The Ghost Breakers is a 1940 American mystery/ horror comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard . It was adapted by screenwriter Walter DeLeon as the third film version of the 1909 play The Ghost Breaker by Paul Dickey and Charles W. Goddard .
118-582: Along with the Abbott and Costello films Hold That Ghost and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and Hope and Goddard's own The Cat and the Canary , it is cited as a prime example of the classic Hollywood horror-comedy. The film is primarily set in an abandoned house in Cuba . A woman has just inherited the house and the associated plantation , and she arrives to inspect her property. Accompanying her
236-689: A Looney Tunes cartoon director (for Warner Bros. ) suited Lewis's brand of humor and came on board. The pair did new films, first with Rock-A-Bye Baby (1958) and then The Geisha Boy (1958). Billy Wilder asked Lewis to play the lead role of an uptight jazz musician, who winds up on the run from a mob in Some Like It Hot , but turned it down. Lewis then appeared in Don't Give Up The Ship (1959) and cameoed in Li'l Abner (1959). A 1959 contract between Paramount and Jerry Lewis Productions specified
354-629: A Borscht Belt comedian, saw Lewis' mime act at Brown's Hotel in Loch Sheldrake, New York, the following summer, and the audience was so enthusiastic that Kaye became Lewis' manager and guardian for Borscht Belt appearances. During World War II , Lewis was rejected from military service because of a heart murmur . In 1945, Lewis was 19 when he met 27-year-old singer Dean Martin at the Glass Hat Club in New York City, where
472-467: A Cole Porter musical without the songs. They followed with Africa Screams (1949) for Nassour Studios, an independent company which was released through United Artists . Back at Universal, they returned to horror comedy with Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (1949). The pair was sidelined again for several months when Costello suffered a relapse of rheumatic fever. They returned to
590-582: A Golden Globe nomination, then guest appeared on Ben Casey , The Andy Williams Show and Hullabaloo with son Gary Lewis . Lewis left Paramount in 1966, after 17 years, as the studio was undergoing a corporate shakeup, with the industrial conglomerate Gulf + Western taking over the company. Gulf + Western, scrutinizing the balance sheets, noted the diminishing box office returns of Lewis's recent pictures and did not renew his contract. Undaunted, Lewis signed with Columbia Pictures , where he tried to reinvent himself with more serious roles and starred in
708-577: A master of ceremonies and vaudevillian who performed under the stage name Danny Lewis, whose parents immigrated to the United States from the Russian Empire to New York, and Rachael "Rae" Levitch (née Brodsky; 1904–1982), a WOR radio pianist and Danny's music director, from Warsaw . Reports about his birth name are conflicting; in Lewis' 1982 autobiography, he claimed his birth name
826-410: A Broadway revue, The Streets of Paris , in 1939. After debuting their own program, The Abbott and Costello Show , as Fred Allen 's summer replacement in 1940, Abbott and Costello joined Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy on The Chase and Sanborn Hour in 1941. Two of their films ( Hold That Ghost and Buck Privates ) were adapted for radio that year. Hold That Ghost was presented as
944-564: A cantankerous old man named "Sid Fields" (played by veteran actor Bill Erwin ) as a tribute to the landlord on the Abbott and Costello TV show. A friend of Kramer's is named Mickey Abbott. A copywriter for the J. Peterman catalog is named Eddie Sherman, after the team's longtime agent. In Episode 30, Kramer hears the famous Abbott and Costello line, "His father was a mudder. His mother was a mudder." Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch ; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017)
1062-460: A comeback in 1960 with Candy Candido . Although the new act received good reviews, Abbott quit, saying, "No one could ever live up to Lou." Abbott made a solo, dramatic appearance on an episode of General Electric Theater in 1961. In 1966, Abbott voiced his character in a series of 156 five-minute Abbott and Costello cartoons made by Hanna-Barbera . Costello's character was voiced by Stan Irwin. Bud Abbott died of cancer on April 24, 1974. For
1180-431: A comedy revue requires a larger-than-life comic", Cohen told syndicated columnist Jack O'Brian . "That is why I have engaged Jerry Lewis to star in the new production of Hellzapoppin , which I'm preparing for the coming season." Cohen had revived Hellzapoppin as a TV special in 1972, and was impressed by the contributions of Lynn Redgrave ; he signed her to appear opposite Lewis. This was Lewis's first Broadway show, and
1298-456: A comedy-mystery. In 1942, exhibitors voted them the top box office stars in the country, and their earnings for the fiscal year were $ 789,026. The team did a 35-day tour during the summer of 1942 to promote and sell War Bonds. The Treasury Department credited them with $ 85 million in sales. After the tour the team starred in It Ain't Hay (1943), from a story by Damon Runyon ; and Hit
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#17327872728621416-470: A dancer and comedienne, in 1918, and Costello married a chorus girl, Anne Battler, in 1934. The Costellos had four children; the Abbotts adopted two. Abbott and Costello faced personal demons at times. Both were inveterate gamblers and had serious health problems. Abbott suffered from epilepsy and turned to alcohol for seizure management. Costello had occasional, near-fatal bouts with rheumatic fever . In
1534-525: A factor for the film's burial was that he was not proud of the effort. It was the earliest attempt by an American film director to address the subject of The Holocaust . Following this, Lewis took a break from the movie business for several years. His television appearances during this period included Good Morning America , The Dick Cavett Show , NBC Follies, Celebrity Sportsman, Cher , Dinah! , Tony Orlando and Dawn . As Lewis continued to appear on and annually emcee his telethons , one of
1652-552: A half years old" was often quoted in these cartoons too. Even Bugs Bunny 's famous catchphrase , "Ain't I a stinker?" was borrowed from Lou Costello . Although they are not inductees of the Hall itself, Abbott and Costello are among the few non-baseball personnel to be memorialized in the Baseball Hall of Fame . A plaque and a gold record of the "Who's on First?" sketch have been on permanent display there since 1956, and
1770-433: A half-hour adaptation on August 1, 1941 on Louella Parsons ' Hollywood Premiere , and Buck Privates was presented on Lux Radio Theatre as a one-hour adaptation on October 13, 1941. Their program returned in its own weekly time slot starting on October 8, 1942, with Camel cigarettes as sponsor. The Abbott and Costello Show mixed comedy with musical interludes (by vocalists such as Connie Haines , Ashley Eustis ,
