Abbott & Costello

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  • Abbott And Costello Official Web-Site


    Abbott & Costello were one of the greatest comedy teams
    in the history of show business.
    They mastered the straightman/clown relationship,
    creating a magical chemistry that would take them
    from the burlesque stage to radio, to broadway, to film
    ...and finally, to television.


    Born William Alexander Abbott on October 2, 1897
    in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Bud became one of the most sought-after
    and polished straightmen on the burlesque circuit.
    It was here that he met his future partner, Louis Francis Cristillo,
    born on March 6, 1906 in Paterson, New Jersey.



    Their official teaming was in 1936. Although they soon became
    a popular booking commodity on the burlesque wheel, it wasn't
    until they appeared on the KATE SMITH RADIO HOUR -
    performing what would soon become known as their classic signature skit,
    "Who's On First" - that Bud Abbott & Lou Costello were hurled to stardom, and to Hollywood.


    Signed to Universal in 1939, Abbott & Costello reigned as the new
    "Kings Of Comedy," producing a solid decade of box office hits including
    "Buck Privates," "In The Navy," "Hold That Ghost," "Naughty Nineties,"
    "Time Of Their Lives," and their 1948 monster classic
    "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein."
    Today, that film remains a favorite among fans,
    as well as an international cult masterpiece.


    Bud and Lou's style and brand of comedy helped lift the morale of the
    American public during World War II.
    Eager to lend their time to the war effort, the boys funded (out of pocket)
    a cross-country tour to help raise much-needed funds on behalf of the War Bond Drive.
    Everywhere they appeared there were sellout audiences.
    They were honored on the steps of New York's City Hall by
    Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia for raising a record-breaking
    $89 million in just three days!



    As the country eased into the 1950's, Abbott & Costello tackled a new medium:
    television. Comedy historians have glossed over their contribution,
    but in fact, Bud and Lou became early television pioneers along with the likes
    of Phil Silvers, Milton Berle, Jack Benny, and Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz.
    THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW debuted in 1952, running for two seasons on CBS.
    Today, the show is seeing a revival with the 1993 and 1994
    episode video releases from Shanachie Entertainment and in a 1994
    Columbia House infomercial.


    To further display their burlesque wares on the live stage,
    which was always home to the boys, NBC welcomed Abbott & Costello
    to its new hour-long live variety show THE COLGATE COMEDY HOUR as guest hosts.
    Debuting on January 7, 1951, Bud and Lou boosted the show's ratings
    with their presentations of the Abbott & Costello staple routines,
    including "Who's On First."


    In 1956, one year before the release of their last film together,
    "Dance With Me Henry," and their official (and amicable) split,
    Bud and Lou were brought together on THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW
    before a live nationwide viewing audience.
    The emotion was further heightened when, unbeknownst to both men,
    Steve Allen announced the induction of Abbott & Costello
    and their Gold Record of "Who's On First" into the world-famous
    BASEBALL HALL OF FAME in Cooperstown, New York.
    (Many are not aware that Abbott & Costello are the first
    non-baseball-playing celebrities ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame!)



    Lou Costello passed away in 1959, and Bud Abbott in 1974 -
    but today, their comedy continues to generate new legions of fans around the world.
    Their clean style of comedy, born on the burlesque stage over 50 years ago,
    continues to find a ready and accepting audience in today's marketplace.


    In 1989, Bud and Lou's families released a compilation video of the boys'
    appearances on the COLGATE COMEDY HOUR shows in
    THE BEST OF ABBOTT & COSTELLO, LIVE (Warner Home Video).
    The video was nominated for two prestigious video awards in 1990, and in 1991
    The Disney Channel followed through with 6 special airings,
    creating a wider marketing base for the duo.


    Look-alikes doubled as Bud and Lou to help promote "Bran News Cereal"
    in a nationwide television commercial, Prudential Insurance used actual
    radio show skits for a year-long nationwide radio commercial, and in
    1993 McDonald's, pushing their special combo meals, again employed
    A&C look-alikes in a nationwide campaign.


    In 1991, the United States Postal Service paid homage to the team
    by enlisting them as part of their "Comedy Legends" commemorative stamp booklet.



    By 1993, cable networks had begun airing more and more of the
    Abbott & Costello films. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld hosted a 10-hour
    ABBOTT & COSTELLO COMEDY MARATHON on the
    Comedy Channel Network - a first, for Bud and Lou to be paid such
    a high tribute by one of today's most sought-after comedians.


    With Abbott & Costello being a major influence in Jerry Sienfeld's career,
    as well as with an obvious sprinkling of the duo in his award winning TV show,
    THE JERRY SEINFELD SHOW, the families in association with George Paige Productions, approached Mr. Seinfeld in hosting a retrospective on the team.


    In view of Abbott & Costello's considerable influence on Jerry Seinfeld's career
    (including an obvious sprinkling of the duo in his award-winning TV show
    THE JERRY SEINFELD SHOW), the families - in association with
    George Paige Productions - approached Mr. Seinfeld about hosting
    a retrospective on the team. At 10:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening 1994,
    ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET JERRY SEINFELD aired on NBC,
    receiving a #2 rating from TV Guide. Abbott & Costello had once again
    come to life in over 20 million homes.


    As Abbott & Costello continue to thrive in their long-overdue resurgence,
    no one has defined the comedy of Abbott and Costello quite as well as Jerry Seinfeld:
    "If it weren't for Abbott & Costello, many of the wonderful burlesque routines
    which are a part of the American fabric would have been lost forever.
    They were giants of their time, who truly immortalized burlesque forever.
    Maybe that art form is largely lost, but I try and keep it alive in my own show."

    FILMOGRAPHY


    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 18 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Every Sunday evening, when I was a kid, was "Abbott and Costello" night! One of the Dallas TV stations would air one of their Universal Studios movies each week. I became a fan then, and am still a fan. I've collected their movies, their TV show and even some old radio shows.
    Now, I don't laugh as much at their shtick as I did when I was a kid, but they still put a smile on my face.

    One of the highlights of my life came when the Red River Theater Company produced a vaudeville style show and I got to portray Lou Costello! (I don't look much like him, but I am short and nailed his New Jersey accent!)

    Some of my favorite movies

    "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" - It's a Halloween tradition at my house!

    "The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap' - Great Western parody. (One great scene, the boys are being tried for murder, the camera scans the jury and several of the jury members have brought their own nooses!)

    'Comin' Round the Mountain" - Not really that great of a movie, but it has one of the funniest scenes in any movie....Margret Hamilton has a cameo as a voodoo witch (similar to her Witch role in "Wizard of Oz"), and she and Lou get into a fight with voodoo dolls! Classic!
    :beer:

  • One of our local stations here in Detroit used to do the same thing but, it was on Sunday mornings at 10. My favorite A&C movie has to be the meet Frankenstein one. Simply hilarious. Makes you wonder how Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi were able to keep straight faces during all that.

  • For me they were the greatest comedy duo of all time, bar none.The early films were the best, but A&C Meet Frankenstein is my favorite.

  • Abbott & Costello could have even made Mr. Scrooge laugh till it hurt.
    They were funny seventy years ago and they are still funny.

    ''baby sister i was born game and intend to go out that way.''