Cacciatore. Meanwhile, George talks to director Art Roberts (Booth Colman) about getting Bonnie Sue a job. Art says he has a part for a girl with a Texas accent and would like to come by and meet Bonnie Sue. Harry von Zell is still dressing as a cowboy and wants to do a Western. He tries to do some trick shooting and shoots out Harry Morton's window. Art meets Bonnie Sue and her Texas accent comes through. Being just what Art wants, Bonnie Sue gets the job. Ralph Dumke appears as Mr. McAfee. ^[3][4][99]

George and Gracie meet Ronnie's current girlfriend Pamela Crawford, who is British. Pamela's mother has been invited to the Burn's house for tea. Meanwhile, Harry von Zell makes another attempt to sell George on the idea of doing a western skit by bringing over Chief Crazy Moose. Gracie assumes a pretentious manner to impress Lady Crawford (Isobel Elsom). George is relegated to the background as Gracie tries to pass off Harry Morton as her husband. But then George brings over Blanche and pretends to be Morton. When Ronnie and Pamela show up, George tries to clear up the deception, but von Zell and Crazy Moose only add to the confusion. Joe Flynn appears as Mr. Clark. ^[101]

June Jantzen seeks advice from Gracie and Blanche about her father Cuthbert (Howard McNear) the plumber. June believes he is dating a woman half his age, because she saw him with the woman at a restaurant. But that woman was actually the daughter of Pauline Powell (Paula Winslowe), who Cuthbert is dating. Not knowing who she is, Gracie thinks that Ronnie's newest girlfriend Lori Willis is cavorting with all of the older men in the neighborhood. George straightens things out with Lori and everyone else but Gracie. To get even with the men for dating a younger woman, Gracie comes back with some very, very young men for her and Blanche. ^[102]

Robert Easton appears as Brian McAfee, brother of Ronnie's girlfriend Bonnie Sue McAfee. Brian is not the brightest student in class and is in danger of failing an important test. Brian mentions to Gracie that he wishes he were as smart as fellow student Alfred Kramer (Hooper Dunbar). Gracie wants Alfred to swap identities with Brian, so she calls him up and asks him over. Gracie then tries to convince the near-sighted Alfred he could be a handsome movie star if he changed his name to Brian McAfee. Brian comes by and tells Gracie he doesn't have to take the test as the professor wants to keep the class average up. ^[103]

Gracie and Blanche come back from a lecture by Colonel Bradley. Gracie is totally infatuated with him and invites the big game hunter to spend the week at the house. The Colonel brings along many of his animal trophies. Meanwhile, Ronnie wants to bring over a new girl he met and hopes George and Gracie can impress her. George tricks Harry von Zell into agreeing to dress like a witch doctor in an effort to get rid of Bradley. Ronnie and Eilene (Eilene Janssen) arrive to find the animal trophies and George and Harry Morton dressed in safari outfits. Then the witch doctor comes in. George pretends to scare him off thinking it is von Zell. But von Zell arrives in plain clothes because he couldn't get a costume. Australian actor Edward Ashley-Cooper appears as famous game hunter Colonel Bradley. Phil Arnold appears as Colonel Bradley's Assistant. ^[104][105]

Ralph thinks that Ronnie was trying to make time with a girl he really likes and the two have a brief falling out. George has a talk with them and gets them to be friends again. Gracie doesn't know that the boys have already made up and left. She stages a huge fight with Blanche to show the boys how silly it is to quarrel with one's best friend. During the fake fight several of Harry Morton's prized cups are broken. Harry von Zell witnesses the fight and tells George. George, knowing what is going on, says they need to get the girls back together. To do this, George suggests von Zell go and start a fight with Harry Morton to show the girls how silly it is for friends to fight. More of Morton's cups are broken. Meanwhile, Gracie thinks that if she can get Bonnie Sue to flirt with Ralph, that will even things up and the boys will be friends again. Gracie and Blanche stage another fight and even more of Morton's cups are broken.

Gracie convinced Ronnie's friend Alfred Kramer that he would look more handsome without glasses. Professor Henderson tells Gracie that Alfred not wearing glasses has disrupted his studies and he's failing his classes. Ronnie overhears part of the conversation and believes that he is the one flunking school. Ronnie tells George that he is quitting college to help him with the act so that George can retire. George doesn't go for the idea. Gracie convinces Alfred to start wearing his glasses again. To keep Ronnie from being kicked out of school, Harry von Zell poses as a rich uncle willing to donate a large sum of money to the school. Because of a phone call from George, Professor Henderson and Professor Tavelman (Howard Wendell) know it's von Zell. George tells them that von Zell is suffering from strange hallucinations.

