ABBOTT & COSTELLO
NEWSLETTER

April, 2017
 

The WAR BOND Years
1940 - 1945   
World War II was a time of turmoil and uncertainty, but it was also a time where families, towns, and the entire country came together. Scrap metal drives were held, war bonds sold; even celebrities got involved, using their popularity to help the cause.

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello wasted no time in rolling up their shirt sleeves to help Uncle Sam raise the much needed funds for the war effort. They toured the nation twice selling war bonds and raising an estimated $85 million for the U.S. government. 


Hollywood's Favorite Clowns  
Turn Into 'Heroes of the Home Front ...'

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO
MEET THE U.S. WAR BOND

by
Jeff Salimando 



Photo Courtesy of Chris Costello


Heroes play an important role in offsetting the realities of war; quite often appearing as servicemen, and women performing extraordinary acts of courage on the battlefield. Yet, in reality true heroes come from all walks of life and each one possesses a myriad of unique and noble qualities. Some heroes receive recognition for their actions through earning a place in our history books, while others remain content with the knowledge of what they accomplished and barely seek any credit at all.

This is the story of two seemingly unsung heroes, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. Two well-loved Hollywood clowns who upon receiving their call to duty in 1942, choose to step down from the silver screen and "step up to the plate" for the good of their country. But instead of strapping on a rifle and heading off to the front lines of the Second World War, the two comic geniuses focus on fighting from the home front. Laughter is the weapon of choice, and their strategic battle plan encompasses a country-wide, multi-million dollar revenue generating production we might code name: "Abbott and Costello Meet the U.S. War Bond."

The year is 1942, and it's a particularly busy time for the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. Having just finished Pardon My Sarong the boys think about donating some upcoming vacation time towards doing their part for the war effort. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's original plan is to spend about two months on the road raising $350,000 for an Air Corps bomber. However, U.S. Undersecretary of War Robert Patterson has bigger plans for the boys. Patterson believes the comedy team of Abbott and Costello can bring much more than a bomber to the war effort. He convinces them to join up with the Army Emergency Relief Fund and help sponsor an upcoming United States War Bond Drive.

Abbott and Costello's track record of national and armed forces radio exposure, along with their wildly successful movies, Buck Privates, In the Navy, and Keep 'Em Flying, help the comedians carve a niche into the hearts of the American public. Universal Pictures proclaims its trust in the boys talents by cross-promoting their service comedies with patriotic catchphrases such as, "Long before Pearl Harbor, Universal Pictures went on alert!"

It's because of this unusual mix of laughter, patriotism and corporate recognition that Patterson is willing to bet on Abbott and Costello turning the bond drive into a huge financial success. And brother does that bet pay off!

Bud and Lou agree to undertake a cross-country bond selling tour and promote a wartime product line that includes war bonds, stamps and a 10% automatic payroll deduction/donation option. The boys agree to cover the cost of the tour themselves and set a fundraising goal of $500,000. Never, in Patterson's wildest dreams did he imagine that not only would the boys reach their $500,000 goal, but surpass it by an astounding and almost unfathomable 17,000%.   




On Wednesday, July 22, 1942, Abbott and Costello arrive in Salt Lake City, Utah to kick off the first leg of what becomes a grueling 35-day war bond tour. The boys arrive with rested faces and fresh haircuts ready to tackle almost eighty cities over the next five weeks. Little do they realize how much small comforts, like fresh haircuts, will mean to them over the course of the next month!

As Bud and Lou travel from city to city and state to state, the pace of their schedule becomes more and more hectic. The boys are constantly on the move, making an exhausting eight to thirteen public and private appearances each day. Rain or shine, whether they're marching in a parade, selling bonds to crowds at breakfasts, luncheons and dinners, promoting payroll deductions though "meet-and-greets," conducting media interviews, taking hospital tours, pulling off publicity stunts, hosting late night war bond rallies, or performing endless comedy shows at both military bases and civilian venues, their endless energy remains contagious, coming off as practically bulletproof to thousands of fans laughing in the audience.

All jokes aside, the boys are also on a serious business venture. They consider each rally and every person who attends, another lead to follow-up on and an opportunity to "funny-up" their product line pitch. Every sale, no matter how small, goes to help finance U.S. military operations and cover countless expenditures that will help our country come closer to winning the war. Every chuckle, every laugh, helps one more American citizen take his or her mind off of the horrors happening overseas; if only for a moment. Failure is simply not an option for Abbott and Costello.

