Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Abbott and Costello
Abbott and Costello is the name of a legendary American comedy duo made up of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.
Abbott met Costello in 1931 while Abbott was working as a cashier at a Brooklyn theater after failing as a movie stunt double and extra. Costello asked Abbott to fill in for his straight man, who was ill. Throughout the 1930s, Abbott and Costello built their career performing together in burlesque shows, vaudeville revues, and movie houses.
At Costello's request, all profits earned from the act were split 60/40, favoring Abbott, because, according to Costello, "Comics are a dime a dozen. Good straight men are hard to find."
In 1938 they received national exposure for the first time by performing on the radio show The Kate Smith Hour, which lead to the duo signing with Universal the following year. Abbott and Costello released their first film in 1940 entitled, One Night in the Tropics. Although Abbott and Costello were only filling supporting roles in the film, they stole the film with their classic routine Who's On First?.
Within a couple of years, the comedy team had also their own television series, "The Abbott and Costello Show" which aired from 1952 to 1954) and radio shows.
Abbott and Costello split up in 1957, after troubles with the Internal Revenue Service that left both men broke.
In 1994, comedian Jerry Seinfeld hosted the television special, Abbott and Costello meet Jerry Seinfeld which aired on NBC to over 20 million homes.
"The Abbott and Costello show" is also occasionally used when referring to the Australian government of John Howard due to the names of two prominent members of the ministry - federal health minister Tony Abbott and federal treasurer Peter Costello.
Filmography
- One Night in the Tropics, 1940
- Buck Privates, 1941
- In The Navy, 1941
- Hold That Ghost, 1941
- Keep 'Em Flying, 1941
- Ride 'Em Cowboy, 1942
- Rio Rita, 1942
- Pardon My Sarong, 1942
- Who Done It?, 1942
- It Aint Hay, 1943
- Hit The Ice, 1943
- In Society, 1944
- Lost In A Harem, 1944
- Here Come The Co-eds, 1945
- The Naughty Nineties, 1945
- Abbott & Costello In Hollywood, 1945
- Little Giant, 1946
- The Time Of Their Lives, 1946
- Buck Privates Come Home, 1947
- The Wistful Widow Of Wagon Gap, 1947
- The Noose Hangs High, 1948
- Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, 1948
- Mexican Hayride, 1948
- Abbott and Costello Meet The Killer: Boris Karloff, 1949
- Africa Screams, 1949
- Abbott and Costello In The Foreign Legion, 1950
- Abbott and Costello Meet The Invisible Man , 1951
- Comin' Round The Mountain, 1951
- Jack And The Beanstalk, 1952
- Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd, 1952
- Lost In Alaska, 1952
- Abbott and Costello Go To Mars, 1953
- Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, 1954
- Abbott and Costello Meet The Keystone Cops, 1955
- Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy , 1955
- Dance With Me Henry, 1956
External links
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