1888-467: A hit, ranking with his better successes. Variety' s Gene Arneel reported independent producer Hall Bartlett 's observation, "Lewis is the only star whose pictures all turn out in the black." Lewis continued to direct more films that he co-wrote with Bill Richmond, including The Ladies Man (1961), where Lewis constructed a three-story dollhouse-like set spanning two sound stages, with the set equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, eliminating
2006-725: A hit. The duo began their film careers at Paramount Pictures as ensemble players, in My Friend Irma (1949) and its sequel My Friend Irma Goes West (1950). Followed by their own series of 14 new movies, At War with the Army (1950), That's My Boy (1951), Sailor Beware (1952), Jumping Jacks (1952), The Stooge (1952), Scared Stiff (1953), The Caddy (1953), Money from Home (1953), Living It Up (1954), 3 Ring Circus (1954), You're Never Too Young (1955), Artists and Models (1955), Pardners (1956) and Hollywood or Bust (1956). The two appeared on
2124-482: A limited release by Warner Bros. , and was not well received by the critics or the public. The Day the Clown Cried (1972), a drama directed by and starring Lewis and set in a Nazi concentration camp , received only brief exposure. The film was rarely discussed by him, but he said that litigation over post-production finances and copyright prevented its completion and widespread theatrical release. He also said
2242-405: A man, initially unaware that the actual assailant is further down the hall. Looking for cover, Larry ducks into Mary's suite, where he takes refuge in her large open trunk. Unaware of Larry's presence, Mary locks the trunk and arranges for its transport to the harbor. At the dock, Larry's valet Alex searches among the luggage and finds Larry. Although not in time to prevent the trunk's transfer to
2360-467: A modified version of "Who's on First?" in a sketch. NBC's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006), a drama about life backstage at a television comedy series, used "Who's on First?" as a plot device. A TV movie called Bud and Lou , based on a book by Hollywood correspondent Bob Thomas , was broadcast in 1978. Starring Harvey Korman as Bud Abbott and Buddy Hackett as Lou Costello, the film told
2478-600: A much publicized feud", according to an account in the Pittsburgh Press . "He would neither rehearse nor perform any songs with her, reports said." The backstage chaos extended to several sudden cast changes during the Boston run. On January 18, 1977, NBC executives flew to Boston to see the show, and their reactions were so negative that Cohen closed the show immediately and canceled both the Broadway engagement and
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#17327872728622596-426: A new contract with Universal which allowed them to appear in films outside of their studio contract. The first of these, The Noose Hangs High (1948), was distributed by Eagle-Lion . The team's next film, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), co-starring Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr , was a massive hit and revitalized the duo's careers. It was followed by Mexican Hayride (1948), an adaptation of
2714-570: A number of solo specials for NBC and starred in his adaptation of " The Jazz Singer " for Startime , then hosted the Academy Awards three times, in 1956, 1957 and 1959. The third telecast, which ran twenty minutes short, forced him to improvise to fill time. Lewis remained at Paramount and started off with his first solo film The Delicate Delinquent (1957) then starred in The Sad Sack (1957). Frank Tashlin , whose background as
2832-564: A number of years Abbott and Costello were ranked among the most popular stars in the US according to the Quigley Publishers Poll of Exhibitors: The 1960s cartoon series was not the first time Abbott and Costello were animated. During the height of their popularity in the 1940s, Warner Bros. 's Looney Tunes / Merrie Melodies animation unit produced 3 cartoons featuring the pair as cats or mice named " Babbit and Catstello ". One of
2950-431: A payment of $ 10 million plus 60% of the profits for 14 films over seven years. This made Lewis the highest paid individual Hollywood talent to date and was unprecedented in that he had unlimited creative control, including final cut and the return of film rights after 30 years. Lewis's clout and box office were so strong that Barney Balaban , head of production at Paramount, told the press, "If Jerry wants to burn down
3068-618: A phonograph played offstage. He landed a gig at a burlesque house in Buffalo, but his performance fell flat and he was unable to book any more shows. To make ends meet, Lewis worked as a soda jerk and a theater usher for Suzanne Pleshette 's father, Gene Pleshette, at the Paramount Theatre as well as at Loew's Capitol Theatre , both in New York City. A veteran burlesque comedian, Max Coleman, who had worked with Lewis' father years before, persuaded him to try again. Irving Kaye,
3186-519: A pilot called Sheriff Who , a second version of The Jerry Lewis Show (this time as a one-hour variety show for NBC, which ran from 1967 to 1969), and The Danny Thomas Hour . He also appeared on Playboy After Dark , Jimmy Durante's The Lennon Sisters Hour , The Red Skelton Show , The Jack Benny Birthday Special, The Mike Douglas Show , The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour , The Hollywood Palace , The Engelbert Humperdinck Show, The Irv Kupcinet Show and The Linkletter Show . Behind
3304-459: A publicity photo of the team for the magazine cover but cropped Martin out. The boys did their final live nightclub act at the Copacabana on July 24, 1956. Both Lewis and Martin went on to have successful solo careers, but neither would comment on the split nor consider a reunion. Martin surprised Lewis on his appearance on The Eddie Fisher Show on September 30, 1958, appeared together at
3422-440: A punchline at the very end of the film. This was really a time-saving device; by concentrating on visual action, Lewis could film the scenes faster without bothering to remember written dialogue. Another time-saver was his innovative use of instant video playback, which allowed Lewis to review each scene on videotape immediately after filming it, thus eliminating film-laboratory delays and expenses. Trade reviewer Pete Harrison noted
3540-462: A rendition of a song he had learned as a child, " Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody " along with " Come Rain or Come Shine ." Lewis recalled, "When I was done, the place exploded. I walked off the stage knowing I could make it on my own." At his wife's urging, Lewis used his own money to record the songs on a single. Decca Records heard it, liked it and insisted he record an album for them. The single of "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby" went to No. 10 and
