Page "Fred Allen" Paragraph 38

Unfortunately, Allen fell to number 38 in the ratings, as television began its rise as well.

By this time, he had changed the show again somewhat, changing the famed " Allen's Alley " skits to take place on " Main Street ," and rotating a new character or two in and out of the lineup.

He stepped down from radio again in 1949, at the end of his show's regular season, as much under his doctor's orders as because of his slipping ratings.

He decided to take a year off, but it did more for his health ( he suffered from hypertension ) than his career ; after the June 26, 1949 show, on which Henry Morgan and Jack Benny guested, Fred Allen never hosted another radio show full time again.