ABBOTT & COSTELLO
November, 2016
NEWSLETTER
"THE NOOSE HANGS HIGH"
Celebrating the film's start of production 69 years ago
November 13, 1947
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SYNOPSIS
Ted (Bud Abbott) and Tommy (Lou Costello), employees of the Speedy Service Window Washing Company, are mistaken for employees of the Speedy Messenger Service by Nick Craig (Joseph Calleia), a bookie. He sends them to Mr. Stewart's office to collect $50,000 Stewart (Ben Weldon) owes him. Stewart, however, plans to have two of his hoods hold up the boys and take the money back. Chased by the gangsters, Tommy ducks into an office where a corps of girls is mailing face powder samples. He shoves the money into an envelope, which he intends to address to Nick. But his envelope is inadvertently switched with another envelope containing a sample. Meanwhile, Nick discovers his mistake and telephones J.C. MacBride (Leon Errol), to whom he owes the windfall, to ask for an extension. Nick orders his gorillas, Chuck (Mike Mazurki) and Joe (Jack Overman), to find Ted and Tommy, but the boys show up at the office, and explain what happened. The money, they assure Nick, will be delivered tomorrow by the U.S. Mail.
But the next day, a powder sample arrives instead of the money. Nick gives the boys twenty-four hours to contact every prospect on the company's mailing list. They finally locate the recipient, Carol (Cathy Downs), who has spent most of the money on luxuries. The three of them hope to parlay the remaining $2,000 into $50,000 by betting on a horse race. At the Television Club, Ted, Tommy, and Carol, meet an eccentric little man named Julius Caesar, who has never lost a bet. Carol's horse wins, but Ted, Tommy, and Carol lose the rest of their bankroll. With no possible way of repaying Nick, Ted decides that the safest place for them is jail. The boys run up a $500 tab at a swank nightclub and are about to be arrested when Nick and his boys arrive and demand the money. When Ted and Tommy confess that they haven't got it, Nick plans to fit them with cement shoes at a nearby construction warehouse. Carol, meanwhile, wins $50,000 from Caesar betting on fish in the club's aquarium. They arrive at the construction warehouse just in time with the money. Caesar explains that he is J.C. MacBride, and the debt is settled.
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THE PRODUCTION
The Noose Hangs High was originally intended for production at Universal Studios as far back as 1945. But since Bud and Lou's new contract allowed one independent feature per year, the newly-formed Abbott and Costello Productions purchased the story from the studio and made the film at Eagle-Lion Studios.
Budgeted for twenty-four days and $652,833, it eventually came in one day and $41,900 under. The boys were permitted to borrow Charles Barton to direct, and the team's longtime executive producer at Universal, Milton Feld, agreed to produce. Several crew members from Universal were also hired, including cinematographer Charles Van Enger. Just before production was about to begin, however, in August 1947, Feld died. It was decided that Barton would both direct and produce, as he had done on a few minor features at Universal. Feld's widow, Shirley, and Lou's mother, Helen (Lolly) Cristillo, were named associate producers. In an inside joke, the horse Lou bets on in the film is named Lolly C. Another delay pushed production back when Lou suffered a fall in his home, straining the ligaments in his leg. He was required to stay off his feet for several weeks.
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Bobby Barber and his daughter, Catherine, visit with Lou between takes
Bobby Barber sojourned to Eagle-Lion to provide his unique services. Charles Barton recalled, "Arthur Krim, the president of Eagle-Lion Studios, had seen the bill for the pies - $3,500. He couldn't get over the amount of money being spent, but he understood they were necessary. Lou believed throwing pies and other pranks cleared the air and relieved tension. Lou was like a little kid on the set. I told Mr. Krim, 'You're just lucky you haven't been hit by a pie yet.' But some of his staff complained that the stage was too dirty from firecrackers and pie crust all over the floor. Krim wanted to know what Bobby Barber's role was. He called Bobby up to his office and asked Bobby what he was doing. Bobby said, 'Well, I'm here with Lou. I stand in for Lou and do what I can for him.' Krim said, 'That's not enough. I want you to get a broom and a dustpan and clean up the stage.' So Bobby fetched himself a broom and a dustpan and brushed all the garbage into a box. He put the box on a dolly and strolled up to Krim's office. The girl wouldn't let him in. He said, 'I'm sorry, but I have to see Mr. Krim now.' He walked right past the secretary into Krim's office and dumped all the stuff onto the floor and said, 'I just wanted you to see how hard I've been working.' A studio official today would have killed him. But not Krim. He took it all to heart."
