Colgate Comedy Hour – Abbott and Costello with Errol Flynn – On the way to work on Rhonda Fleming’s ranch, the boys encounter berserk Flynn …
Colgate Comedy Hour – Abbott and Costello with Errol Flynn – 1/13/1952
Abbott & Costello, with guests Errol Flynn, Rhonda Fleming, Bruce Cabot, Sid Fields, Joe Kirk, The Pied Pipers, cameo appearance by George Raft.
On the way to work on Rhonda Fleming’s ranch, the boys encounter berserk Flynn doing the classic “Niagra Falls” routine. Lou attempts to milk a cow, and the Busy Bee routine leads to ad libbing and a milk spitting war! Sheriff Lou battles bad guy Flynn in a saloon.
Bruce Cabot’s Café
Before the show starts, Bud and Lou go down the street to a café run by … Bruce Cabot! Bud, of course, only has a quarter, leading to the sandwich and a cup of coffee routine. Bruce mentions that he’s going to close up the café to go work on Rhonda Fleming’s ranch, the B Bar Boop. And Bruce invites them to come along and find jobs there. As Lou says, this is the plot! But before they leave, Lou does the “my lips haven’t touched sugar for years” routine, ending with a face full of cake — courtesy of Bud Abbot!
Indians in the desert
Wandering through the desert, Bud and Lou find an Indian man. So, they want to ask him for directions. Lou tries to speak to them in “TV Western” Indian speak. The man’s wife appears and simply asks her husband, “What’s with the two jerks, Myron?” Bud and Lou try to explain, which leads to “Indians!” and they all dash for cover, as some “Indians” come on for a short dance number.
Errol Flynn in the desert
Continuing to wander through the desert, Bud and Lou come across Errol Flynn, who then does the “Niagara Falls” routine with poor Lou.
At the B Bar Boop ranch
At the ranch, Rhonda Fleming receives a postcard from Errol Flynn, leading to the “I’m in Love With a Wonderful Guy” song and dance. Followed by Rhonda giving Lou his list of chores – “Zing! It’s time for breakfast!” while poor Bud rests. Then, it’s time for a very funny version of their milk the cow routine.
That evening, it’s a short dance routine around the campfire, followed by Bruce Cabot and the lovely ladies initiating him into their club — the “Busy Bee” routine. Then Bud comes by, and Lou tries to do the same to Bud!
At the Cantina
We’ve now apparently gone to the Old West, where Rhonda Fleming is singing in a cantina. Bruce Cabot professes his love to her, but the jealous “Black Pedro” (Errol Flynn) shoots him dead! So the people call for — Sheriff Lou Costello!
And after the slapstick, Black Pedro returns! And he’s not afraid of Sheriff Lou! He not only intimidates Lou in front of the crowd, he makes him eat bullets! And then kicks him in the behind to shoot himself from the inside!
Finally, Lou tries to salvage his ego, pointing out that he wasn’t really afraid …. He was just reading the script! Why, if movie tough guy George Raft was there, he’d stand up to him! Of course, George Raft shows up behind him …
Routines
- Ice cream routine at the start of the show
- I’ll meet you!
- Borrowing the cameraman’s handkerchief – shirt?
- Sandwich and a cup of coffee at Bruce Cabot’s cafe
- Niagara Falls with Errol Flynn in the desert
- Hand on hot stove
- Zing! You’re ready for breakfast with Rhonda Fleming
- Milking the cow routine
- That evening, the Busy Bee “initiation” sketch with a lot of ad libbing & milk flying!
Songs
Cast of characters
- Bud Abbott (Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein) … Self – Host
- Lou Costello (The Time of their Lives) … Self – Host
- Errol Flynn (The Adventures of Robin Hood) … Self – Actor
- Rhonda Fleming (Alias Jesse James) … Self – Actress
- Bruce Cabot (King Kong) … Self -Actor
- Sid Fields (Mexican Hayride) … Self – Supporting Player
- Joe Kirk (Safari) … Self – Supporting Player
- The Pied Pipers … Themselves – Singers
Additional cast
- Bobby Barber (The Abbott and Costello Show) … Self – Guy with celery on his head
- Milt Bronson (Here Come the Co-Eds) … Self – Extra in saloon
- Chris Costello … Self – Child in audience
- Al Goodman (Abbott & Costello – The Christmas Show) … Self – Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
- George Raft (Scarface) … Self (uncredited)