Bob Burns
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Robin "Bob" Burns (August 2, 1890 – February 2, 1956), born Robin Burn and nicknamed "The Arkansas Philosopher", was an American radio and film comedian in the 1930s and 1940s.
Born in Greenwood, Arkansas, Burns is most remembered for coining a word of wide usage in World War II and later: bazooka. Burns's bazooka was not a weapon, though, but a rustic homemade novelty instrument fashioned from stove pipes and a whiskey funnel. World War II GIs nicknamed their hand-held anti-tank rocket launchers after their physical similarity to Burns's instrument.
The musical bazooka had a narrow range and less-than-dulcet tone, but this was intentional, as Burns used the instrument as a prop for his comic hillbilly stories and jokes. His radio personality was based on the low-key, self-effacing, rustic bumpkin, telling amusing stories about the folks back home in Van Buren, Arkansas.
Burns starred on Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall radio program, then had his own radio series, The Arkansas Traveler, From 1941 to 1947. He also performed in several movies.
Burns died from kidney cancer in Encino, California at the age of 66.
Sample Filmography
- Quick Millions (as Robert Burns) ('31)
- Young As You Feel ('31)
- Lazy River ('34)
- Rhythm On The Range ('36)
- The Big Broadcast of 1937 ('36)
- Wakiki Wedding ('37)
- Mountain Music ('37)
- The Arkansas Traveller ( '38)
- I'm From Missouri ('39)
External links
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