3658-592: A revival of Damn Yankees , Inside the Actors Studio , The Martin Short Show , The Simpsons , Late Night with Conan O'Brien , Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , The Nutty Professor II (2008), The Talk , Max Rose (2013) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , The Trust (2016) and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee . Lewis "single-handedly created
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3776-440: A rift developed when Abbott hired a domestic servant who had been fired by Costello. Costello refused to speak to his partner except when performing. The following year they made two films, ( Little Giant and The Time of Their Lives ), in which they appeared as separate characters rather than as a team. This was likely the result of the tensions between them, plus the fact that their most recent films had not performed as well at
3894-678: A second independent color movie, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd (1952) co-starring Charles Laughton , which was also distributed by Warner Bros. At Universal, they starred in Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) and Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953). They were forced to withdraw from Fireman Save My Child in 1954 due to Costello's ill health, and were replaced by lookalikes Hugh O'Brian and Buddy Hackett along with Spike Jones and his City Slickers . Their last two films for Universal were Abbott and Costello Meet
4012-426: A shack occupied by an old woman and her catatonic son, whom they suspect is a zombie. The three explore the old, abandoned mansion and discover the large portrait of a woman who is a mirror image of Mary. Soon, they are terrorized by a ghost. Then, they encounter the "zombie", whom Alex traps in a closet. Parada arrives next, but he's fatally stabbed and placed in a casket. Larry and Mary discover him; Parada's last act
4130-670: A socially inept scientist who invents a serum that turns him into a handsome but obnoxious ladies' man. It is often considered to be Lewis's best film. In 1963, he had a cameo in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), fully starred in Who's Minding the Store? (1963) and hosted The Jerry Lewis Show , a lavish 13-week, big-budget show which aired on ABC from September to December in 1963. Lewis next starred in The Patsy (1964), his satire about
4248-650: A string of more new box-office successes: Three on a Couch (1966), also during this period, he appeared in Way...Way Out (1966) for 20th Century-Fox , then The Big Mouth (1967), Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River (1968) and Hook, Line & Sinker (1969). Lewis continued to make television appearances: The Merv Griffin Show , The Sammy Davis Jr. Show, Batman , Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In , Password ,
4366-422: A style of humor that was half anarchy, half excruciation. Even comics who never took a pratfall in their careers owe something to the self-deprecation Jerry introduced into American show business." Jerry Lewis was the most profoundly creative comedian of his generation and arguably one of the two or three most influential comedians born anywhere in this century. The King of Comedy , 1996 His comedy style
4484-588: A third and final version of The Jerry Lewis Show, this time as a syndicated talk show for Metromedia, which was not continued beyond the scheduled five shows, directed an episode of Brothers , appeared at the first Comic Relief in 1986, where he was the only performer to receive a standing ovation, appeared for Classic Treasures , Fight for Life (1987), did a second double act with Davis Jr., hosted America's All-Time Favorite Movies and came on Speaking of Everything . While guest starring in five episodes of Wiseguy , its filming schedule forced Lewis to miss
4602-408: Is her new love interest, a radio broadcaster from Manhattan . The duo encounters a supposed zombie , and take part in treasure hunting in the abandoned house. The film opens in 1940 Manhattan during a violent evening thunderstorm. From a radio studio, broadcaster Larry Lawrence exposes the crimes of underworld boss Frenchy Duval. In her hotel suite, while listening to the broadcast, Mary Carter
4720-543: Is seen in "The Actors' Home" episode of their filmed TV series, running approximately eight minutes. A live performance commemorating the opening day of the Lou Costello Jr Youth Foundation in 1947 was recorded, and has been included in numerous comedy albums. The team's final performance of "Who's on First?" on TV was on Steve Allen's variety show in 1957. Abbott and Costello both married performers they met in burlesque. Abbott wed Betty Smith,
4838-400: Is to reveal to them access to a secret passage under the house. As the couple draw closer to the lost treasure, Parada's murderer attempts to kill them, but this sets off a trap that causes him to plummet through the basement floor to his death. Larry, Mary, and Alex leave the island after claiming Mary's right to her fortune. As Larry alludes to his plans for his and Mary's eventual honeymoon,
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4956-505: Is visited by Mr. Parada, a sinister Cuban solicitor. He delivers her the deed to her inheritance—a plantation and mansion in Cuba. Despite Parada's objections, Mary decides to travel there by ship to inspect the property. As Larry finishes his program, he takes a phone call from Frenchy himself, inviting Larry to his hotel. Coincidentally, Frenchy lives on the same floor as Mary. When Larry arrives, he fires his gun and becomes convinced he killed
5074-614: The Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami as his setting—on a small budget, with a very tight shooting schedule—Lewis shot the film during the day and performed at the hotel in the evenings. Bill Richmond collaborated with him on many of the episodic blackouts and sight gags. The film presented a new approach for the usually frenetic and highly vocal comedian: in The Bellboy Lewis doesn't speak at all—he only whistles—until
5192-667: The Muscular Dystrophy Association ), Lewis performed in concert stages, nightclubs, audio recordings and appeared in at least 117 film and television productions. He was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and France awarded him the Legion of Honor in 2006. Lewis was born on March 16, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey , to a Jewish family. His parents were Daniel "Danny" Levitch (1902–1980),
5310-843: The Museum of the Moving Image 's opening with a retrospective of his work. Lewis then attended Martin's 72nd birthday at Bally's in Las Vegas, wheeling out a cake, sang " Happy Birthday " to him and joked, "Why we broke up, I'll never know." Then starred in Cookie (1989), directed episodes of Super Force in 1990 and Good Grief in 1991 and appeared in Mr. Saturday Night (1992), The Arsenio Hall Show , The Whoopi Goldberg Show , Inside The Comedy Mind , Mad About You and Arizona Dream (1993). Then appeared for Funny Bones (1995),
