10 Facts Every Abbott & Costello Fan Should Know

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are two of the most iconic figures in comedy. The pair formed one of the best-known comedy duos of all time, Abbott & Costello, and in the process changed the game. Decades after their passing, the two are still as beloved and celebrated as ever.

While there are plenty of fans today, some behind-the-scenes facts about the team are less known than others. The two are just as interesting off-screen as they were on, even if there were darker moments along with the comedic.

Bud Wasn’t Lou’s First Partner

It is hard to picture Lou Costello without Bud Abbott by his side, but originally this was the case. Before the two met in their 30s, they each had their own gig, although not nearly as successful as when they paired up. According to Constant Contact, Bud was chosen to cover for Lou’s partner, Joe Lyons, while working at a theater, and history was made. They then went on to headline some of the greatest classic screwball comedies.

It was almost instantly apparent that the two had chemistry, and this chemistry would define them for decades to come. It is interesting to think had Bud not been able to fill in, these two comedy giants would have likely faded into obscurity, and the world would have missed out on something incredible.

Costello Faked His Voice

One of the defining characteristics of Lou Costello was his voice that was noticeably higher in pitch than his partner’s. As it turns out, this was intentional. Before they enjoyed success on the screen, Abbott & Costello were found early success on the radio. Producers were afraid listeners would not be able to tell the duo apart, as told on Encyclopedia.com.

This was due to the fact that in reality, their voices were rather similar. To fix this, Costello adopted a higher-pitched voice to match his goofier character. This decision not only helped differentiate the two during their radio years, but it also helped give Costello one of several trademarks he would use throughout his career, which made him stand out in some of the best comedy movies from the Golden Age.

“Who’s On First?” Almost Didn’t Happen

Perhaps the routine the two are best known for is Who’s On First? The popular routine based around wordplay is synonymous with the two and was performed numerous times in their career on the big screen and radio. Had the radio producers had their way though, it never would have aired. The producers felt the joke would have gone over the heads of listeners, and vetoed it.

Lou lied and told them that they have no other material, so if they didn’t do the gag, they would have no show. This stretching of the truth worked, and it lead to the iconic routine. This anecdote has been told several times, including on the duo’s abovementioned entry on Encyclopdia.com.

Their Income Was Split 60/40

One of several things that caused bad blood between the duo centered around Costello’s view on their finances. Lou Costello felt he was the key to the success of the team, as he was the comedic one to Bud’s straight man. Because of this, he demanded they split their income in his favor, as reported by Hollywood Yesterday, even though they originally split it evenly.

His demands were met when Lou threatened to quit the act. This drove a permanent wedge between the two and had a large hand in the two eventually splitting for good in 1957. It is hard for fans to hear such a rift was between their favorite duo, but at the end of the day, they were human and flawed like everyone else.

Bud Had Epilepsy

Bud Abbott privately battled with epilepsy and was terrified that he would have an episode on stage in front of all his fans. Bud was so anxious and fearful of his condition that he turned to alcohol to calm his nerves.

Bud suffered from alcoholism for a long time, and this drove the wedge between the duo even further. But despite his struggles with the illness, Bud always showed up with a smile and was ready to entertain. And he wasn’t the only celebrity with epilepsy, as seen on the official Epilepsy Foundation website.

Lou Performed One Day After Learning His Son Had Passed

One day before performing their radio show, Lou got word that his young son had passed away in an accidental drowning. He decided to do the show anyway, as reported on Grunge. But right after stepping away from the mic, Lou collapsed and mourned his son.

It wouldn’t have been easy to hear such tragic news, especially being so far away. But Lou Costello still took the stage and gave it his all because, at that moment, he felt the show must go on.

Costello Was An Impressive Athlete

In his early years, Costello was an amateur boxer under the alias “Lou King.” He fought in secret, and his career was cut short. After 12 matches, 11 of which he won, his parents found out about his fighting and put an end to it, according to MeTV.com.

In addition to this, Costello enjoyed success as a stuntman before making it big in the comedy scene. These skills even helped him in his comedy career, as a lot of his humor was slapstick. This is not the only example of a heavier set comedian being athletic or being so great at physical comedy, as actors like James Belushi and comedy legend Chris Farley followed in these footsteps.

Universal Monsters Saved Their Career

In the ’40s. Abbott & Costello were so popular, that they were constantly in movies and shows. Their appearances were so frequent that audiences actually grew tired of seeing them and their antics, as mentioned by Encyclopedia.com. It seemed as if the writing was on the wall for the duo until Universal Studios had the idea to combine them with their famous monster movies.

In a last-ditch effort, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein was an attempt to breathe life into two dying franchises, and it worked on both counts. This led to future films where the two met: The Invisible Man and The Mummy, among others.

They Heavily Influenced Jerry Seinfeld

Seinfeld fans enjoy Abbott & Costello’s influence, perhaps without even realizing it. Jerry Seinfeld grew up watching the two in their final endeavor, which was a weekly variety show. The comedian often talks about some of his favorite routines, including Who’s On First? which he talked about in the New York Times.

If not for the antics of Abbott & Costello, Jerry Seinfeld may not have ever entered the stand-up scene, and the world wouldn’t have got the TV show that brought laughs into the homes of millions, even if some things about Seinfeld have aged poorly. There is even a made-for-TV special called Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld, where Jerry discusses some of his favorite routines.

Were Spoofed In The First Tweety Bird Short

The first Looney Tunes short to ever feature the bird that would later be known as Tweety featured two cats made to resemble Abbott & Costello. Two cats, named Babbit and Catstello, are on the prowl for some food, when they discover a bird.

The bird, here named Orson, has the same mannerisms he would later have as Tweety, and even says his famous catchphrase, “I tawt I taw a puddy tat” Orson doesn’t make it easy on the two and hijinks ensue. This wasn’t the last time the duo was spoofed, as they would later appear in several other shorts as different animals.

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