Chris Costello Meets Just Laugh
Chris Costello, the youngest daughter of Lou Costello from the famed comedy team of Abbott and Costello, has dedicated her life to preserving the legacy of her father and Bud Abbott. Chris met up with Just Laugh’s Jenn Dlugos by phone and gave a perfectly charming interview about her famous father.
Why don’t you tell our readers how Lou hooked up with Bud Abbott?
Through burlesque – Bud was on the circuit for a long time. Dad had a straight man and Bud had a different comic. Basically, Dad’s straight man got sick. There was chemistry there. I think Dad wired Bud who was playing in a different theater, so they performed together and history was made!
Their first radio show was the Kate Smith Radio Show. How did they hook up with that?
Henny Youngman suggested them to the producer of the show. Basically, they were going to be a substitute for Henny, so the producer went down and saw Bud and Lou, and he was happy, not overly thrilled because they were pretty visual, but happy enough. He decided to try them out and they went over really good. That was the show that kind of pulled them to Hollywood because it was that show that Who’s on First? first aired.
So how did Abbott and Costello get into the film industry from there?
It was after they did Who’s on First? that Universal wired them and asked them to come out to Hollywood to do the film One Night in the Tropics, so that’s what launched them into Hollywood.
What was the most successful Abbott and Costello film?
Oh God! Probably their first starring film, Buck Privates and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.
I’m kind of wondering about Jack and the Beanstalk, as it seems so different than what they were used to doing. How were they approached for this?
Actually it was the other way around. Dad produced Jack and the Beanstalk and distributed through Warner Brothers. He always liked the story of Jack and the Beanstalk and it was their first color film. So, it was Dad that kind of initiated that one. He loved children and he loved the story.
How were they approached for the Colgate Comedy Hour?
Well, they hosted it. I think it was just the reputation and Bud and Lou loved being on the stage. I mean, that’s where they started from. Not to mention it gave them a chance to employ a lot of their old burlesque cronies. They got to do what they loved best. They got to do it in front of a live audience and it was televised, so it was kind of a natural re-transition for them.
Now, I heard that Lou used to take props from the set that he liked.
Oh yeah! Not in the malicious way, though. He saw something pretty and he couldn’t understand why he couldn’t have it, so the producers used to tell him that he has to wait until after the show before absconding any of the studio’s property. He was kind of like a little kid who was, as they claim, the “ex-bad boy” of Universal.
I also heard that the money that Bud and Lou split was 60-40, with the 60 going to Bud Abbott. Is this true?
That was only in burlesque. That was a standard split; the straight man always got 60 and the comic always got 40. I have no idea why that is. When they came out to Hollywood, though, they decided to make it a 50-50 split.
Did Lou have a particular favorite guest star on the Colgate Comedy Hour?
Oh, boy. I would be guessing. I truly don’t know to be honest with you. Probably anybody who worked in burlesque was a favorite of his.
Did you ever go to the television set with him?
If I did, I don’t remember. I was so young. A lot of people will ask me question, “Did Dad ever talk about burlesque with you?” And I’d say, “Yep, at the age of 6, I just happened to pop the question, ‘Dad, what was burlesque like?’” I couldn’t even PRONOUNCE burlesque at that age. Dad’s career was probably the last thing on my mind back then!
Right before Bud and Lou broke up, they appeared on The Steve Allen Show and were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Did they know that was going to happen before going on the show?
No, I think it was set up as a surprise. Then, of course, the gold record ofWho’s on First? was dedicated to the Baseball Hall of Fame by Bud and Lou. They were the first non-baseball player celebrities that were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Why don’t you tell us a little bit about the Lou Costello, Jr. Foundation?
That’s a good one. It opened its doors in May of 1947 and it was dedicated to Lou Costello Jr., who died tragically as an infant. Dad wanted to build it for the underprivileged kids of East Los Angeles – you know, to get them off the street and give them supervision. It ran about $80,000 to keep the place going a year and he would travel around the country getting donations and what not. He made a baseball field for the kids, day care center, Olympic swimming pool, basketball courts, and everything he could give to these kids. He had a soda fountain. He would go down there with Joe Besser and Joe would play Santa Claus. It was really his “baby.” Then, going into the 50’s, he couldn’t handle the upkeep and stars were reneging on donations, so he turned it over to the state under two provisions. One – that it remained the Lou Costello, Jr. Foundation; and two – the portrait of Baby Lou would remain in full view. It’s still operational today.
I’m not sure if you can answer this, but after Lou’s death, Bud did a voiceover for several Abbott and Costello cartoons in 1966. Do you know how he was approached for this?
Oh dear! I have absolutely no idea! I really wish I did. I’m sure his reaction was wonderful and something that he relished doing, but missing my dad.
Did Bud perform after that?
Very, very short term. He got another comic named Candy Candito. They did the fair circuit for awhile, but it never really flew, so he went into retirement.
Now you run the Abbott and Costello Collectibles website. Any new collectibles coming out for us fans?
We just sold out on the talking Who’s on First? Christmas ornaments. I think we have 6 left in stock, which will probably be out by tonight. We have some Who’s on First? Animatronics dolls coming out and there’s some really cute mouth action with them. We also have the CD Play Ball that features Abbott and Costello. It’s like a montage of scenes from a lot of famous baseball films. That will be on the site pretty soon. It’s updating constantly.
Why don’t you tell us a little bit about your book, Lou’s on First, which celebrated it’s 20th anniversary not so long ago.
It came out in the early 80’s. It shocked everyone. I didn’t think it would remain in print as long as it has. It was basically to counteract the book Bud and Lou, which is not a fair portrayal of my father at all. It was very scathing and untrue, especially as my father wasn’t here to defend himself. So I undertook it, not knowing it would take 4 years out of my life to do. I researched everyone I could get a hold of. It became a therapy, too, because I got to know my parents as an adult. It was a Labor of Love. I have it on the Lou’s On First website, and I do lectures about my dad’s life.
Is there anything else you’re working on now? I know that you’re so busy!
The collectible site is doing really well. I do PR. I represent a lot of makeup people in Hollywood. I do a slide show on my dad. I have to do a lot of Estate stuff. The collectible site has me really energized and it’s doing very well.
Just Laugh would like to thank Chris for doing the interview with me. She’s become a great friend of mine and is a wonderful, wonderful lady who is very passionate about her father. We wish you the best, Chris!
Check out Chris’ other website, Abbott and Costello Collectibles, for the latest souvenirs of yesterday and today…
