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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 15, 2019 17:24:05 GMT
As part of a Classic Comedy Team an "equal time" thread  : BUD ABBOTT IMDb Link"Long acknowledged as one of the best "straight men" in the business, Bud Abbott was born William Alexander Abbott in Asbury Park, New Jersey, to Rae (Fisher) and Harry Abbott, who had both worked for the Barnum and Bailey Circus. He himself worked in carnivals while still a child and dropped out of school in 1909. He worked as assistant treasurer for the Casino Theater in Brooklyn, then as treasurer and/or manager of various theaters around the country. He worked as the straight man to such vaudeville and burlesque comics as Harry Steepe and Harry Evanson while managing the National Theater in Detroit. In 1931 while cashiering at the Brooklyn theater, he substituted for comic Lou Costello's ill straight-man. The two clicked almost immediately and formed their famous comedy team. Throughout the 1930s they worked burlesque, minstrel shows, vaudeville and movie houses. In 1938 they got national exposure through the Kate Smith radio show "The Kate Smith Hour", and signed with Universal Pictures the next year. …." more biography at link above
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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 15, 2019 17:32:37 GMT
 "At Lou Costello's insistence, the monies earned from the their act were split 60/40, favoring Abbott. Costello's reasoning was that 'comics are a dime a dozen. Good straight men are hard to find.'" |
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 15, 2019 18:08:44 GMT
"At Lou Costello's insistence, the monies earned from the their act were split 60/40, favoring Abbott. Costello's reasoning was that 'comics are a dime a dozen. Good straight men are hard to find.'" Ha I was going to mention that quote. It's amazing how they were able to rattle off a routine without breaking concentration.
I heard that Costello's natural voice was very similar in pitch to Abbott's so that was why he altered the pitch so there would be a distinction.
I also read they went to Stan Laurel for script routine advice...is this confirmed?
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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 15, 2019 18:38:17 GMT
saw that in the "trivia", Prime etc. but …. maybe/maybe not since what is posted is all too often not verified. "Abbott and Costello weren't getting what they wanted from the scriptwriters at Universal so would take the scripts to Stan Laurel for the three of them to work on together." is what trivia had to say.
I found a rather nice picture labeled as being a "YOUNG Bud" in uniform BUT there is no mention of him being in the service so did not post it. Anyone know anything about that ?
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Post by mikef6 on Mar 15, 2019 18:42:07 GMT
"At Lou Costello's insistence, the monies earned from the their act were split 60/40, favoring Abbott. Costello's reasoning was that 'comics are a dime a dozen. Good straight men are hard to find.'" Ha I was going to mention that quote. It's amazing how they were able to rattle off a routine without breaking concentration.
I heard that Costello's natural voice was very similar in pitch to Abbott's so that was why he altered the pitch so there would be a distinction.
I also read they went to Stan Laurel for script routine advice...is this confirmed?
It is not confirmed by the book "Stan and Ollie" by Simon Louvish. A&C are mentioned in passing several times when the author tells us what other comedy stars and teams were doing at the same time as The Boys. The only substantial mention of Bud and Lou is in a quote from an interview with Hal Roach.
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🎄😷🎄 on Mar 15, 2019 18:51:07 GMT
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Post by BATouttaheck on Mar 15, 2019 22:35:16 GMT
OP as in … "Opinion Piece" As a kid I probably saw every Abbott and Costello movie because they were a staple at the kiddy matinees. I don't recall them specifically BUT I remember liking them and feeling so sorry for poor little Lou being constantly yelled at by that mean mouthed quick tempered and loud Bud. Now .. same movies .. I find them pretty much unwatchable. Even the one I did clearly remember parts of ..where they meet the mummy and Frankenstein and company. Lou is now uber annoying with his adult baby act …. his total childishness .. not child-like … childish !...there is a difference. Bud seems as mean as ever but now I can understand his frustration in dealing with a total fool.
Some movies it's better to NOT re-visit and to keep the positive impression of your youth. I won't be re-watching them anytime soon and will stick with WHO'S ON FIRST ? which makes me laugh every darn time ! (it's posted in the Lou Costello thread) end of OP  |
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Post by teleadm on Mar 16, 2019 0:06:56 GMT
Bud after Costello    While those pics are sad  Bud enjoying the balcony of Ekberg |
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