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BUD & LOU'S SCENES
Despite the contentions of film critics, the team's burlesque routines had been weeded out of their more recent films. Evidently the shock to the boys' systems was so great that when they got carte blanche on The Noose Hangs High, they decided to indulge themselves. They play these routines with the great affection they must have had for them.
Virtually all of the gags had appeared in earlier films. Still, John Grant tried to freshen things up. He wrote a new version of the "Pack/Unpack" sketch previously used in Hit the Ice. Instead of packing a grip, Lou would alternately dress and undress, depending on Bud's verbal cues. Bud and Lou saw it in the script for the first time on the day it was to be shot. According to Barton, they were discontent with the revision, and began performing the original version. Barton yelled "Cut!" and asked the team what they were doing. Lou explained that they had done it their way a thousand times and it never failed. Barton said, "That's just the trouble -- we need a fresh approach to it." Lou said, "Come on, Charlie. We're not going to sit here and learn this whole new routine. We'll do the old one." Barton pulled up a chair and sat down. "Okay, Lou. You want to do the old 'Pack and Unpack'? Go ahead." Bud and Lou began the routine, with Lou hastily packing a valise while Bud debates whether they should run away or stay put. About halfway through the routine, Barton's stony countenance caught Lou's eye. "Aren't you gonna say 'cut?' " Lou asked. "I'm waiting for something funny," was Barton's reply. Lou bristled. "Come on, Bud!" He grabbed Bud by the arm and the two of them walked off the set and out of the studio. Legend has it that they stayed home for three days without speaking a word to Barton. On the fourth day, Bud and Lou returned to the studio, with the new routine memorized.
The bulk of the teams routines -- including "Mustard," "Hole in the Wall," "You're 40, she's 10," and "What Are You Doing at the Depot?" -- are performed in one long session at the nightclub, as the boys deliberately run up the tab. These are part of a classic burlesque straight man lecture called, "Handful of Nickels." The sequence runs about five and a half minutes. Their timing, and the effortless way these separate routines are weaved together, are marvelous.
Courtesy of "Abbott and Costello in Hollywood"
Ron Palumbo and Bob Furmanek
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SAL RINELLA HOSTS SPECIAL BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION FOR BUD ABBOTT AT PATERSON MUSEUM
October 9, 2016
by
Roberta "Scoop" Reitz
Photo Credit: Roberta Reitz
Sal Rinella (center) with some of "Lou's Angels" who helped with the clean-up campaign at Lou's statue on September 17 and who joined in to help celebrate Bud Abbott's birthday at the Museum on October 9. (Left-right) Michelle Vargas, Jack Hoffman, Dave Cubby, Sal Rinella and Abel Rodriguez
I spent the week watching the weather reports as hurricane Matthew moved up the east coast. Sunday morning finally arrived, and with some rain. I stopped at the market to pick up the food tray and last minute essentials before driving to Paterson which is a two hour drive from my home in PA. Traffic was slow and with just a slight drizzle as I arrived at the Museum. Friends began arriving, tables were being set up, coffee was brewing, and Bud Abbott's birthday cake looked delicious! Three weeks before when we all met up at Lou's statue for the clean-up campaign, we were strangers. Today, however, we were reuniting as friends. I just had this feeling that both Bud and Lou were watching from above.
Today was the day we would be honoring Bud Abbott. But there was also another milestone being celebrated -- the 80th anniversary of Who's On First? Sal and I set up to empty chairs in memory of Bud and Lou. I placed my Who's On First? jersey on one, and on the other my "Scoop" hat and my father's jacket. Everyone was talking about watching Abbott and Costello movies on WPIX. Being from Philly, they aired on channel 29, and on my dad's day off, he would sit in his recliner and watch "his boys." I would sit with him, reciting the routines with Bud and Lou. Fast forward to October 9 ---
what an honor being in Lou's hometown singing Happy Birthday to Bud Abbott!
Being a part of this celebration, which included a showing of Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd, a cake-cutting ceremony for Bud, and another for actor and boxer Randy DeOrio who was inducted into the Paterson Museum, was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Great times, great friends, equaled a good day by all!
