Thursday, February 19, 2009
Make Mine A Clean Comedy Routine, Please!
Recently, I decided to kick back with the kids and rent a few newly-released comedy DVDs. First of all, we were hard-pressed to find something suitable for the pre-teen, without worrying about what she would be hearing and seeing. Although there were some laughs and funny special effects, I just can’t help but compare the movies we rented to what I consider REAL comedy—Abbott & Costello!
Signed to Universal Studios in 1939, this talented twosome was responsible for at least 2 movies a year (and sometimes 3) for ten years, then averaged another movie a year for the next ten years—36 feature films in all! Most of the supporting cast appeared over and over again in different roles, but we hardly noticed. We just sat back in our theater seats with our box of popcorn nestled in our lap, and enjoyed the routines and slapstick antics in films like “Buck Privates,” “Naughty Nineties,” “Africa Screams,” and my all-time favorite monster classic, “Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein.” 
Bud and Lou were well-known for lifting morale during World War II. They eagerly lent their talent to the war effort by funding an out-of-pocket cross-country tour to help raise funds for the War Bond Drive. They sold out everywhere they played, raising a phenomenal $89 million in just three days! As television’s popularity grew, the duo easily made the transition from big screen to small, just as they had made the leap from vaudeville to movies. Perhaps their biggest accomplishment is being inducted into the world-famous Baseball Hall of Fame, in recognition of their “Who’s On First?” routine. Did you know they were the first non-baseball-playing celebrities to be inducted? A well-deserved honor, indeed.
So, today’s technology aside, there’s a lot to be said for the good, old-fashioned clean comedy in yesterday’s films. As a parent, not having to shield my son’s eyes or my daughter’s ears when two people interact on the screen is priceless. It’s no surprise to me that Abbott & Costello, and many other comedy icons of years past, continue to delight us older fans while constantly finding new generations of appreciative ones.
posted by Betty at
1:43 PM
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