Ronnie is helping to get Ralph's girlfriend Imogene Reynolds elected Homecoming Queen. Gracie wants to use George's cigars as a campaign bribe. Gracie tricks Harry von Zell into smuggling the cigars out of the house. He believes they are shoes Gracie wants to return. Meanwhile, George's TV that he uses to spy on others is broken. At Blanche's house, von Zell discovers that what he has are actually George's cigars. George knows his cigars are missing and he buys another box, which also goes missing. Charlie the TV Repairman (Irving Bacon) comes by and is confused by the goings on. George winds up getting his cigars back and Imogene wins the election.

Ever since Imogene was elected Homecoming Queen she has no time for Ralph and he is miserable. She is even going out with Jim Monoghan, the football captain. Gracie cannot keep her nose out of the love lives of Ronnie and Ralph. She wants to get Ronnie's girlfriend Mary Rogers (Jolene Brand) involved by making a play for Jim so that Imogene will go back to Ralph. That plan backfires. Gracie then gets Harry Morton involved. That plan backfires. George decides to complicate matters. Barbara Darrow appears as Sylvia.

In a plot line similar to "Gracie at the Department Store" from Season 3, this one incorporates Ronnie Burns as a department store employee. In the confusion of who is financially liable when Gracie trips in the store, she thinks she is liable, and the department store thinks she wants to file a lawsuit against them. Gracie believes the store wants $100 from her. George won't give it to her, so she asks Blanche. Harry Morton says he'll be able to get the money from George. But thanks to his TV, George knows Harry's plan. Mr. Connors (Hugh Sanders) and Mr. Forbes (Addison Richards) from the store come over and increase their offer. Gracie now thinks they want $500 from her. Harry von Zell tries to get the money from George, but George pretends he's broke. To assuage their liability, the store keeps giving Ronnie more job promotions every hour. They finally make Ronnie their claims adjuster. In the end, Gracie and the store decide to call the whole thing off. Harry Cheshire appears as Dr. Bancroft.

Gracie and Blanche find out what their husbands are giving them for Christmas and they are not happy. George and Harry Morton had a pact not to spend a lot of money on the presents. Blanche wants a mink coat, and Gracie already owns one. Morton thinks George just bought the mink for Gracie and reneged on their pact. Because Harry is now going to buy Blanche a mink, Gracie insists George buy her a new mink. Harry asks Ronnie if he can get an employee discount at the Wilshire Department Store where he works and bring the coat home. George swaps coats in the box with Harry von Zell's old raccoon coat, and when Blanche and Gracie peek into the box Ronnie brings home, they are insulted. When Gracie returns home and finds the real mink coat, she assumes George got it for her for Christmas, and shows it to Blanche and Harry, while Ronnie tries to return von Zell's coat to the department store. George finally straightens it all out, and Blanche gets her coat. John Stephenson appears as Mr. Mavis.

Gracie sends her invitation to a New Year's Eve party thrown by society matron Mrs. Winthrop (Eleanor Audley) to Harry and Blanche Morton. Harry Morton assumes they were invited because the Mortons are socially more important than George. Gracie is having tea with Mrs. Winthrop and finagles an actual invitation for Blanche. Blanche discovers the truth about the invites and says she's not going because she wasn't initially invited. Gracie talks her into going. Meanwhile, Ronnie would rather go to a costume party with his friends than go to the Winthrop party and has already order a costume. George tricks Harry von Zell into thinking that the Winthrop's are having a costume party. Gracie finds out plumber Cuthbert Jantzen will be spending New Year's evening alone, so she invites him along to the party. Harry von Zell shows up to the Burns house in a costume and realizes he has been duped. Ronnie invites von Zell to the costume party.

Ronnie needs a good story in order to get a reporter job for the college newspaper. Brian McAfee's father has given him a new car. Knowing Ronnie needs a good story, Gracie suggests that after Harry Morton goes to work, Brian park his car in Harry's garage and then she will report it stolen. Being desperate, Ronnie agrees. Meanwhile, Blanche wants to buys a new set of dinner plates, but Harry says she spends too much money as it is. Gracie says Blanche should ask for something more expensive and then Harry will settle for the dishes. After the boys park the car, Gracie calls Harry and tells him Blanche bought a new car. Harry tells Blanche she may have the dishes and some other things if she returns the car. Gracie now wants to try the same trick on George because she wants a new lamp. Harry von Zell wants to help Gracie, but George knows all about the plan. Ronnie gives the stolen car story to the college paper and there is some confusion when a policeman gets involved. Barbara Darrow appears as Barbara Parker.

