Funny is as funny does - and Lou Costello did funny. He was part clown, part comedian and a pure professional. His desire to entertain audiences led him to hone his skills, perfecting comedic timing, character development and pacing. He left a legacy of laughter as well as an example for other comedians to follow.
When Lou was on stage, his whole mind and body was engaged in entertaining. His portly frame and his face with a thousand expressions provided the physical elements to his clever words and deadpan delivery. Costello understood the psychology of laughter and tickled the funny bones of his audience with consummate skill.
He began his career in vaudeville, and as was the custom, he worked with a straight man. Costello was the perfect foil for a straight man whose role was to set up the jokes and rein in the comedian. His fortune took a sharp upward turn in 1931 when his regular straight man became ill and Lou asked the theater manager to take his place. The managers name was Bud Abbott and this was the start of one of the greatest comedy partnerships in the business.
Abbot and Costello got their first real break in 1938 when they appeared on Kate Smiths weekly radio show. This got them noticed by the right people in the industry and in the following year, they signed a contract with Universal Pictures. Their first movie roles, in One Night in the Tropics were small, but were enlarged during production because of the genuine laughter of the rest of the cast and crew. It was in this movie that they introduced their classic routines: Whos on First? and A Dollar a Day. After this, the movie roles kept coming and in 1941, the duo started their weekly radio program, The Abbot and Costello Show which ran until 1946.
The years of their initial stardom were also the time of war for this country. The team used their popularity to raise money for the war effort, traveling across the country on behalf of the War Bond Drive. They raised a record-breaking 89 million dollars in only three days.
Personal tragedies struck Costello, yet he always maintained a professional attitude. After suffering the effects of rheumatic fever for a year, his infant son drowned in a tragic accident. Lou remained a performer in the face of sorrow and returned to his live radio show that very day.
Lou Costello understood the power and the pleasure of laughter. For him, comedy wasnt just a way of life; it was a way to overcome the pitfalls life offers. He understood timing and perhaps his skits and sketches are so well loved because they came at a time when the country needed a laugh. His personal life reveals his strong commitment to comedy and his jokes and his joy will always be remembered and revered. Lou Costello is a tough act to follow.
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