5428-684: The Olympic Fund Telethon and cameoed in Road to Bali (1952). Crosby and Hope would do the same in Scared Stiff a year later. Attesting to the duo's popularity, DC Comics published The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis from 1952 to 1957. The team appeared on What's My Line? in 1954, the 27th annual Academy Awards in 1955, The Steve Allen Show and The Today Show in 1956. Martin's participation became an embarrassment in 1954 when Look magazine published
5546-584: The Palace Theater in New York and Martin called on the phone during this period to wish him the best of luck. "I've never been happier", said Lewis. "I have peace of mind for the first time." Lewis established himself as a solo act, starting with the first of six appearances on What's My Line? from 1956 to 1966, then guest starred on The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show , Tonight Starring Jack Paar and The Ed Sullivan Show . In January 1957, Lewis did
5664-460: The Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, which marked a turning point in his life and career. The Sands signed him for five years to perform six weeks each year and paid him the same amount they had paid Martin and Lewis as a team. Live performances became a staple of Lewis's career and over the years he performed at casinos, theaters, and state fairs. In February 1957, Lewis followed Garland at
5782-413: The third biggest box office attraction in the country in 1941. Universal loaned the team to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for a musical comedy, Rio Rita (1942). During filming Abbott and Costello had their hand and foot prints set in concrete at what was then " Grauman's Chinese Theatre ". Back at Universal they made Pardon My Sarong (1942), a spoof of South Sea Island movies; and Who Done It? (1942),
5900-678: The 1950s, Abbott and Costello's popularity waned with the emergence of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis . Another reason for their decline was overexposure. Each year they made two new films, while Realart Pictures re-issued their older hits; their filmed television series was widely syndicated, and the same routines appeared frequently on the Colgate program. (Writer Parke Levy told Jordan R. Young, in The Laugh Crafters: Comedy Writing in Radio and TV's Golden Age , that he
6018-407: The 1950s. Depending upon the version, Abbott has either organized a new baseball team and the players have nicknames, or he points out the proliferation of nicknames in baseball (citing St. Louis Cardinals sibling pitchers Dizzy and Daffy Dean ) before launching into the routine. The infielders ' nicknames are Who ( first base ), What ( second base ) and I Don't Know ( third base ). The key to
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#17327872728626136-399: The 1959 Academy Awards closing, reunited several times publicly and sometimes privately according to interviews they gave to magazines. After ending his partnership with Martin in 1956, Lewis and his wife Patty took a vacation in Las Vegas to consider the direction of his career. He felt his life was in a crisis state: "I was unable to put one foot in front of the other with any confidence. I
6254-569: The Crosby/Hope film Road to Bali . Marshall also directed the not-dissimilar Murder, He Says (1945), in which Fred MacMurray compares the situation to "that Bob Hope movie The Ghost Breakers ." Scenes from the film were used in the 1972 pilot episode of The Snoop Sisters (aka The Female Instinct ). The Ghost Breakers was one of the inspirations for the Ghostbusters series of films, whereby Dan Aykroyd wanted to combine
6372-682: The Delta Rhythm Boys , Skinnay Ennis , Marilyn Maxwell and the Les Baxter Singers). Among the show's regular and semi-regular performers were Joe Kirk (Costello's brother-in-law) as the excitable Sicilian immigrant Mr. Bacciagalupe, Artie Auerbach as Mr. Kitzel, Elvia Allman , Iris Adrian , Mel Blanc , Wally Brown , Sharon Douglas , Verna Felton , Sidney Fields , Frank Nelson , Martha Wentworth and Benay Venuta . Guest stars included Cary Grant , Frank Sinatra , The Andrews Sisters and Lucille Ball . Ken Niles
6490-562: The Front? (1970) was a World War II military comedy starring Lewis as a wealthy playboy who wants to enlist in the armed forces. Rejected, he forms his own volunteer army and infiltrates the enemy forces on the Italian front. The cast included many of Lewis's cronies, including Jan Murray , Steve Franken , Kathleen Freeman , Kenneth MacDonald , Joe Besser , and (in a broad caricature of Adolf Hitler ) Sidney Miller . The film received only
6608-629: The Hollywood star-making industry, The Disorderly Orderly (1964), his final collaboration with Tashlin, appeared in a cameo on The Joey Bishop Show and starred in The Family Jewels (1965) about a young heiress who must choose among six uncles, one of whom is up to no good and out to harm the girl's beloved bodyguard who practically raised her. In 1965, Lewis went on The David Susskind Show , starred in his final Paramount-released film Boeing Boeing (1965), in which he received
6726-665: The Ice (1943). Costello was stricken with rheumatic fever upon his return from a winter tour of army bases in March 1943 and was bedridden for approximately six months. On November 4, 1943, the same day that Costello returned to radio after a one-year hiatus due to his illness, his infant son Lou Jr. (nicknamed "Butch" and born November 6, 1942) died in an accidental drowning in the family's swimming pool. Maxene Andrews remembers visiting Costello with sisters Patty and LaVerne during his illness, and remembered how Costello's demeanor changed after
6844-517: The Keystone Kops (1955) and Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955). In 1956, they appeared in their final film together, Dance With Me, Henry , an independent production released through United Artists. In January 1951, Abbott and Costello joined the roster of rotating hosts of The Colgate Comedy Hour on NBC. ( Eddie Cantor and Martin and Lewis were among the others.) Each show
6962-634: The Mummy (1955). Other films starring the duo include Pardon My Sarong , Who Done It? (both 1942), The Time of Their Lives (1946), Buck Privates Come Home (1947), Africa Screams (1949), and Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953). The two comedians had crossed paths a few times previously, but first worked together in 1935 at the Eltinge Burlesque Theater on 42nd Street in New York City. Their first performance resulted from Costello's regular partner becoming ill, and Abbott substituting for him. Other performers in
