Famous Folks from Sebastian County

Bob Burns (1890 - 1956) Submitted by Jack W. James Born and originally named Robin Burn in Greenwood, Arkansas, Burns was reared in Van Buren. At age 15, the crafty entertainer made a musical instrument called a "bazooka" and started a comical career that took him to New York nightclubs during the 1920s. After vaudeville declined in the early 1930s, Burns landed a spot on Bing Crosby's radio show on NBC. Soon the comic musician had his own national radio show and was also landing roles in movies. As in World War I, Burns worked in USO shows during World War II. He retired from show business in 1947 and spent his remaining years on a 500-acre farm in California. Member of the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame.