Some More Abbott & Costello Trivia

by Dan on May 3, 2010

I was doing some digging the other day and came up with some more interesting Abbott and Costello trivia.  For example, did you know…

  • Abbott and Costello stored 16mm prints of every film and television show they made.,,
  • Ever the avid gun collector, Abbott actually owned one of Adolf Hitler’s shotguns…
  • Abbott and Costello were godfathers to each others sons…
  • After the birth of Lou Costello Jr. the comedy team willed their famous routine, “Who’s On First?” to Lou Jr. and Bud Jr., with the hope that someday the two boys would carry on the legacy of Abbott and Costello…
  • There was a full decade difference in the ages of Abbott and Costello (Abbott being the older of the two, of course)…
  • Speaking of which, for years studio and official documents listed Abbott’s birthday as Oct. 2, 1895, and his family reported that they always celebrated his birthday on that day.  However, the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Ashbury Park, NJ, show his birthday as Oct.6, 1897…
  • Lou’s brother, Pat Costello, worked in several films as his brother’s stunt double.  The two were so similar in stature, that Lou would often send his brother in his place for wardrobe fittings…

Now you know.

Until next time…

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The Connection Between Harry Shearer and Abbott and Costello

by Dan on March 22, 2010

For those of you who don’t know who Harry Shearer is, he is an American actor, comedian, writer, voice artist, musician, author and radio host. He is known for his long-running role on The Simpsons, his work on Saturday Night Live, the comedy band Spinal Tap and his radio program Le Show.

But what you may not know is that his film debut was Abbott and Costello in the 1953 movie, Abbott and Costello Go To Mars.  He played the uncredited role of “Boy”.

Now you know.

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On This Day in Abbott and Costello History…

March 11, 2010

It was on this day, 68 years ago, that Abbott and Costello’s Rio Rita was released.  This comedy film is a remake of the Ziegfeld Broadway operetta and the 1929 RKO movie starring Wheeler & Woolsey, both of the same name.
Rio Rita, along with  Lost in a Harem (1944) and Abbott and Costello in Hollywood (1945), were [...]

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On This Day in Abbott and Costello History…

February 22, 2010

It was on this day, 64 years ago, that the Abbott and Costello film, Little Giant, was released.  Originally titled, On the Carpet, Little Giant was filmed from November 1 through December 17, 1945.  Regardless, it’s questionable whether any other title would have helped this particular Abbott and Costello movie.
Indeed, Little Giant is not considered [...]

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On This Day in Abbott & Costello History…

February 21, 2010

It was on this day, 68 years ago, that the Abbott and Costello movie Ride ‘Em Cowboy was released. 
Ride ‘Em Cowboy was filmed from June 30 thru August 9, 1941 and was originally intended to be the third Abbott and Costello film.  However, due to the success of the service film, Buck Privates, the production [...]

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Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Bloopers

January 28, 2010

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein was one of Hollywood’s top money makers of 1948, and certainly the most successful film for the comedy duo since Buck Privates (1941).  It has also held up as one of the most popular of their thirty-six movies.
But what you may not know is that the movie contains three bloopers.  [...]

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Abbott & Costello and The Big Bang Theory: The Connection

January 6, 2010

Did you know…?
I read somewhat recently that the two lead characters in one of my favorite TV shows, Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter of The Big Bang Theory, were named as a tribute to the late Sheldon Leonard (see picture to the right). Sheldon Leonard was one of the 20th century’s most prolific directors (The [...]

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Poker on the Abbott & Costello Movie Sets

January 1, 2010

Poker games on the sets of Abbott & Costello movies were legendary. It was not unusual for tens of thousands of dollars (much of it in $100 bills) to be on the poker table. Bud and Lou were famous for inviting all kinds of players to the high-stakes games. If no one else [...]

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The “First” Abbott and Costello Movie

December 26, 2009

One Night in the Tropics, released on November 15, 1040, is considered to be the first of the thirty-six movies that Abbott & Costello made together.  However, it is also the only movie that did not give the duo top-billing.
Presumably this is the reason why Bud and Lou hardly ever mentioned the film during interviews.  [...]

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Interesting Abbott & Costello Trivia

December 1, 2009

This post is for all you trivia buffs out there.  Here’s a list of ten interesting bits of Abbott & Costello trivia:
1. In 1991, Abbott & Costello were featured on a 29 cent U.S. commemorative postage stamp.
2. While not members of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, Abbott & Costello are the only two non-sportsmen [...]

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