The Legacy of Abbott and Costello

In 1949, Susie Carnegie and her boyfriend Mickey probably went to an Abbott and Costello movie on a date. In 1942, Abbott and Costello were the biggest act in Hollywood. They were on radio, stage and movies. In 1949, Abbott and Costello weren’t the biggest act, but they were still popular. Less than 10 years later, the act would be over and Lou Costello would pass away. 

Abbott and Costello had money, fame and families. During the early 1950s, they struggled to hold on that. The IRS audited them and took a lot of their money and rights to movies. Universal Studios dropped them. Their television show was seen as recycling the past. The partnership was frayed. 

Any chance of fortunes turning around ended with the death of Lou Costello. 

Bud Abbott stayed in entertainment. He had a new partner, but that didn’t rise to the past fame. Remember good ole’ Channel 11 last week? Television re-ran the old movies and people watched. They watched that show and audiences laughed. There was a new interest in Abbott and Costello. 

Bud was approached to do a cartoon version of Abbott and Costello. He would do his voice and a voice actor did Lou’s parts. That lasted for several years. Abbott got asked for interviews and he made money again. 

Bud Abbott would pass away in 1974 having seen himself hit the big time, fall and rise again. 

Cooperstown New York is the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Famous players throughout baseball’s history are featured. There are displays about how to make a baseball, the specifications of a proper bat, and history of baseball fields. The first attraction you’ll see when you walk in is a video loop of Abbott and Costello’s Who’s on First routine. The only non-athletes in the Hall of Fame are Abbott and Costello. 

The Who’s on First routine was part of the movie “Rain Man.” It was the basis for several comedy bits including a “Pearls Before Swine” strip involving the names of rock bands. National Lampoon has a similar bit on YouTube. 

There was a one-hit wonder band called Scatterbrain. They had a hit with "Don't Call Me Dude." The song is centered around the "Niagara Falls" skit from the Abbott and Costello Show.

Here you are reading about this act that disbanded over 60 years ago. Perhaps you can see the Lou Costello statue in Paterson. You could read about them in the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Channel 11 doesn’t run those shows anymore, but you can find clips on YouTube. Much of their work including those shows are available on DVD. (I just checked amazon.com)