Museum Associate Art Jacobs shares this story about radio's famous Bob Burns.
"Bob
Burns a musical comedian who appeared on radio and in the movies is
featured in the 1941 Radio-Movie-Guide magazine. Burns a native from
Arkansas, is best known as "The Arkansas Traveler" a character that
amused his audience with stories about the kinfolk back home. Burns
played a novelty musical instrument of his own invention which he called
the "bazooka". It consisted of a stove pipe and a whiskey funnel that
created an unusual sound."
Bob Burns, radio comic of the 1940s. Magazine photo courtesy of Art Jacobs 2014
"By
1940 Burns was nationally known on the radio and was signed as a
contract player with Paramount Pictures. During the 1930's and 40's
Burns began investing his money in real estate throughout the
San Fernando Valley. At one time, it was said that Bob Burns owned over
800 acres of West Valley land. His ranch was
located on the corner of Sherman Way and Mason in Canoga Park.
Locally, Burns became the honorary mayor of Canoga Park and was very active in the community.
On February 1956, Bob Burns passed away in Encino, California of kidney cancer and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery."
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