Bob Burns

Robin "Bob" Burns (birth name Burn; August 2, 1890 – February 2, 1956) was an American musical comedian, who appeared on radio and in movies from 1930 to 1947.

Burns played a novelty musical instrument of his own invention, which he called a "bazooka". During World War II, the U.S. Army's handheld anti-tank rocket launcher was nicknamed "bazooka" after Burns's instrument, and the term remains current into the 21st century as a generic name for some shoulder-fired rocket launchers.

Early years He was born Robin Burn in Greenwood, Arkansas. When he was three years old, his family moved to Van Buren, Arkansas. As a boy, Burns played trombone and cornet in the town's "Queen City Silver Cornet Band". At 13, he formed his own string band. Practicing in the back of Hayman's Plumbing Shop one night, he picked up a length of gas pipe and blew into it, creating an unusual sound. With modifications, this became a musical instrument he named a "bazooka" (after "bazoo", meaning a windy fellow, from the Dutch bazuin for "trumpet"). A photograph shows him playing his invention in the Silver Cornet Band. Burns made another "bazooka" from stove pipes and a whiskey funnel, which he sometimes played with the Corps band. In September 1919, he and his "Marine Corps Melody Six" jazz band, with Burn playing his bazooka, were attached to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Manhattan.

The Arkansas Traveler After the war, Burns returned to the stage, often playing the bazooka as part of his act. He used it as a prop when telling hillbilly stories and jokes. Burns became known as "The Arkansas Traveler" and "The Arkansas Philosopher". His stage persona was a self-effacing, rustic bumpkin with amusing stories about "the kinfolks" back home in Van Buren. His character was patterned after Sandford C. Faulkner (1803–1874), composer of the popular fiddle tune, "The Arkansas Traveler".

In 1941, Burns was given his own radio show, called The Arkansas Traveler (1941–1943) and The Bob Burns Show (1943–1947).

After his national radio breakthrough in 1935–1936, Burns moved up to feature roles as a contract player with Paramount Pictures. In Rhythm on the Range (1936) he was second lead with Crosby.

In 1941, Burns broke with Paramount, rather than appear in a proposed film which he thought was excessively demeaning to "the people of his native hills".

Personal life In 1921, Burns married Elizabeth Anna Fisher. They had one child, Robert Jr., who was married to actress Naomi Stevens and who died in 2012. Elizabeth died in 1936. Burns then married his long-time secretary Harriet M. Foster in May 1939. They had three children, Barbara, William, and Stephen, and remained married until his death.

A wealthy man from his land investments,

He died from kidney cancer in nearby Encino on February 2, 1956, at the age of 65.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1930 Up the River Slim - Bazooka Player Uncredited 1931 Not Exactly Gentlemen Newspaper Printer Uncredited Quick Millions 'Arkansas' Smith (as Robert Burns) Young as You Feel Colorado Detective Uncredited Heaven on Earth Marty Uncredited 1932 If I Had a Million Marine Sergeant Uncredited Tombstone Canyon Sheriff Mort Langly Uncredited 1933 Laughter in Hell Sheriff with Posse Uncredited Fast Workers Alabam Hoop-La Barker Uncredited 1934 Spitfire Mountaineer Uncredited Lazy River Slim - Prisoner Uncredited 1936 Rhythm on the Range Buck Eaton The Big Broadcast of 1937 Bob Black 1937 Waikiki Wedding Shad Buggle Mountain Music Bob Burnside Wells Fargo Hank York - a Wanderer 1938 Radio City Revels Lester Robin Tropic Holiday Breck Jones The Arkansas Traveler The Arkansas Traveler 1939 I'm from Missouri Sweeney Bliss Our Leading Citizen Lem Schofield (said to be his favorite role, his only serious one) 1940 Alias the Deacon Deke Caswell Comin' Round the Mountain Jed Blower 1944 Belle of the Yukon Sam Slade 1945 The Windjammer Himself (final film role)