The Abbott and Costello Show (radio program)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello
in the NBC radio studios in 1942. |
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| Genre | Comedy |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Syndicates | ABC NBC |
| TV adaptations | The Abbott and Costello Show |
| Starring | Bud Abbott Lou Costello |
| Announcer | Ken Niles Frank Bingman Jim Doyle Michael Roy |
| Written by | Martin Gosch Howard Harris Hal Fimberg Don Prindle Ed Cherkose Len Stern Martin Ragaway Paul Conlan Ed Forman |
| Produced by | Martin Gosch |
| Sponsored by | Sal Hepatica Camel cigarettes |
The Abbott and Costello Show is a comedy program from the era of old-time radio in the United States. It was broadcast first on NBC and later on ABC, beginning July 3, 1940, and ending June 9, 1949.
Film stars Bud Abbott and Lou Costello adapted their talents to radio for this 30-minute weekly comedy program. Vincent Terrace, in his book, Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows, wrote, "Many of the skits revolved around Bud and Lou's efforts to succeed in some sort of business venture." The skits were often ones that they had used in their vaudeville act.
Popular culture scholar J. Fred MacDonald, in his book, Don't Touch That Dial!: Radio Programming in American Life, 1920-1960, wrote that the pair formed "one of the leading radio comedy acts throughout the 1940s." He noted that Abbott was the straight man, with Costello "the comedic force of the act."
Over the years, a number of people were regulars on the program, complementing the two stars primarily through participation in comedy skits. They included Sidney Fields, Artie Auerbach, Elvia Allman, Iris Adrian, Mel Blanc, Wally Brown, Sharon Douglas, Verna Felton, Lou Krogman, Pat McGeehan, Frank Nelson, Martha Wentworth and Benay Venuta.
Singers on the show included Amy Arnell, Connie Haines, Marilyn Maxwell, Susan Miller, and Marilyn Williams. Vocal groups were the Delta Rhythm Boys and The Les Baxter Singers. Orchestra leaders were Skinnay Ennis, Charles Hoff, Matty Matlock, Jack Meakin, Will Osborne, Freddie Rich, Leith Stevens and Peter van Steeden.
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