The boys take no issue with personally financing their bond drive expenses, but the physical toll is another story. Bud and Lou don't have much time to rest and come to discover "first class accommodations" are not always a guarantee while on tour.

Unexpected issues pop up quite quickly and have a way of making things uncomfortable for them. An accidental overbooking on one passenger train leaves Bud and Lou with the grimy task of tuning a men's washroom into their private sleeper car; while an excessive number of travelers on another train force Hollywood's most famous comedy team to travel standing for almost twelve hours.

A long hot shower is a luxury for Bud, and a phone call home to his two small daughters and pregnant wife is a rare but welcome self-indulgence for Lou. Yet, no matter what obstacles cross their path, Abbott and Costello remain patriotic to the core and refuse to let their fans or their country down. As word of Bud and Lou's arrival spreads from one town to another, the crowds begin to grow incredibly large -- and so do their financial contributions to the war bond initiative.

From Salt Lake City, Utah, to Pocatello, Idaho; from Nebraska to Colorado to Wisconsin, tens of thousands of American citizens flock to purchase war bonds and authorize payroll donations from the boys. In turn, Bud and Lou help boost national morale by entertaining both our troops and the family members of our men and women overseas. Successfully cultivating a general sense of patriotism and camaraderie, the boys tirelessly manage to "keep em laughing," donation after donation.     



Within four weeks of initiating their cross-country tour, they pull a breathtaking $50,000,000 worth of war bond funds from twenty-two states, ultimately showing treasury officials what it means to be "dough boys," Abbott and Costello style.

When they stop at Lansing, Michigan, Mayor Sam Street-Hughes declares Monday, August 17, 1942, "Abbott and Costello War Bond Day," and orders a mayoral proclamation to appear on the front page of the Lansing State Journal. The announcement praises Bud and Lou for, "...generously contributing their services to the cause of our country in promoting the sale of war bonds and stamps." That day. the boys sell more than a quarter million dollars in bonds while en route to their luncheon appearance.

Michigan Governor Murray D. VanWagoner tells an enthusiastic crowd, "... if the American people ever lose their sense of humor, we can lose this war. I know of no one doing a better job to prevent this than Abbott and Costello!"

In French Lick, Indiana, Bud and Lou raise a phenomenal $2.2 million dollars in two hours at a luncheon with only 400 people in attendance. Later that same day at another public appearance, Lou auctions off both a cocker-spaniel (donated by actress Irene Dunn) for $103,000 and a jackass (yeah, one of those, don't ask) for $70,000. Finding themselves left with a large crowd and no items left to sell, Bud and Lou regress back to their burlesque days and start performing a few questionable gyrations that lead into an all-out strip tease. They begin auctioning off the clothes on their backs, straight down to their boxers, which people bid on! The boy's "intimate apparel" winds up in the window of Goodman's Department Store in downtown French Lick as part of a patriotic display of support. One reporter asks Lou how they occupy their spare time on tour. Never missing a beat, Lou responds, "... we hunt up a nearby town that's not on our schedule and go over and sell some more!"

Abbott and Costello's grueling war bond schedule isn't something that always goes "as scheduled." While appearing in Omaha, Nebraska, Bud and Lou manage to enjoy a few rare seconds of relaxation in their suite at the Hotel Fontennelle when out of nowhere 12-year-old Jerry Young appears with two of his friends. Apparently, the boys sneaked past the front desk, took the elevator to the 6th floor and walked straight into Bud and Lou's room. The young men arrive with high hopes of talking the famous duo into headlining at a backyard vaudeville show Jerry is hosting that Friday evening. Bud politely declines, explaining his and Lou's upcoming Friday sales schedule. In addition, he tells the youngster of a commitment that same day with Nebraska Governor General Dwight Griswald in Lincoln. In an effort to sway Bud's response, the 12-year-old informs him that all of his proceeds are going to the Red Cross and that he's set aside an entire seventy cent budget to pay Abbott and Costello for their performance. That's thirty-five cents each!