7080-549: The Navy , and Keep 'Em Flying . They also appeared in the 1941 horror comedy film Hold That Ghost , and went on to appear in several other horror comedies, including Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (1949), Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951), Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953), and Abbott and Costello Meet
7198-507: The Store? (1963), The Patsy (1964), The Disorderly Orderly (1964), The Family Jewels (1965) and Three on a Couch (1966), and portrayed Jerry Langford in Martin Scorsese 's The King of Comedy (1982) earning a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination. He was an early and prominent user of video assist . From star of The Colgate Comedy Hour to host of The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon (benefiting
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#17327872728627316-752: The TV spectacular, forfeiting the million-dollar payment from NBC. "It's not ready for Broadway and cannot be made so in three remaining weeks before the opening", Cohen said. Cohen's spokesman subsequently announced that the stars would be replaced: "Recasting means recasting, and that's it." Lewis went on and starred in Circus of the Stars , Pink Lady and Jeff , Hardly Working (1981, his first " comeback " film in 11 years), Late Night with David Letterman , Star Search , Cracking Up (1983, originally titled as Smorgasbord ), Slapstick (Of Another Kind) (1984) and
7434-476: The Town (later renamed as The Ed Sullivan Show ) June 20, 1948. In 1950, they signed with NBC to be one of a series of weekly rotating hosts of The Colgate Comedy Hour , a live Sunday evening broadcast. Lewis, writer for the team's nightclub act, hired Norman Lear and Ed Simmons as regular writers for their Comedy Hour material. By 1951, with an appearance at the Paramount Theatre in New York, they were
7552-503: The Tropics starring Allan Jones and Nancy Kelly . Cast in supporting roles, Abbott and Costello stole the picture with several classic routines, including "Who's on First?". Signed to a two-picture contract, their second film, Buck Privates (1941), directed by Arthur Lubin and co-starring The Andrews Sisters , was a massive hit, earning $ 4 million at the box office and launching Abbott and Costello as stars. Their next film
7670-557: The album Jerry Lewis Just Sings went to No. 3 on the Billboard charts, staying near the top for four months and selling a million and a half copies. With the success of that album, he recorded additional albums More Jerry Lewis (an EP of songs from this release was released as Somebody Loves Me ), and Jerry Lewis Sings Big Songs for Little People (later reissued with fewer tracks as Jerry Lewis Sings for Children ). Non-album singles were released, and It All Depends On You hit
7788-604: The box office. Abbott resolved the rift when he suggested naming Costello's pet charity, a foundation for underprivileged children, the "Lou Costello Jr. Youth Foundation." The facility opened in 1947 and still serves the Boyle Heights district of Los Angeles. Abbott and Costello reunited as a team in Buck Privates Come Home (1947), a sequel to their 1941 hit. In The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap (1947) they were supported by Marjorie Main . They signed
7906-532: The bumbling everyman , Lewis used tightly choreographed, sophisticated sight gags, physical routines, verbal double-talk and malapropisms . "You cannot help but notice Lewis's incredible sense of control in regards to performing—they may have looked at times like the ravings of a madman but his best work had a genuine grace and finesse behind it that would put most comedic performers of any era to shame." They are "choreographed as exactly as any ballet, each movement and gesture coming on natural beats and conforming to
8024-445: The cartoons, Bob Clampett's A Tale of Two Kitties (1942), introduced Tweety . The other cartoons are A Tale of Two Mice and Mouse-Merized Cat . In all three cartoons, Tedd Pierce (normally a storyman/writer for the cartoons) and Mel Blanc, respectively, provide voice impressions of the comedy duo. The revival of their former television series in syndicated reruns in the late 1960s and early 1970s helped spark renewed interest in
8142-449: The characters. In films such as The Ladies Man (1961), The Disorderly Orderly (1964), The Patsy (1964) and Cracking Up (1983), there is either neuroticism, schizophrenia, or both that drive the plot. Lewis was able to explore and dissect the psychological side of his persona, which provided a depth to the character and the films that was not present in his previous efforts. During the 1960 production of The Bellboy, Lewis pioneered
8260-591: The charts in April and May 1957, but peaked at only No. 68. Further singles were recorded and released by Lewis into the mid-1960s. But these were not Lewis's first forays into recording, nor his first appearance on the hit charts. During his partnership with Martin, they made several recordings together, charting at No. 22 in 1948 with the 1920s That Certain Party and later mostly re-recording songs highlighted in their films. In late 1956, Lewis began performing regularly at
8378-570: The direction is smooth and the lines delivered flawlessly, but black actor Willie Best's jokes about fried chicken are no longer funny, and smarmy Hope isn't funny to begin with." Glenn Kay, who wrote Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide , called it "entertaining and hugely successful", though he said some scenes are uncomfortable due to their political incorrectness . Abbott and Costello Abbott and Costello were an American comedy duo composed of comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello , whose work in radio, film, and television made them
8496-438: The duo's life story, focusing on Costello and portraying him as volatile and petty. Jerry Seinfeld is an avid Abbott and Costello fan and their influence on him was celebrated in a 1994 NBC special, Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld . Seinfeld's TV series includes numerous references to the team. George Costanza's middle name is "Louis", after Costello. " The Old Man " (Season 4, Episode 18, aired February 18, 1993) featured
8614-758: The duo, as did the televising of many of their old film hits. In 1994, comedian Jerry Seinfeld —who says Abbott and Costello were strong influences on his work—hosted a television special Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld (the title refers to the duo's popular film series in which they met some of Universal's famed horror picture characters), on NBC; the special was said to have been seen in 20 million homes. Abbott and Costello were frequently referred to in 1940s Looney Tunes cartoons, such as A Tale of Two Kitties (1942), A Tale of Two Mice (1945), Hollywood Canine Canteen , Hollywood Daffy and The Mouse-Merized Cat (all three from 1946). A catchphrase from Abbott and Costello's radios show, "I'm only three and
