Fibber McGee & Molly radio show 3/14/44 Dinner Party / Beulah Is Hired 

Thank you. You just answered my questions!!

Indeed! Few listeners realized that the McGee's African - American maid , Beulah , was actually portrayed by a white man- Marlin Hurt. Of course , the studio audience knew - and each week a huge laugh was heard when the former big - band vocalist performed his first scene . Another successful Fibber spinoff Marlin Hurt's The Beulah Show aired from July 2 , 1945 through March 17 , 1946 , and was revived after the actor's untimely death . At different times , the revamped series starred Bob Corley , Oscar winner Hattie McDaniel and sisters Lillian and Amanda Randolph .

@@JohnDonovanProductions Yes, I've read that elsewhere -- almost comedic shock value when suddenly this white man starts speaking in a voice radio listeners have imagined as a portly black lady!

I always thought it was the same lady that was the maid in "It's a Wonderful Life"