The most famous of all of Abbott and Costello’s routines, Who’s on First? had been performed countless times in vaudeville and on radio, as well as a shortened version of it in their first movie, “One Night in the Tropics“, with the longer, definitive version (shown here) filmed in “The Naughty Nineties.” Continue reading
(originally published in TV Forecast and Guide, March 7, 1953)
One of the worst kept secrets in show business a few years back was the backstage feuding of the top comedy team of Abbott and Costello. It seemed hard to believe that the finely balanced pair could be anything but the best of friends. Yet the evidence was there. Continue reading
Abbott and Costello was a legendary comedy team, consisting of Bud Abbott, the tall, thin straight man, and Lou Costello, the short, pudgy comic. They were famous for their rapid-fire verbal exchanges, and Costello’s clownish view of the world. Like Laurel and Hardy, they were a visual contrast – the tall, debonair Bud Abbott, and the short, goofy, unkempt Lou Costello. Continue reading
Gray-haired Bud Abbott stared bleakly out of his breakfast-room window, at the brown, untended lawn and grounds of his Encino, California home. Although it was past noon, he still wore his bedroom slippers, pajamas and white flannel robe. Why get dressed? He had no place to go, no job to do. Continue reading
Danny Kaye (born David Daniel Kaminsky; January 18, 1913 – March 3, 1987) was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian. His best known performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomimes, and rapid-fire nonsense songs.
Kaye starred in 17 movies, notably The Kid from Brooklyn (1946), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), The Inspector General (1949), Hans Christian Andersen (1952), and — perhaps his most accomplished performance — The Court Jester (1956). His films were extremely popular, especially his bravura performances of patter songs and children’s favorites such as The Inch Worm and The Ugly Duckling. He was the first ambassador-at-large of UNICEF and received the French Legion of Honor in 1986 for his many years of work with the organization. Continue reading
Shortly after World War II, when I was 9 or 10, my parents took me to the Ringling 
Brothers Circus. I loved the circus, especially the clowns. There was one clown that I knew by name.
Everyone did: Emmett Kelly.
We had some of the best seats, right on the edge of the Ring Road where the performers staged their grand entrance. As the Ringmaster introduced the performers, they stepped into the parade and greeted the audience. Continue reading
Emmett Kelly Sr., the most well-known of the tramp clowns of the circus. His character, Weary Willy, was the perpetual underdog, who never gave up – and, because of it, occasionally won. He was inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame in 1989. Continue reading
Best remembered as Charlie Chaplin’s final wife, Oona O’Neil was born on May 13, 1926, the only daughter to the famous playwright Eugene O’Neil and his wife, Agnes. Continue reading
Tim Conway’s Early DaysThomas Daniel Conway was born on December 15, 1933 in Willoughby, Ohio. In later years, to avoid confusion with an existing actor named “Tom Conway,” he changed his first name to Tim. Although born in Willoughby, he grew up in Chagrin Falls. Continue reading
Poster and Print Store, featuring Charlie Chaplin, the world-famous little tramp clown. A collection of posters and movie stills from some of Charlie Chaplin’s most famous movies, such as Modern Times, The Great Dictator, The Kid, City Lights, and many more.
There are also posters from some of his earlier films, such as The Rink, The Count and Cruel, Cruel Love. There are also photographs of Charlie Chaplin’s personal life, such as with Charlie Chaplin’s meeting with Mahatma Gandhi Continue reading