8732-431: The film draws to a close. Uncredited (in order of appearance) The Dickey and Goddard play The Ghost Breaker was filmed twice previously by Paramount, first in 1914 by Cecil B. DeMille , with stars H. B. Warner and Rita Stanwood . It was filmed again in 1922 by director Alfred E. Green , starring Wallace Reid and Lila Lee . Both these silent film versions are now considered to be lost films . The film
8850-605: The film's first week. Oh, Charlie went back into production to add music featuring the Andrews Sisters and Ted Lewis. The film was eventually retitled Hold That Ghost (1941). The duo next appeared in Ride 'Em Cowboy (1941), with Dick Foran , but its release was delayed so they could appear in a third service comedy, Keep 'Em Flying (1941). This was their last film directed by Arthur Lubin . All of their 1941 films were big hits, and Abbott and Costello were voted
8968-476: The late '40s and early '50s, nobody had ever seen a comedian as wild as Jerry Lewis." Placed in the context of the conservative era, his antics were radical and liberating, paving the way for future comedians Steve Martin , Richard Pryor , Andy Kaufman , Paul Reubens , and Jim Carrey . Carrey wrote: "Through his comedy, Jerry would stretch the boundaries of reality so far that it was an act of anarchy ... I learned from Jerry", and "I am because he was." Acting
9086-487: The latest research with The Ghost Breakers style of comedy. Reviews from critics were positive. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote, "It looks as though Paramount has really discovered something: it has found the fabled formula for making an audience shriek with laughter and fright at one and (as the barkers say) the simultaneous time." Variety declared it "solid comedy entertainment that will generate plenty of laughs and roll up some hefty b.o. figures along
9204-464: The most memorable was the 1976 show, whereas on that broadcast, unrehearsed, Sinatra offered to bring an old friend on stage. From the wings came Dean Martin, as the audience cheered. Lewis was stunned by the surprise, but he embraced Martin and they exchanged jokes for several minutes. In 1976, producer Alexander H. Cohen signed Lewis to star in a revival of Olsen and Johnson 's musical-comedy revue Hellzapoppin . "I do think that to succeed today,
9322-554: The most popular comedy team of the 1940s and 1950s, and the highest-paid entertainers in the world during the Second World War . Their patter routine " Who's on First? " is considered one of the greatest comedy routines of all time, a version of which appears in their 1945 film The Naughty Nineties . Abbott and Costello made their film debut in the 1940 comedy One Night in the Tropics . The following year, they appeared in three war-themed comedies: Buck Privates , In
9440-537: The names of Interior Secretary James Watt , Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat and Chinese leader Hu Yaobang . The comedy group The Credibility Gap performed a rock and roll update of "Who's on First?" using the names of rock groups The Who , The Guess Who , and Yes , recorded and released on their first album, The Bronze Age of Radio . On the January 13, 2001, episode of Saturday Night Live host Charlie Sheen and SNL cast-member Rachel Dratch performed
9558-410: The need for boom microphones in each room. His next movie The Errand Boy (1961), used the same formula as The Bellboy , with Lewis turned loose in a movie studio for blackouts and sight gags. Lewis was also somewhat active in television. NBC released him from a long-term contract in 1960; the official reason given was that Lewis was devoting more time to his motion pictures. A more probable reason
9676-527: The other for the film's substitution. In his last years, Costello made about ten solo appearances on The Steve Allen Show doing many of the old routines without Abbott. Costello performed stand-up in Las Vegas , and appeared in episodes of GE Theater and Wagon Train . On March 3, 1959, not long after completing his lone solo film, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock , he died of a heart attack three days short of his 53rd birthday. Abbott attempted
9794-425: The overall rhythmic form which is headed to a spectacular finale: absolute catastrophe." Although Lewis made it no secret that he was Jewish, he was criticized for hiding his Jewish heritage. In several of his films—both with Martin and solo—Lewis's Jewish identity is hinted at in passing, and was never made a defining characteristic of his onscreen persona. Aside from the 1959 television movie The Jazz Singer and
9912-403: The requirements of the script; and Bobby Barber , who played many "extra" parts. The simple plot lines were often an excuse to recreate comedy routines from their films and burlesque days, including "Who's on First?" Since Costello owned the series (with Abbott working on salary), this allowed them to own these versions of the classic routines as well. The 2nd season was more story-driven. There
10030-552: The routine is Costello's mounting frustration set against Abbott's unyielding formality. Audio recordings are readily available on the Internet. A notable version is the first television performance on the 1951 Colgate Comedy Hour . "Who's on First?" is believed to be available in as many as twenty versions, ranging from one minute to up to ten minutes. The team could time the routine at will, adding or deleting portions as needed for films, radio or television. The longest version
10148-556: The routine runs on an endless video loop in the exhibit area. Their " Who's on First? " routine has been referred to numerous times. In the 1988 movie Rain Man , Dustin Hoffman 's autistic character Raymond Babbitt recites an affectless "Who's on First?" as a defence mechanism . In 1982, Tonight Show host Johnny Carson performed a topical sketch as then-President Ronald Reagan in which "Who's on First?"-style confusion arose from
10266-604: The scenes, he contributed to some scripts for Filmation 's animated series Will the Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down , directed an episode of The Bold Ones and directed the Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis, Jr. comedy One More Time (1970), a sequel to Richard Donner 's Salt and Pepper (1968). Lewis would leave Columbia after his agreement with the studio lapsed, leaving him to produce his next movie independently. Which Way to
10384-641: The screen in Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950). They returned the following year in Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951); then Comin' Round the Mountain (1952), a hillbilly comedy. Their first color film, Jack and the Beanstalk (1952), was an independent production distributed by Warner Bros. After filming Lost in Alaska (1952) back at Universal, they made
10502-432: The ship's hold, Alex manages to get on board to extricate his employer before the ship sails. During the trip, Larry and Mary strike up a flirtation. They then meet an acquaintance of Mary's, Geoff Montgomery, a young intellectual who regales them with tales of Caribbean superstitions, particularly voodoo , ghosts, and zombies. Upon reaching Havana , Mary, Larry, and Alex travel to her new island estate. En route, they find