"You've sold us a bill of goods," says Abbott. "We'll get back from Lincoln in time for your show." Bud and Lou make the 55-mile return trip back to Omaha from Lincoln on Friday evening as promised, complete with police escort. Once they arrive, the youngster hands his microphone to Boys Town Director Msgr. Edward J. Flanagan  who introduced Abbott and Costello to the more than 1,000 people who manage to cram into Jerry Young's Omaha backyard. The following morning, the young impresario contributes a whopping $272 to the Red Cross; minus the seventy cents set aside to pay the mega Hollywood talent he signed on to his show. It's at that moment that 12-year-old Jerry Young can't help but think that Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are the biggest heroes in the whole wide world.   

The boys wrap up their cross-country war bond tour on the steps of City Hall in New York City in August 1942, and their fundraising efforts total out at a mind-blowing $85 million dollars. This amount is almost one-third of the combined total raised for the United States War Bond Initiative during World War II.

Exhausted and drained after covering more than eighty cities in thirty-five days, the boys arrive home at Los Angeles' Union Station where Lou's father, Chris (Sebastian), stands on a platform waiting for their train. As his son exits, Chris takes Lou's hand in his. "Don't press too hard, Pop. It hurts," is the first thing Lou says to his dad.  Immediately Chris senses something is wrong with his son, and he's right. Unbeknownst to Lou, he's experiencing the first symptoms of acute rheumatic fever, which he somehow contracts while overworking himself during the bond tour. Lou will ultimately stand strong and battle the ravages of this crippling disease off and on for the next seventeen years. Sadly, the disease weakens Lou's heart valves, which is a major contributing factor to his early death at only fifty-two years of age. To this day, many credit Louis Francis Cristillo with "making the ultimate sacrifice," having his life cut short by an illness caught while serving his country.

Happily, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello receive much love and appreciation from the American public while on the road. Citizens and fans that are fighting for the same cause shower the boys with genuine and sincere tokens of thanks. Whether it's a police escort in Omaha, a miner's cap from Wikes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a fishing license from Indiana or a silver-plated ear of corn from Omaha, Nebraska, the boys come to learn how grateful everyone is for their ability to place a smile on the face of a distraught public during a very dark and uncertain time.

It's true that Abbott and Costello may not have a place in American history books as heroes just yet. However, their positive impact on the course of American history lives on through their acts of dedication and selflessness, as well as the $85 million dollars raised to purchase artillery, medicine, food, clothing, shelter and countless other necessities needed to save American lives. But hey, that's the kind of stuff real heroes do, right?

Thank you Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, for both your dedicated service and such a fine rendering of "Abbott and Costello Meet the U.S. War Bond."  

JUST WHAT IS A WAR BOND? 

   
WAR BONDS are debt securities issued by a government to finance military operations and other expenditure in times of war. In practice, modern governments finance war by putting additional money into circulation, and the function of the bonds is to remove money from circulation and help to control inflation.

WAR BOND BOOKS ... low income Americans during World War II rarely had $25 with which to purchase a government bond. But they often had loose change they could use to purchase a 25 cent stamp which could be pasted into a book like the one shown above

(Wikipedia) 

THE WAR BOND DRIVE
No Venue or Sale Was Too Large or Small
You Did What You Had To Do For Uncle Sam!    


Photo Courtesy of Chris Costello

Lou Costello shares the stage with a woman who earned the name Goldilocks

    
A young woman earned the name of Goldilocks when she cut her hair to raise money for the war bond effort. People did what they could to help Uncle Sam.

No venue was too large or small. Lou Costello, seen here in the photo, took to a small stage at a local club and got patrons to bid on the young woman's hair. 

If there was a stage, Bud and Lou found their way onto it to raise money for the war bond effort.  


Photo Courtesy of Ralph Edwards Productions

Lou Costello following the taping of "This Is Your Life" with
the woman known as Goldilocks (seated right)

The woman known as Goldilocks, was one of the surprise guests when "This Is Your Life" honored Lou Costello in 1956. 

HAVE A QUESTION? 
WE HAVE THE ANSWER! 


Photo Courtesy of Chris Costello
Lou with Hillary Brooke in "The Abbott and Costello Television Show"

QUESTION:  
Can you expand on why Hillary Brooke and Joe Besser were not in the show's second season?
                                                      Joseph Arlak

ANSWER:
As explained to me by Hillary when I interviewed her for my book, "Lou's On First," the reason for her not appearing in the show's second season was due to another contractual commitment. She would have loved returning to the show, but her contract with the other project had been set prior to her signing on for the A&C Show.
She did expound, however, that working with Bud, dad, and the other cast members was pure joy. And, she learned a thing or two about comedy in watching them work. 


