Abbott, Costello, Susie and movies
What movie stars did Susie Carnegie watch when she went to the movies in 1949? There are the golden names like Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, William Bendix. One of the most popular acts of that time were Abbott and Costello. They had a long and storied career even for years after they broke up. I’ll be writing about them in separate posts like I did with Miles Davis a few weeks back.
This week-Abbott and Costello in 1949.
Lou Costello was born Louis Francis Cristello in 1906. He was a skilled basketball player in high school and athletic. He was a stunt man in silent movies in his younger days. A close movie watcher will see him the Laurel and Hardy silent movie, “Battle of the Century” in 1927.
Bud Abbott was born in 1897. Both performers were born in New Jersey. Abbott worked for a time in Barnum and Bailey’s Circus. He played in a burlesque act in Coney Island. At that time burlesque wasn’t just scantly clad women with tattoos like today. Back then the shows were more of a variety show type event. He marries an entertainer from the shows, Betty Smith in 1918. What isn’t known by the public is that Abbott has epilepsy and lived in fear of an episode in public.
Abbott and Costello would first work together in 1935 at the Eltinge Burlesque Theater on 42nd Street Manhattan. Today, that is now the lobby of the AMC movie theater. Abbott’s partner was unavailable and Costello was available. Neither’s careers in entertainment was going well so the match up was lucky for them. At this point, Costello is in his late twenties and Abbott was over 30 years old. Costello just got married in 1934 and had to make it or get a new career.
Even though Costello was a former stunt man and played high school sports, he took on the character of a schlubby fool. (As was the case with many partner acts, the fool is really the more intelligent one behind the scenes-Stan Laurel, Tom Smothers et.al)
Suddenly everything clicks. Their first radio appearance was on the Kate Smith Hour in 1938. A few months later, the famous “Who’s on First” routine would be performed on radio. Their first movie cameo was in “Night at the Tropics” in 1940. Buck Privates was their first big movie and by 1942, they are the biggest selling act in movies.
They get their own radio show in 1942.
During WWII, they would campaign to raise money for war bonds.
Their big movie of 1949 was called African Screams. They were still box-office, radio and public appearance gold.
Maybe Susie and Mickey did go see Abbott and Costello on a date in 1949.
Who is this Susie that I'm writing about? You can read about her in Mix Tapes and Empty Buildings. Here's the link: