Abbott and Costello


Biography


Abbott and Costello were an American comedy duo composed of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, whose work on radio and in film and television made them the most popular comedy team of the 1940s and early 1950s. Their patter routine "Who's on First?" is one of the best-known comedy routines of all time in the US, and set the framework for many of their best-known comedy bits. In 1942 exhibiters voted them the top box office stars in the country. "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 was based on other earlier burlesque wordplay routines. They began honing the routine shortly after teaming up in 1936.