Joe Besser ("Stinky") had crossed paths with dad and Bud back when they were all working in burlesque. The character portrayed in the television show was the same as when he was in vaudeville and burlesque. "Lou loved watching me perform that character," Joe stated. (Laughing) "My character always seemed to be the one beating up everyone else, providing a great foil for Lou." Important to point out is that television was a brand new medium back in the early 1950's when dad and his production company produced the series. Ratings for the first season were not as good as they'd anticipated, so they decided to restructure the second season. Unfortunately, staples like Joe Besser and even Joe Kirk ("Mr. Bacciagalupe") were written out of the show's second season. A new cast member, however, did join the show --- Bingo the Chimp! Joe would laugh saying, "I never thought I'd be replaced by a chimpanzee!" Joe never took this personally and remained a close and personal friend of dad's.

Chris Costello 
Lou Costello's youngest daughter

QUESTION: Who put the skits together for the show?

Michael Engenito 
Cornwall, New York
, " 
ANSWER: The skits seen in the half-hour shows were all versions of their classic routines seen in their films and heard on radio. As Jerry Seinfeld stated when promoting Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld (1994), "If it weren't for Abbott and Costello preserving these old burlesque chestnuts, these routines would have been lost forever. But through their films and television show, they'll live on for  future generations to enjoy."

Chris Costello 


BUY A BOMBER FOR UNCLE SAM
Bud and Lou Auction Their Clothing
Charlie Foy's Supper Club
Los Angeles

1942


Photo Courtesy of Chris Costello

Bud and Lou at Charlie Foy's Supper Club in Los Angeles (1942)


During World War II, multiple nationwide drives were launched to sell war bonds. Bonds were one way the average American could invest in the war effort  and see that investment increase over time. For instance, a bond could be purchased for $18.75. After ten years the bond would mature, at which time the United States government paid the bond holder $25.

The government also promoted special bond campaigns that encouraged members of an organization or community to pool their bond purchases and leverage them into a major purchase to support the war effort, such as guns, ships and other critical resources. BUY A BOMBER FOR UNCLE SAM was one of those campaigns.

Everybody in Hollywood wanted to do something to help the war effort. The film colony was increasingly war-motivated, and local Buy a Bomber for Uncle Sam campaigns were being raised through social functions.

In 1942 at Charlie Foy's Supper Club in Los Angeles, California, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello had a spur-of-the-moment auction sale. Lou Costello's shoes went on the block, with Abbott acting as auctioneer. The shoes brought in twenty-five dollars, along with the comedians' ties having sold earlier. Shirts went next. Other comedians, including Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom, Bert Wheeler and Lee Tracy, shed other articles of clothing. The auction brought in eight hundred dollars for the Buy a Bomber fundraising campaign.

Abbott and Costello and others joining in on these campaigns, were not selling themselves, but the need for everybody to get involved in the war effort.   
  


Photo Courtesy of Chris Costello

In 1943, Bud and Lou proudly show off a bomber they helped raise
funds for with actress Hedy Lamarr

During World War II, actress Hedy Lamarr, known as "the most beautiful woman in the world, raised $7 million in one night by kissing war-bond buyers.  

NEBRASKA GOVERNOR
DWIGHT P. GRISWOLD  

Welcomes Bud and Lou on the Steps
of the State Capital

 July 31, 1942



Photo Courtesy of Chris Costello

Bud and Lou with Governor Griswold being honored on the steps of
Nebraska's State Capitol, designating them as admirals in the fictitious
"Nebraska Navy."

During the Team's 1942 war bond tour, Bud and Lou made a quick trip to Lincoln where Nebraska Governor Dwight Griswold and a crowd of excited citizens received them at the State Capitol. The duo shook hands with and signed autographs for adults and children, and were later provided with several souvenirs to remember their stay. These included certificates designating them as admirals in the fictitious "Nebraska Navy," and an ear of corn for each, labeled "From Nebraska, the Cornhusker State."   


Photo Courtesy of Jeff Solimando

Bud and Lou were each gifted with a silver-plated ear of corn from Nebraska Governor Dwight P. Griswold.  

 
MAYOR FIORELLO LaGUARDIA
NEW YORK   

Congratulates Bud and Lou
on Raising a Record $85 Million

1942     


Photo Courtesy of Chris Costello

Bud and Lou were honored on the steps of New York's City Hall by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia for raising a record-breaking $85 million in war bonds. It was noted that Lou and the mayor were cracking jokes back and forth as they walked up the steps.