10620-402: The show moved to ABC (the former NBC Blue Network ). During their time on ABC the duo also hosted a 30-minute children's radio program ( The Abbott and Costello Children's Show ) on Saturday mornings. The program featured child vocalist Anna Mae Slaughter and child announcer Johnny McGovern . It finished its run in 1949. In 1940, Universal Studios signed them for a musical, One Night in
10738-495: The show's running gags involved Abbott perpetually hounding Costello to get a job, while Abbott was happily unemployed. The show featured Sidney Fields as their landlord and Hillary Brooke as a neighbor and sometime love interest for Costello. Other regulars were future Stooge Joe Besser as Stinky, a whiny child in a Little Lord Fauntleroy suit; Gordon Jones as Mike the cop, who always lost patience with Costello; Joe Kirk, an Italian immigrant caricature whose role varied with
10856-458: The show, including Abbott's wife, encouraged a permanent pairing. The duo built an act by refining and reworking numerous burlesque sketches with Abbott as the devious straight man and Costello as the dimwitted comic. Decades later, when AMC moved the old theater 168 feet (51 metres) further west on 42nd Street to its current location, giant balloons of Abbott and Costello were rigged to appear to pull it. The team's first known radio broadcast
10974-443: The sight gags but felt that Lewis was not a true pantomime artist: "As a mute, there are only brief moments of his work coming close to Chaplin , Jacques Tati , or Harpo Marx . Lewis, always laughed at, fails to win the viewer's heart." Lewis later revealed that Paramount was not happy about financing a "silent movie" and withdrew backing. Lewis used his own funds to cover the movie's $ 950,000 budget. The Bellboy turned out to be
11092-668: The studio I'll give him the match!" Lewis ended his association with Hal Wallis, their last joint venture being Visit to a Small Planet (1960). His next film was Cinderfella (1960), directed by Frank Tashlin; it was supposed to be Lewis's summer release, but Paramount withheld it in preparation for a Christmas 1960 release. Paramount, needing a quickie movie for its summer 1960 schedule, insisted that Lewis must produce one. This resulted in Lewis's sudden transformation from movie clown to all-around filmmaker. He produced, directed, co-wrote, and starred in The Bellboy (1960). Using
11210-409: The technique of using video cameras and multiple closed circuit monitors, which allowed him to review his performance instantly. This was necessary since he was acting as well as directing. His techniques and methods of filmmaking, documented in his book and his USC class, enabled him to complete most of his films on time and under budget since reshoots could take place immediately instead of waiting for
11328-507: The tragic loss of his son, recalling, "He didn't seem as fun-loving and as warm...He seemed to anger easily...there was a difference in his attitude". After Costello recovered, the duo returned to MGM for Lost in a Harem (1944) then were back at Universal for In Society (1944), Here Come the Co-Eds (1945) and The Naughty Nineties (1945). Their third and final film for MGM was Abbott and Costello in Hollywood (1945). In 1945,
11446-489: The transition from Jack Paar to Johnny Carson in 1962, and his appearance on the show scored the highest ratings thus far in late night, surpassing other guest hosts and Paar. The three major networks began a bidding war, wooing Lewis for his own talk show. Lewis then directed, co-wrote and starred in The Nutty Professor (1963). A parody of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde , it featured him as Professor Kelp ,
11564-420: The two French movies To Catch a Cop (1984) and How Did You Get In? We Didn't See You Leave (1984), both which had their distribution under Lewis's control. During this period he took the very rare dramatic role as Jerry Langford in Martin Scorsese 's The King of Comedy (1982), playing a late night TV talk-show host stalked by a delusional would-be comedian played by Robert De Niro . Later, he hosted
11682-595: The two performed until they debuted at Atlantic City 's 500 Club as Martin and Lewis on July 25, 1946. The duo gained attention as a double act with Martin serving as the straight man to Lewis's zany antics. The inclusion of ad-libbed improvisational segments in their planned routines added a unique quality to their act and separated them from previous comedy duos. Lewis and Martin quickly rose to national prominence, first with their popular nightclub act, then as stars of their radio program The Martin and Lewis Show . The two made their television debut on CBS' Toast of
11800-444: The unreleased 1972 film The Day the Clown Cried , Lewis never appeared in a film or film role that had any ties to his Jewish heritage. When asked about this lack of Jewish portrayal in a 1984 interview, Lewis stated, "I never hid it, but I wouldn't announce it and I wouldn't exploit it. Plus the fact it had no room in the visual direction I was taking in my work." Lewis's physical movements in films received some criticism because he
11918-501: The way." Harrison's Reports called it, "One of the finest ghost stories that have been produced for some time." "Corking comedy has laughs and thrills aplenty," Film Daily reported. John Mosher of The New Yorker wrote, "The amalgam of farce and horror is very successful." Writing in The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia , Peter Dendle said, "This is considered to be among Bob Hope's finest pictures, and
12036-499: Was Joseph, after his maternal grandfather, but his birth certificate , the 1930 U. S. Census , and the 1940 U. S. Census all named him as Jerome. Reports about the hospital where he was born conflict as well; biographer Shawn Levy claims Lewis was born at Clinton Private Hospital and others report it as Newark Beth Israel Hospital . Other aspects of his early life conflict with accounts made by family members, burial records, and vital records . In his teenage years, Lewis
12154-472: Was a haunted house comedy, Oh, Charlie! ; however, Buck Privates was so successful that the studio decided to delay the release so the team could hastily film and release a second service comedy. In the Navy (1941), co-starred crooner Dick Powell and the Andrews Sisters, and initially out-grossed Buck Privates . Loew's Criterion in Manhattan was open until 5 a.m. to oblige over 49,000 customers during
12272-416: Was a live hour of vaudeville in front of an audience, revitalizing the comedians' performances and giving their old routines a new sparkle. From the fall of 1952 to the spring of 1954, a filmed half-hour series, The Abbott and Costello Show , appeared in syndication on over 40 local stations across the United States. Loosely based on their radio series, the show cast the duo as unemployed wastrels. One of