Happy birthday wishes sent to the heavens for Bud Abbott (October 2) and to my dad, Charles, (October 22).
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Photo Credit: Jack Hoffman
Jack Hoffman (right) with actor, boxer and Paterson native Randy DeOrio
What a great event at the Paterson Museum, celebrating the birthday of Bud Abbott and thanking all those who helped clean-up the Lou Costello Memorial Park a few weeks before. Along with Bud's birthday, I was especially honored to meet Paterson's own Randy DeOrio, award-winning actor ("Sopranos") and boxer who was being inducted into the museum that afternoon.
Jack Hoffman
I was overwhelmed with emotion that I had tears in my eyes. I can't believe I was so blessed to have been inducted into the Paterson Museum. Everyone that came to the event were so nice! Those that could not attend and share in the experience can view on my Facebook, and since it's a permanent exhibit, anyone can still come and not only see mine, but all of the many beautiful exhibits.
Randy DeOrio
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Lou Costello Boxing Gym President Pierre Benoist attends the celebration.
(left to right) Michelle Vargas, Sal Rinella, Pierre Benoist, members of the
boxing gym in Paterson.
Pierre Benoist started with the gym in 1976 -- the club's motto, "For the Kids" has been his personal mission. The club has been helping inner-city kids for 40 years by providing a gym and boxing and getting them off the street.
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Photo Credit: Jack Hoffman
A few of Lou's Angels who were part of the Lou Costello Park Clean-Up Campaign and who helped in the celebration of Bud Abbott's birthday at the Paterson Museum. (left to right) Jack Hoffman, Markus Gerwald, Jan Heidelberg, Ginny Capitelli and Roberta "Scoop" Reitz.
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FAN SIGHTING!
Submitted by Terry Pasquariello Dornic
Lou Costello's Third Cousin
Photo Courtesy of Roseanne Giurintano-Gregilovich
The hot dog stand, a longtime Paterson landmark, who's spirit now lives on in Fair Lawn, opened at 855 River Street on July 4, 1939.
The original Johnny & Hanges stand closed in 1998. But unlike so many Jersey landmarks, it didn't disappear. To the delight of its many fans, the restaurant merely moved.
Check out the photo below of a mural from inside the restaurant. Lou has his own reserved seating card!
23-20 Maple Ave
Fair Lawn, N.J. 07410
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ZISSIMOS BAR
Where Lou Costello Tap Danced on the Bar
by
Nathan Dennies
Baltimore Heritage
Submitted by JoAnna Jones
Photo Credit: JoAnna Jones
In Charles Barton's 1948 romp, THE NOOSE HANGS HIGH, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello argue over shrimp cocktails. Abbott tells Costello to imagine he's in Grand Central Station with a ticket in his pocket. Where is he going? Costello doesn't understand why he should be going anywhere, but Abbott presses him:
"I'll go to Baltimore," Costello says.
"Of all the towns in the United States, why do you have to pick Baltimore?"
"I got friends in Baltimore!"
Lou Costello's connection to Baltimore was more than casual. His aunt, EVA ZISSIMOS, owned Zissimos Bar with her husband, Atha. Eva would host Costello when he was passing through town. His exploits at Zissimos became a riotous neighborhood event. He was known to tap-dance on the bar and hand out autographed one-dollar bills to children. Costello was fond of his Baltimore family. During a show at the Hippodrome, he invited Eva's four-year-old granddaughter, Leiloni Pardue, to perform on stage with him. The last time Lou Costello came to Baltimore was in 1957 on his way to Washington, D.C. to perform at President Eisenhower's second Inauguration. Lou passed away two years later in 1959.
Lou Costello's antics at Zissimos are just a small part of the bar's legacy. Zissimos lays claim to being the oldest business in operation on the Avenue. It's been family-owned since 1930. Atha and Eva chose the Thirty-Sixth street location because of Hampden's sizeable Greek population. The biggest Greek name in Hampden was Theodore Cavacos. He was the unofficial mayor of Hampden and owned vast swaths of property in the area, including the lucrative Cavacos Drugstore. By the end of the 1950's, there were over a dozen Greek owned establishments, several of which were owned by members of the Zissimos family, including a dry cleaners and a restaurant.