Bud and Lou's brand of comedy helped lift the morale of the American public during World War II. Eager to lend their time to the war effort, they funded (out of pocket) a cross-country tour to help raise much-needed funds on behalf of the War Bond Drive. Everywhere they appeared there were sell-out audiences.  


Photo Courtesy of Chris Costello


Lou Costello and Mayor LaGuardia became friends following the Bond Tour in 1942. LaGuardia, like Abbott and Costello, and many stars from Hollywood, worked tirelessly to help raise money for the war bond effort during WWII.

Bearing a likeness to the mayor, Lou would be offered the lead role in the Broadway musical "Fiorello" (1959), but passed away before the contract was signed.  
 


ABBOTT & COSTELLO
SIGHTING

Abbott and Costello
Hit the Crosswords!   
 

Submitted by
CRISTINA WALKER 


Thank you to Facebook friend CRISTINA WALKER of New Jersey for submitting this crossword puzzle showing a Who's On First? question!

MAYOR OF WICHITA, KANSAS 
Bestow the Title
Superintendant of the Production of Laughing Gas
to Bud and Lou

1942 




ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET THE JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA 

by
Bryan Bustard 


Photo Courtesy of artist Bryan Bustard

A conversation early in 2017 with another artist led to a single title, Abbott & Costello Meet the Superheroes.

I've long been an Abbott and Costello fan and have the entire Universal Studio's collection on DVD. I've always loved the old Universal monsters, as well as the "giant bug" movies and other sci-fi monster films that followed.
However, after saying the title, I decided I had to paint it. The title eventually became Abbott & Costello Meet the Justice Society of America, mainly because I chose only comic book characters who were present during the 1940's and who had been played at one time or another by live action actors.

The "giant bugs" in the background are actually camelback crickets (which I always thought would be creepy if they were in a "giant bug" movie, but never expected I'd paint them). Other heroes besides Bud and Lou are the George Reeves Superman/Clark Kent; the Adam West Batman; the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman; and John Wesley Shipp from the current "Flash" series  as the "Earth 2" or Golden Age "Flash." Rounding up the cast are Lori Loughlin from her one episode as the "Black Canary" on the Birds of Prey television series; and Michael Shanks as "Hawkman," Brent Strait in the "Dr. Fate" helmet, and Ken Lawson in the "Sandman" gas mask -- all from the Smallville television series.

What we have here is a joint project between Universal Pictures and Warner Brothers (owners of DC Comics), but for me, it's just a fan piece.

Visit Bryan Bustard's web page at:  


UNIVERSAL STUDIOS 
Welcome Home Bud and Lou
Following Their WAR BOND TOUR 



Photo Courtesy of Chris Costello


A HISTORY OF WORLD WAR II
WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY FOR KIDS  


Published in 2002 by Chicago Review Press, author Richard Panchyk introduces children to World War II.

Bud and Lou are also in this beautiful photo-filled book. I'm not sure whether this book is still in print, but if interested in purchasing, try Amazon or Ebay. 

PATERSON MUSEUM 
Honors Lou Costello's Birthday!

March 2017 
 

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Scalzitti
Lou Sciara as "Lou Costello" honors his idol at the Paterson Museum event


The Paterson Museum in Lou Costello's hometown, paid tribute to Lou Costello in a special 111th birthday celebration on Saturday, March 11th.

Along with friends and fans, all gathered to pay homage to a man who never lost his ties to his Jersey roots, and never forgot his hometown of Paterson.

Lou Sciara, who along with Gil "Bud" Palmer put on shows as "Bud and Lou" up and down the eastern seaboard, joined the event and regaled fans with his Lou Costello impersonations.

Thank you to the Paterson Museum, Sal Rinella, "Lou's Angels," and the many who attended the afternoon event!  
 

 
BLAST FROM THE PAST!


Thank you to MICHAEL YENSAN for sharing this advertising find with us!

BRAN NEWS cereal was introduced in 1988 by Ralston.

Some of you may remember the television commercial for the cereal using Abbott and Costello look-alike actors Ron Masak (Lou) and Stan Lachow (Bud) performing a take-off of Who's On First? only with Bran News as the play-off on words.



Photo Courtesy of Chris Costello

Ron Masak ("Lou") and Stan Lachow ("Bud") 
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