The most famous of all of Abbott and Costello’s routines, Who’s on First? had been performed countless times in vaudeville and on radio, as well as a shortened version of it in their first movie, One Night in the Tropics, with the longer, definitive version (shown here) filmed in The Naughty Nineties.
Who’s on First? script
First Costello gets a tattoo of his girlfriend on his chest, goes girl crazy, goes to the beach, and gets psychoanalyzed by Sid Fields!
Costello Gets A Tattoo
Spanish Acting School – The Abbott and Costello Radio Show – Lou Costello wants to be a “serious” actor — and since they need a leading lady for the movie they’re currently shooting (The Naughty Nineties) – Bud Abbott arranges to have Lou take Spanish Acting Lessons from Sid Fields, then see if he can fool the movie studio into thinking that Lou’s a señorita!
Spanish Acting School
Making A Movie With The Andrews Sisters – The Andrews Sisters sue Bud and Lou for slander! And they’ll work it off by costarring in the Sisters’ next picture! Ending with Lou singing with the ladies!
Making A Movie With The Andrews Sisters
Lou Costello’s love life is a shambles, but he wants to date Connie Haines. But Bud Abbot’s going to make him attend charm school first! Then, tightwad Lou takes them to eat at The Ritz!
Charm School
Basic Training – Broadcast live from the Davis Monthan Air Base, in Tucson, Arizona. Bud and Lou joke about life in the military, Benny Rubin sells Lou a very restrictive mortgage for a new home, and Lou has a fantasy about how “easy” life in the Air Force would be!
Basic Training
Abbott & Costello host a mock Inaugural Ball for new President Eisenhower, including a hilarious recital by Victor Borge sending up outgoing President Truman. Gisele McKenzie sings.
Colgate Comedy Hour – 1/11/53
Bud Abbott hires a new press agent for Lou Costello, who plans a photo opportunity of Lou working on the farm! Zingo! But Lou has to pay his taxes first! Then, it’s time for a soggy saga of the Sahara desert, as the boys have to rescue the princess Ben Ali!
New Press AgentAlmost everyone agrees that “Who’s on First?” is their most famous routine – but which are you favorites? Vote below!
Favorite Abbott & Costello routines
Working on the farm is a routine that Abbott and Costello did many times. On their radio show (New Press Agent), on the Colgate Comedy Hour (1/13/1952 – Ranch), and on the Abbott and Costello TV show (The Music Lovers).
The following is taken from The Abbott and Costello Radio Show episode, “New Press Agent”
Lou Costello working on the farm
On the Abbott and Costello Radio Show, Frank Sinatra is this week’s guest star. And Lou’s jealous, until he learns that Sinatra’s also from his home state of New Jersey! Then they imagine what it would have been like if they all went to elementary school together …
Frank Sinatra – School Days