Before the building's renovation in 2014, Zissimos looked like a bunker -- a fortified brick facade with a sliver of an opening for a window. The facade replaced a large picture window from which Atha sold hamburgers and hot dogs. The window met a violent end after William Zissimos and his brother Louis took it over in 1955. Louis was an undefeated heavyweight boxer in the Navy and took a no-nonsense approach to running the bar. Rowdy patrons who picked a fight with him were thrown out the window, and after shattering the glass too many times, the window became irreparable.
Zissimos is a much warmer place today, in large part due to the efforts of its current owner, Geli Ioannou, who married into the Zissimos family. Geli renovated the upstairs, once the home where Eva served Lou Costello hot meals, and turned it into the space for the bar's comedy night, "Who's On First?"
(For our Baltimore Costello fans and subscribers, check out Zissimos Bar located at: 1023 W 36th Street (410) 467-4707)
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Photo Credit: Lou Costello Family Archives
Lou Costello and his brother Pat (far right), visit with their Aunt Eva (3rd from right) and her family at Zissimos in 1957.
Zissimos originally opened as a sandwich shop where you could get a beer. Over time it turned into a tavern where you could get a sandwich. Apparently my grandparents, owners of the tavern, learned that liquor was far more profitable than food! I remember it as a two-story building with a single apartment upstairs, which is where they resided.
My grandmother, Eva, was Lou Costello's aunt and sister to his mother Helen (nicknamed "Lolly"), making me his second cousin. Although he was much older than I was, I always referred to him as "Uncle Lou." I don't recall seeing Uncle Lou at the bar as my family moved to North Hollywood, CA. when I was five-years-old. I have the photos of him visiting when he was in Baltimore. Always clowning around behind the bar, making patrons and family laugh. That's what you see in the photos -- a man who was all about making people feel good.
Lou Donin
Lou Costello's Second Cousin
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BEHIND-THE-SCENES
State Lake Theater
Chicago, Illinois
NOOSE HANGS HIGH Premiere
May 10, 1948
Photo Courtesy: Chris Costello
Bud and Lou clown around in the theater's projection booth before the screening at the State Lake Theater.
The theater was built in 1919 as a vaudeville house for the Orpheum circuit. The theater was named for its location on the corner of State Street and Lake Street and switched to movies-only in 1941.
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SURPRISE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
For PADDY(COSTELLO) HUMPHREYS
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Paddy, Lou's eldest daughter (center wearing hat), received the shock of her life when her grandchildren Nabil Cristillo, Ariane Wolf and Amanda Morrison threw her a surprise party at Poncho's in Manhattan Beach (CA).
Attending were her children Lou Cristillo (standing by his mom), Michael Cristillo (top right) and Melinda Marshall (2nd row on far left); grandchildren Maryam Cristillo (second row, top right), Lamya Cristillo (top row, 5th from right), Nabil Cristillo (holding his son Luca, top row), Amanda Morrison (top row, 3rd from left), Charissa Gerrue (right of Amanda), Ariane Wolf (below Charissa); great-grandchildren Arylynn and Michela (bottom row left), MacKenzie (on Paddy's lap), Cash (lower right at bottom), baby Sia (in Melinda's arms), Tori (above Sia), baby Luca (top row in Nabil's arms).
Also in the photo are some wonderful spouses! Doug Wolf (Ariane's husband) lower left, Michael Morrison (Amanda's husband) standing top left, Jen Cristillo (Nabil's wife) second from top left, Aicha Cristillo (Lou's wife) fourth from top right, Nancy Cristillo (Michael's wife) second from top right, and Greg Haas (Maryam's fiance) third from top right.
To quote my sister, "This is the greatest gift you could have given me! To have my entire family together in one room for the first time!"
Family came from Nevada, California, New York, New Jersey, and even outside the U.S. to celebrate this amazing woman's milestone birthday ...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PADDY!
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HAVE A QUESTION?
WE HAVE THE ANSWER!
Photo Credit: Chris Costello
A young Lou Costello as an extra in Laurel & Hardy's Battle of the Century
QUESTION:
I remember an early photo of Lou as an extra in a film where you see him in the crowd watching a boxing match. Can you tell me about his boxing background and how much he must have enjoyed it later in life.
