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
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
On this week’s Abbott and Costello Radio Show, guest star Rudy Vallee is going to help Bud and Lou do Jack and the Beanstalk. He’s only here to help!
Rudy Vallee
In this episode of the Colgate Comedy Hour, Bud and Lou are ostensibly going to the world premiere of “Abbott and Costello Go to Mars“. If they can get past the doorman! Then …
Colgate Comedy Hour 3.32
A remake of “The Lawyer with The Mad Russian“, Lou Costello gets into trouble shooting a neighbor stealing his oranges! Then she takes him to court! With Mr. Kitzel as his lawyer?
Stolen Oranges
Dust Be My Destiny – The Abbott and Costello Radio Show. Lou Costello performs a parody as detective Sam Shovel, the private detective. The skit is filled with silly scenarios, the case of the lady blue beard, a pun about too many crooks spoil the broth, a lady who needs Sam to come to her rescue — and the “hold up your hands” routine!
Dust Be My Destiny