Abbott and Costello and Channel 11 WPIX

Television was different in the 1970s. Every Sunday morning, Channel 11 in New York would show an Abbott and Costello movie. I think it was from 10am to noon. I saw many of their movies loads of times. Channel 11 had the rights from the first movie “Night at the Tropics” to the last movies. A generation of young kids got to see Abbott and Costello long after each performer had passed away. 

Abbott and Costello were the biggest box office draw of 1942. By 1949, they had a radio show, movies and guest spots on other shows. 

In 1952, Abbott and Costello had their own television show. In truth, the movies weren't doing as well and the quality went down. Television was very new at the time and not every home had a television. Today we could say it's like Amazon Prime or Netflix. Not every home subscribes to them, but those shows get a lot of buzz and attention. 

The Abbott and Costello show ran from the fall of 1952 to the spring of 1954. Many critics of television of complained that the show was an excuse to use old bits for a new generation and that the shows were just money. There are more viewers who reject part of this vision. 

The premise of the show was that Abbott and Costello were serially unemployed and always looking for a job or scam for money. This lead them to various openings for comedy. Yes old bits from burlesque or movies came into play, but it also introduced future Three Stooge, Joe Besser, landlord Mr. Fields, and gave opportunities to newer comedians. Let's face it, those bits were still funny. 

The show was owned by Lou Costello. Since television was so new, Abbott had no faith in the show and agreed to be salary. As I noted last week, the performer that plays the fool is sometimes the real smart one. 

Channel 11 in New York was home to the New York Yankees for the 1970s and much of the 1980s. Since baseball is an outside game and rain delays or rain-outs could happen, Channel 11 needed something to show. They showed the old Abbott and Costello shows. So someone such as myself saw the old movies and shows as a kid. If the Yanks were doing bad or in a slump, a rain delay and the Abbott and Costello Show were a welcome relief. 

The partnership between Abbott and Costello was changing at the time of the show. If the television movie about Abbott and Costello staring Harvey Korman and Buddy Hackett is true, Costello got tired of being seen as the clown. He wanted more of the profits and he owned their show. This lead to money disputes that affected all facets of their careers. 

Adding to this, the Internal Revenue Service audited them and found that they owed millions in back taxes. By this time, Universal Movie Studios had dropped Abbott and Costello. The show was over, radio shows had passed. The partners fought a lot and didn’t talk. 

They dissolved their partnership in 1957. I read that the split was amicable. Looking at all the pressures of the time, they probably did need to break up and do other ventures. 

Lou Costello would do guest spots in other people’s shows. He would make one movie, “The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock.” Shortly after it premiered, Lou Costello died of a heart attack. 

At this point, I’m nearing 500 words, long for a blog. This story needs a third act, so next week is Part 3 of Abbott and Costello.