It's Time To Smile 1943 06 09 (118) Guest George Burns

# It's Time To Smile | June 9, 1943

When the NBC orchestra strikes up that familiar cheerful overture on this June evening, you're transported directly into Eddie Cantor's world—a place where the worries of wartime America momentarily fade beneath waves of laughter and song. This particular broadcast crackles with special energy, as the legendary Eddie welcomes his dear friend George Burns, fresh from his radio triumphs with Gracie Allen. What unfolds is a masterclass in comedic timing, with Cantor's signature rapid-fire delivery and rubber-faced charm bouncing brilliantly off Burns's deadpan wit. The pair trade barbs with the ease of old vaudeville partners, spinning tales that have the studio audience roaring while the sound effects team orchestrates every footstep and door slam with precision. Between the comedy sketches, the show pivots seamlessly into musical numbers—Eddie's tenor voice soaring above the lush orchestration—offering those precious moments of escapism that made radio the heartbeat of American entertainment during this uncertain year of 1943.

For over a decade, *It's Time To Smile* had been appointment listening for millions, with Cantor's infectious optimism and variety-show format providing the perfect antidote to Depression and, now, wartime anxiety. A vaudeville veteran who'd crossed into film and radio with remarkable success, Cantor possessed an unmatched ability to make audiences feel personally addressed, as if performing directly for them in their living rooms. Guest appearances like Burns's elevated the show further, creating those memorable cross-pollinations that became the stuff of radio legend.

Tune in and experience the genuine warmth and professional excellence that made this era of broadcasting truly golden.