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All American Old Time Radio Show Classic

Abbott and Costello Radio Show
2 CD Set

For a small taste of this great series,
listen to the preview below.

This show comes on 2 CDs In MP3 Format

Abbott and Costello were a comedy duo whose work in radio, film and television made them one of the most popular teams in the history of comedy. Thanks to the endurance of their most popular and influential routine, "Who's on First?", whose rapid-fire word play and comprehension confusion set the preponderant framework for most of their best-known routines, they were, as a result, featured in the Baseball Hall of Fame. (Contrary to popular belief, however, the duo was not inducted into the Hall). William (Bud) Abbott, was born in Asbury Park, NJ on October 2, 1895 and Lou Costello (born Louis Francis Cristillo) in Paterson, NJ on March 6, 1906. We lost Bud Abbott on April 24, 1974 in Woodland Hills, California; and Lou on March 3, 1959 in East Los Angeles, California.

The duo's first known radio appearance was on The Kate Smith Hour, where they debuted with a version of "Who's on First?" and ended up replacing Henny Youngman on the show. They stayed as regulars for two years, but the original similarities between their New Jersey-rooted voices made it difficult for listeners (as opposed to stage audiences) to tell them apart thanks to their rapid-fire repartee. The problem, Nachman noted, was resolved by having Costello affect a high-pitched childish voice, and their remaining tenure on the Smith show was successful enough to get the pair roles in a Broadway revue, "The Streets of Paris", in 1939.

After working as Allen's summer replacement, Abbott and Costello joined Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy on The Chase and Sanborn Hour in 1941, while two of their films (Buck Privates and Hold That Ghost) were adapted for Lux Radio Theater. They launched their own weekly show October 8, 1942, sponsored by Camel cigarettes.

The Abbott and Costello Show mixed comedy with musical interludes (by singers such as Connie Haines, Marilyn Maxwell, the Delta Rhythm Boys, Skinnay Ennis, and the Les Baxter Singers). Regulars and semi-regulars on the show included Artie Auerbach ("Mr. Kitzel"), Elvia Allman, Iris Adrian, Mel Blanc, Wally Brown, Sharon Douglas, Verna Felton, Sidney Fields, Frank Nelson, Martha Wentworth, and Benay Venuta. Ken Niles was the show's longtime announcer, doubling as an exasperated foil to Abbott & Costello's mishaps (and often fuming in character as Costello routinely insulted his on-air wife); Niles was succeeded by Michael Roy, with announcing chores also handled over the years by Frank Bingman and Jim Doyle. The show went through several orchestras during its radio life, including those of Ennis, Charles Hoff, Matty Matlock, Jack Meakin, Will Osborne, Freddie Rich, Leith Stevens, and Peter van Steeden. The show's writers included Howard Harris, Hal Fimberg, Parke Levy, Don Prindle, Eddie Cherkose (later known as Eddie Maxwell), Leonard Stern, Martin Ragaway, Paul Conlan, and Eddie Forman, as well as producer Martin Gosch. Sound effects were handled primarily by Floyd Caton.

Abbott and Costello moved the show to ABC (the former NBC Blue Network) five years after they premiered on NBC. During their time on ABC, the duo also hosted a 30-minute children's radio program (The Abbott and Costello Children's Show), which aired Saturday mornings, featuring vocalist Anna Mae Slaughter and announcer Johnny McGovern.

In 1951, they moved to television, first as frequent hosts of The Colgate Comedy Hour (Eddie Cantor and Martin and Lewis were among the others). Each show was a live hour of vaudeville in front of a theater audience, revitalizing the comedians' performances and giving their old routines a new sparkle. Their vaudeville start was an added plus.

Beginning in 1952, The Abbott and Costello Show was a filmed half-hour series loosely adapted from their radio show, casting the duo as unemployed wastrels. One of the show's running gags involved Abbott perpetually nagging Costello to get a job to pay their rent, while Abbott barely lifted a finger in that direction. The show featured Sidney Fields as their landlord, and Hillary Brooke as a friendly neighbor who sometimes got involved in the pair's schemes. Another semi-regular was Joe Besser as Stinky, a 40-year-old sissy dressed in a Little Lord Fauntleroy suit. Gordon Jones was Mike the cop, who always lost patience with Lou. The Abbott and Costello Show ran from 1952 to 1954.

Now on to some of those personal tidbits were all like so much.

"Who's on First?" is believed to be available in as many as 20 versions; Abbott and Costello performed subtle variations of the routine in film, on their radio show, and on television (in one of their Colgate Comedy Hour installments and their half-hour TV series). Nachman wrote that the duo's radio contract may have included an agreement to perform "Who's on First?" at least once a month. Perhaps the most successful of the routines "Who's on First?" spawned was "Hertz U-Drive," about renting a car. On one of their radio broadcasts, the duo preceded yet another version of "Who's on First?" with a similar routine hooked around Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller.

So sit back, relax and laugh until your sides hurt with over 50 hours and better then 100 episodes by one of the legendary comedy duos of our time.

Here is the list episodes presented for your listening pleasure.
 

We want to thank Wikipedia for some of the background information on this show.

 

Presented for your enjoyment is an entire episode for you to sample.

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