12390-516: Was adapted for radio on Screen Directors Playhouse on April 4, 1949. Bob Hope re-created his film role, and Shirley Mitchell starred as Mary. Hope appeared again on the program for an hour-long version on June 14, 1951. George Marshall, director of The Ghost Breakers , remade it as Scared Stiff (1953), featuring Martin and Lewis ( Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis ). The remake featured cameos not only from Hope, but also from Bing Crosby . A year before Scared Stiff , Martin and Lewis appeared in
12508-618: Was an American comedian, filmmaker, actor, humanitarian and singer, who was famously nicknamed "The King of Comedy" and appeared in more than 59 motion pictures. These included a series of sixteen Martin and Lewis films with Dean Martin as his partner during their 10-year act in radio, stage, television and film. He then acted without Martin in Visit to a Small Planet (1960), Cinderfella (1960), The Bellboy (1960), The Errand Boy (1961), The Ladies Man (1961), It's Only Money (1962), The Nutty Professor (1963), Who's Minding
12626-542: Was based on other earlier burlesque wordplay routines. They began honing the routine shortly after teaming up in 1936, and performed it in vaudeville in 1937 and 1938. It was first heard by a national radio audience on March 24, 1938, when the team were regulars on the Kate Smith radio show. By then, John Grant had been writing or adapting other sketches for the team and may have helped expand "Who's on First?" prior to its radio debut. He stayed on as their head writer into
12744-461: Was completely unnerved to be alone." While there, he received an urgent request from his friend Sid Luft , who was Judy Garland 's husband and manager, saying that she couldn't perform that night in Las Vegas because of strep throat , and asking Lewis to fill in. Lewis had not sung alone on stage since he was five years old, twenty-five years before. He delivered jokes and clowned with the audience while Garland sat off-stage, watching. He then sang
12862-453: Was known for pulling pranks in his neighborhood, including sneaking into kitchens to steal fried chicken and pies. He was expelled from Weequahic High School in the ninth grade and dropped out of Irvington High School in the tenth grade. Lewis said that he ceased using the names Joseph and Joey as an adult to avoid being confused with Joe E. Lewis and Joe Louis . By age 15, Lewis had developed his "Record Act", miming lyrics to songs while
12980-408: Was no continuity. Although The Abbott and Costello Show originally ran for only two seasons, it found a larger viewership in reruns from the 1960s to the 1990s. The shows have also been released in three different DVD sets over the years. "Who's on First?" is Abbott and Costello's signature routine. Time magazine (December 26, 1999) named it the best comedy routine of the 20th century. The sketch
13098-465: Was on The Kate Smith Hour on February 3, 1938. At first, the similarities between their voices made it difficult for radio listeners (as opposed to stage audiences) to tell them apart during their rapid-fire repartee . As a result, Costello affected a high-pitched, childish voice. " Who's on First? " was first performed for a national radio audience the following month. They performed on the program as regulars for two years, while also landing roles in
13216-404: Was perceived as imitating or mocking those with a physical disability. Through the years, the disability that has been attached to his comedic persona has not been physical, but mental. Neuroticism and schizophrenia have been a part of Lewis's persona since his partnership with Dean Martin; however, it was in his solo career that these disabilities became important to the plots of his films and
13334-424: Was physically uninhibited, expressive, and potentially volatile. He was known especially for his distinctive voice, facial expressions, pratfalls, and physical stunts. His improvisations and ad-libbing, especially in nightclubs and early television were revolutionary among performers. It was "marked by a raw, edgy energy that would distinguish him within the comedy landscape." Will Sloan, of Flavorwire wrote, "In
13452-540: Was so eagerly awaited that NBC-TV promised Cohen $ 1,000,000 for the rights to broadcast the opening night live on national television. Out-of-town tryouts were staged in Washington, DC , Baltimore , and Boston to excellent business but mixed reviews. There was turmoil behind the scenes, as comedy star Lewis dominated the production and had serious arguments with producer Cohen, co-star Redgrave, and writer-adaptor Abe Burrows . "Lewis and Miss Redgrave had been having
13570-505: Was stunned to learn that the pair were afraid to perform new material.) Universal dropped the comedy team in 1955 after they could not agree on contract terms. In the early 1950s, the Internal Revenue Service charged them for back taxes, forcing them to sell their homes and most of their assets, including the rights to most of their films. In 1956, they made one independent film, Dance with Me, Henry , and Costello
13688-463: Was the difficulty in finding a weekly television vehicle for Lewis. (NBC did announce two series in development, "Permanent Waves" and "The Comedy Concert.") Lewis's TV appearances were usually guest shots. He appeared in The Wacky World of Jerry Lewis, Celebrity Golf, The Garry Moore Show , The Soupy Sales Show, It's Only Money (1962) and guest hosted The Tonight Show during
13806-873: Was the show's longtime announcer, doubling as an exasperated foil to Costello, who routinely insulted his on-air wife (played by Elvia Allman). Niles was succeeded by Michael Roy , alternating over the years with Frank Bingman and Jim Doyle . The show went through several orchestras, including those of Ennis, Charles Hoff , Matty Matlock , Matty Malneck , Jack Meakin , Will Osborne , Fred Rich , Leith Stevens and Peter van Steeden . The show's writers included Howard Harris , Hal Fimberg , Parke Levy , Don Prindle , Eddie Cherkose (later known as Eddie Maxwell ), Leonard B. Stern , Martin Ragaway , Paul Conlan and Eddie Forman , as well as producer Martin Gosch . Sound effects were handled primarily by Floyd Caton. In 1947,
13924-538: Was the subject of the television program This Is Your Life , then formally dissolved their partnership in 1957. In his posthumously published 1959 autobiography, My Wicked, Wicked Ways , Errol Flynn claims that he triggered the breakup. Flynn, a chronic practical joker, invited them, along with their wives and children, to his house for dinner, and afterwards, he commenced to show a home movie that "accidentally" turned out to be hard-core pornography. While Flynn pretended to be baffled, Costello and Abbott each blamed
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