Ronnie tells George that he helped his friend Frank Brody, his wife and baby find an apartment. Ronnie even writes a check for the deposit. Mr. Walden, the apartment landlord, speaks with Gracie. He asks her to have Ronnie write out a new check for the apartment as he dated the first one incorrectly. Gracie now thinks Ronnie rented the apartment because Ronnie and George had an argument. Mrs. Barlow (Kathryn Card) is watching Mrs. Brody's (Sally Fraser) baby. Gracie drops by and comes to believe Ronnie has a wife and baby. Mrs. Barlow leaves the baby with Gracie, who decides to take the baby home to meet George. After some confusion, George, knowing what's going on, straightens thing out. Jana Lund appears as Annabelle Morris.

Bonnie Sue comes by and speaks with Gracie. It seems Bonnie Sue's father (Ralph Dumke) is dating a younger woman named Helen (Peggy Maley). She is the hotel's manicurist, and in spite of their four-decade age difference, he falls head over heels in love and wants to marry her. Bonnie Sue believes she's just a gold-digger. Gracie wants Harry von Zell to pretend to be a wealthy Texan and make a play for Helen, but he says no. George tricks Harry into doing it, and for fun, manages to have von Zell make the play for the wrong woman named Gladys. George speaks to Helen and finds out she does want to marry just for money. Gracie sees Helen and not knowing who she is asks if she would make a play for Mr. McAfee. Meanwhile, Bonnie Sue and Harry Morton come up with a plan to pretend they are getting married to show Mr. McAfee how the age difference is bad. Mr. McAfee tells George that he has come to realize that Helen is just a gold-digger. Bonnie Sue and Harry Morton come by, then Gracie and Helen and then von Zell and Gladys. George works things out. Trudi Ames appears as The Little Girl.

Ronnie's friend Jerry Gilbert (Steve Terrell) wants to impress the parents of his girlfriend Sandy Allison, who are visiting soon. Jerry's parent's live out of town and Sandy comes to believe the Burns house is Jerry's. Ronnie wants George's help, but Gracie overhears and gets involved. Gracie tells Jerry she will pretend to be his mother. In the ensuing charade, more than one pretend father is asked and says no. Her plan to recruit someone to pose as Jerry's father seems stalled. Mr. and Mrs. Allison (Ned Wever and Sheila Bromley)) arrive. Eventually, three men pose as Jerry's father - George, Harry von Zell and Harry Morton, all at the same time. George proceeds to straighten things out.

Harry Morton is furious that he's tainted his perfect driver safety record with a traffic accident and he intends on filing a lawsuit. He also is counting on Gracie, who was in the car with him, to prove he was not at fault. Gracie tells George that Harry was hit when he drove through a red light. George suggests to Gracie that she tell Harry she can't be a witness for him. After Gracie tells Harry, Blanche decides to talk to George. George convinces Blanche that Harry has said bad things about her. Janice Baldwin, the driver of the other car, would like to speak to Gracie. She tells Ronnie that her father, Mr. Baldwin (Willis Bouchey), says that if she was at fault, he will take the car away from her. When Mr. Baldwin arrives, Gracie tricks Harry von Zell into posing as Morton and admitting the accident was his fault. Knowing all this, George sends Morton over to add to the confusion. George then gets Gracie to tell Mr. Baldwin what really happened.

Ronnie's girlfriend Bonnie Sue McAfee, a native Texan, wants to audition for the role of a Japanese girl in an upcoming movie. She asks Gracie for help because George knows Walter Sinclair (Charles Meredith), the producer. George refuses to help, but Gracie tells Bonnie Sue that George will. Gracie invites Mr. Sinclair to a fictional anniversary dinner that evening. George discovers the scheme and creates confusion by telling Gracie it really is the 10th anniversary of some event. Gracie asks Harry von Zell to find out from George what they're celebrating, but Harry gets nothing from George. Walter calls George and tells him that he has filled the part of the Japanese girl and he will bring her to the party. At the party, George has Walter find a way for Bonnie Sue to not want the part.

Note: This episode's Vaudeville Afterpiece is titled "Uncle Roy Allen, Judge of the Old West."

Gracie meddles in George's business dealings, and then she loses the house key. While Harry Morton is helping unlocking George and Gracie's door, Gracie locks the Mortons out of their house.