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 June 14, 2008 |
WPIX birthday marathon includes A&C WPIX, New York City's first independent television station, began broadcasting on June 15, 1948. To celebrate, the station will air "WPIX at 60 Birthday Bash," a special marathon of classic programming on Saturday, June 14, followed by a one hour-retrospective hosted by news anchors Jim Watkins and Kaity Tong. Beginning at noon, WPIX will feature nine hours of vintage programs, including two episodes of each of The Little Rascals, Abbott & Costello, The Three Stooges, The Adventures Of Superman, Get Smart, My Favorite Martian, I Dream Of Jeannie, The Odd Couple and The Honeymooners. Interstitials will run throughout the Birthday Bash and feature program trivia and fun facts. The two Abbott and Costello episodes are "Getting a Job" (1 pm) and "The Actor's Home" (1:30 pm). The Three Stooges shorts are "Gents Without Cents" (2 pm) and "A Plumbing We Will Go" (2:30 pm). The Odd Couple episodes are "Password" (7 pm) and "My Strife in Court" (7:30 pm). The Honeymooners episodes are "Better Living Through TV" (8 pm) and "The $99,000 Answer" (8:30). WPIX is also inviting viewers to share their favorite memories at cw11.com/60 which will also feature expanded online coverage of WPIX's rich history. |
 April 3-6 |
Lou will receive posthumous Lifetime Achievement AwardLou Costello will receive a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Garden State Film Festival. His daughter, Chris, is scheduled to attend and accept the award.The festival, which runs from April 3 through April 6, is held in Asbury Park. Bud Abbott, who was born in Asbury Park, received the festival's Lifetime Achievement Award last year. |
 Carol Bruce (1919-2007) |
"Keep Em Flying" co-star Carol Bruce dies Band singer and Broadway star Carol Bruce, who appeared in Keep 'Em Flying (1941) with Abbott and Costello, passed away Oct. 9 in Woodland Hills, Calif. She was 87.Bruce was discovered singing in a nightclub by Irving Berlin. She made her stage debut in his 1940 musical "Louisiana Purchase." This led to a brief contract with Universal and her appearance in Bud and Lou's service comedy. Carol left Universal and worked regularly on Broadway, in summer stock, and night clubs. Among her Broadway shows were "Show Boat," "Pal Joey," and "Do I Hear a Waltz?"In the 1970s she was a semi-regular on the TV series "WKRP in Cincinnati" as Mama Carlson, the wealthy matriarch who subsidized the floundering station. Other TV appearances include "Golden Girls,Ó ÒDoogie Howser, M.D.,Ó ÒDiffÕrent Strokes,Ó ÒKnots Landing,Ó ÒThe Twilight ZoneÓ and ÒParty of Five.Ó She also appeared in the films ÒAmerican GigoloÓ (1980) and ÒPlanes, Trains and AutomobilesÓ (1987). |
 On Time magazine's 100 Best TV Shows list |
Time picks Abbott and Costello series as one of 100 Best TV Shows of All TimeOn September 6, 2007, Time magazine posted its choices for the 100 Best TV Shows of All Time on its web site. The classic Abbott and Costello Show (1952-54) was among them, and one of a handful of shows from the 1950s.This is not the first time the show made a 100 Best list. In 1998 Entertainment Weekly put the series on its list of 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. Jerry Seinfeld has frequently stated that The Abbott and Costello Show was an inspiration for his own long-running sitcom.
Oddly enough the show, which ran two seasons (52 episodes), was critically lambasted in its day.Each season was released in its own a 5-disc set in 2006. Click here to buy Abbott & Costello Show, Season I Click here to buy Abbott & Costello Show, Season II. Both sets contain rare home movies from the Costello family and interviews with Lou's daughters, Paddy and Chris. In addition, the Season I set includes the recently-restored short "10,000 Kids and a Cop" (1948), which was made to publicize the Lou Costello Jr. Youth Center in Los Angeles. |
 Coming to DVD |
Restored "Meet Captain Kidd" on DVD in 2008The restored print of Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd (1952), along with Rio Rita (1942) and a newly-restored Jack and The Beanstalk (1952), will be released on DVD next year by Warner Home Video."Meet Captain Kidd" and "Jack and the Beanstalk" were filmed in the rare and complicated SuperCinecolor process. In 2002, Bob Gitt, the Director of Film Preservation at UCLA, brought the project to Cinetech, the leader in film preservation and restoration. (Funding was provided by Warner Brothers, the film's original distributor.) After much trial and error, Cinetech developed a process that can be used to restore many other SuperCinecolor films. A new 35mm print of "Meet Captain Kidd" was screened that August as part of UCLA's Film Preservation Festival. The print was also screened in 2005 at the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern, N.Y. It was only a matter of time before the film was released on DVD. More details on the DVDs when we get them.
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"Buck Privates" on a big screen April 8 in New York Film Forum, located at 209 West Houston Street in New York City, will screen "Buck Privates" (1941) on Sunday, April 8 at 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in an Andrews Sisters triple feature. It's all part of Film Forum's three-week "B Musicals" festival. Also on the bill: the girls' screen debut, "Argentine Nights," (1940), with the Ritz Brothers and George Reeves; and "Give Out Sisters" (1942).Admission is $5.50 for members and $10.50 for non-members. Plan to arrive early to get tickets because seating is limited. For more info, go to the
Film Forum site. |
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"Lost in a Harem" and "A&C in Hollywood" in DVD double-feature On November 21, 2006, Warner Home Video released a double-feature DVD that includes both "Lost in a Harem" (1944) and "Abbott and Costello in Hollywood" (1945). These films were made as part of special contract with MGM; the boys' home studio was Universal. "Lost in a Harem" includes a version of the burlesque classic "Slowly I Turned." Co-stars John Conte and Marilyn Maxwell became engaged during production. "Abbott and Costello in Hollywood" features the boys' "Insomnia" routine, which was a highlight of "That's Entertainment, Part 2." There are several cameos by MGM contract players such as Lucille Ball and Preston Foster. Suggested retail price is just $14.99, but it's selling for even less. Order it here. |
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A&C TV series on new DVDs As part of the celebration of Lou Costello's centennial in 2006, Passport Video released all 52 episodes of the classic "Abbott and Costello Show" TV series in new DVD boxed sets with bonus material. Season One was released in a 5-disc set on September 5, 2006. Click here to buy Abbott & Costello Show, Season I Season Two was released on October 3. Click here to buy Abbott & Costello Show, Season II. Both sets contain rare home movies from the Costello family and interviews with Lou's daughters, Paddy and Chris. In addition, the Season I set includes the recently-restored short "10,000 Kids and a Cop" (1948), which was made to publicize the Lou Costello Jr. Youth Center in Los Angeles. Each boxed set retails for about $34. |
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©2007 Abbott and Costello Quarterly