Jack Hoffman
New York
ANSWER:
When dad first landed in Hollywood it was around 1925, or thereabouts. He came to Hollywood to become an actor, wanting to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Charlie Chaplin. Those were lean times for him. As he recalled to Ralph Edwards on
This Is Your Life in 1956, "I slept in many a parked car and existed on a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches." He worked on a construction crew at MGM, tried his hand at stunt work, and also landed a couple of extra parts. One was a silent short featuring Laurel and Hardy called
Battle of the Century (1927) where he can be seen as a spectator sitting ringside (see photo above). The other was an epic silent movie,
Trail of '98 (1928) with Delores del Rio where he has a quick entrance into the saloon scene.
Dad did have a short-lived boxing career under the name of Lou King before he made his way to Hollywood in the 1920's. His stint in the ring came to a sudden halt when his father discovered that 'Lou King' was none other than his son. He would show up at breakfast table with shiners, asking his mother that they really should lower the door knobs. That, and his dad discovering his secret boxing career under another name, made dad re-think his career goals.
He loved attending a good boxing match through the years. He knew the moves and how to move in the ring, allowing him to pull it off like a semi-pro in
Buck Privates and
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man.
Chris Costello
Lou's Youngest Daughter
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INTERNATIONAL LOBBY POSTERS
THE NOOSE HANGS HIGH
Japan
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THE NOOSE HANGS HIGH
Story Conference with Director Charles Barton
From Collier's Magazine
A reporter for Collier's was on hand when Bud, Lou, and director Charles Barton had a story conference:
"You boys got any bright ideas?" Barton inquired. This is the same as asking a GI if he has any gripes against the Army.
"We've never done Mustard in a movie, Abbott said. (Apparently Bud had forgotten about "One Night in the Tropics."
Barton's raised eyebrows were the go-ahead signal. Bud and Lou raced through a telescoped version of the sketch, pitching cues with trip-hammer rapidity.
"Sounds good," Barton commented. "We can work in a scene at a hot dog stand while you're chasing the dame. What else?"
"We killed them at the Roxy with Hole in the Wall, Costello said.
Like a trained bear hearing his music, Abbott went into the act. "Isn't this a magnificent building?"
Costello (reverently): "It sure is. Wouldn't I be a dirty, despicable man if I made a hole in that beautiful wall?"
Abbott (sternly): "Why did you do it?"
Costello (blankly): "Do what? I was just saying ..."
Abbott (severely): "You just admitted you made a hole in the wall."
This piles up until Abbott and Costello ready to surrender to the police for vandalism. Without drawing a deep breath, they plunged into Burned Toast. Costello, a bashful oaf, is introduced to a beautiful girl in a restaurant. In the confusion, he stuffs a piece of bread he is eating in his pocket. The girl kisses him with such ardor that the bread turns to toast. Abbott brings out a bill and they were off and running on Ten Dollars You're Not Here, another old chestnut from burlesque. Abbott bets Costello ten bucks he can prove the other fellow is not where he thinks he is. Through circumlocution too devious to relate, Abbott wins the ten. A stranger approaches. Costello, falling all over himself with anticipation, tries to pull the same dodge on him. The fall guy gives the wrong answers and picks up the marbles, leaving Costello covered with frustration. The four sketches took six minutes, by the clock.
"We can do the Telegram Elimination Gag," Abbott proposed.
Barton threw up his hands. "Let me kick this around for awhile." To the Collier's reporter he added, "They can toss these old routines at you all day long and come up with stuff adaptable to any situation. You've got to hang the gags on the thread of the story, or the picture will become a series of vaudeville acts."
Courtesy of "Abbott and Costello in Hollywood"
Ron Palumbo and Bob Furmanek
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BLAST FROM THE PAST!
New Jersey Lottery Scratcher
2005!
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SHARE NEWS & INFORMATION WITH US ...
Much of what we publish comes from you, their fans. If you know of any events, airings, conventions, have stories of someone who met Bud and Lou, anything and everything pertaining to the boys, please share with us. Email us at: ACCollectibles@aol.com
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EVENT!
The Fort Lee Film Commission and Fort Lee Public Library in Fort Lee, New Jersey will be hosting a 3-part film retrospect highlighting the 75th anniversary of America's entry into World War II and the popular films of 1941 that kept Americans laughing and made box office stars of ABBOTT and COSTELLO.
Admission is FREE!
Fort Lee Public Library
(Library Theatre)
Doors open at 6pm and programs start at 6:30pm
BUCK PRIVATES
December 2
IN THE NAVY
December 9
KEEP 'EM FLYING
December 16
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