Tweet Wheeler & Woolsey

I'm still waiting for someone to show some appreciation for the forgotten comedy team of Morton & Hayes.

My brother has a DVD of those and has been encouraging me to borrow it. Says it's something he thinks I'd like.

If you're familiar with them, what do you think?

I'm still waiting for someone to show some appreciation for the forgotten comedy team of Morton & Hayes.

We're Morton and Hayes,
We're the best of friends.
When one of us is borrowing
The other one lends!

Jim
(taped 'em on VHS)

Are we talking about that tv series from one of the Reiner's?

Are we talking about that tv series from one of the Reiner's?

Yes.
Here's the IMDb link to the series:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101148/

Reiner hosts, but really he just rediscovered their lost films, and used his clout to reintroduce them to the adoring public.

Although Morton does bear an eerie resemblance to actor/comic Kevin Pollak. Or is that Hayes?

I have to disagree with the contention that A&C are no longer funny. I introduced WHO DONE IT? last Saturday at the TCM Festival to a packed house--almost all of whom had never seen it--and despite the ungodly hour (9:AM) they were howling throughout and cheered wildly at the end. They made a lot of new fans that day.

Mike S.

"So she has a couple of buck teeth."
"I don't care how much they cost."

[color=#0000BF]I have to disagree with the contention that A&C are no longer funny.

I'll second that, hilarious every time I watch them.

I have to disagree with the contention that A&C are no longer funny. I introduced WHO DONE IT? last Saturday at the TCM Festival to a packed house--almost all of whom had never seen it--and despite the ungodly hour (9:AM) they were howling throughout and cheered wildly at the end. They made a lot of new fans that day.

Mike S.

"So she has a couple of buck teeth."
"I don't care how much they cost."

Mike, no arguments from me on WHO DONE IT? -- definitely the best of the pre-46 A &Cs. Very little romantic subplot or extraneous numbers, and no last-reel phony rear-screen chase finale. William Bendix is one of the best foils for Costello - a dopey guy who's also a perfect menace. Best version of the handcuff routine is found here.

Overall I personally prefer the boys ten years later on the A&C Show, when Bud's confidence man is allowed to be funny, too. Plus Sid Fields is just brilliant as the landlord...the best decision Bud & Lou ever made was to make him part of the show's regulars.

I'm a card carrying A&C fan who find them even funnier the older I get--that is, I take even more interest in what they did and how they did it. For me, one overlooked gem is their "Jonah and the Whale" routine from their debut, A NIGHT IN THE TROPICS. I'll bet anything the routine would still make any uninitiated audience howl today.

I'm a card carrying A&C fan who find them even funnier the older I get--that is, I take even more interest in what they did and how they did it. For me, one overlooked gem is their "Jonah and the Whale" routine from their debut, A NIGHT IN THE TROPICS. I'll bet anything the routine would still make any uninitiated audience howl today.

It works even better in HERE COME THE COEDS (1945). By that time Bud and Lou's characters had developed to the extent that they could milk laughs from the bit that were only touched upon originally--notably Lou's reaction when Bud inadvertently kills his punch line.

"Zingo, you're ready for breakfast":



Sid Fields was the best thing that ever happened to Bud and Lou...

Where is the "like" button?

Not really about Bert and Bob anymore, this thread!

Not really about Bert and Bob anymore, this thread!

Ah, thread drift. Reminds me of Usenet.

Not really about Bert and Bob anymore, this thread!

But consider that at least 3 Abbott & Costello vehicles were remakes (official or otherwise) of Wheeler & Woolsey films, while probably another 10 of Bert & Bob's vehicles had some influence over Bud & Lou's other movie storylines. Then it's not as big a stretch after all. Lou Costello's birthplace of Paterson, New Jersey is also Bert Wheeler's hometown (oh yeah, Alice White's, too).

You're right Ed, it is reasonable thread drift. I've always found A&C an acquired taste and their remake of Rio Rita is quite a chore to sit through ...

Not really about Bert and Bob anymore, this thread!

But consider that at least 3 Abbott & Costello vehicles were remakes (official or otherwise) of Wheeler & Woolsey films, while probably another 10 of Bert & Bob's vehicles had some influence over Bud & Lou's other movie storylines. Then it's not as big a stretch after all. Lou Costello's birthplace of Paterson, New Jersey is also Bert Wheeler's hometown (oh yeah, Alice White's, too).

I noticed in The Sopranos, that Tony would often hold private tete-a-tetes in the New Jersey park containing a statue of Lou Costello (I'm assuming its in Paterson), kinda makes me want to seek it out.

WHO DONE IT? is also my favourite A&C outing, but I'm a sucker for the radio station setting, and love the mystery aspect of it. Plus, it's the first A&C film I ever saw, on 16mm in my elementary school gym, probably when I was in 4th grade.

Lou Costello's birthplace of Paterson, New Jersey is also Bert Wheeler's hometown.

I noticed in The Sopranos, that Tony would often hold private tete-a-tetes in the New Jersey park containing a statue of Lou Costello (I'm assuming its in Paterson), kinda makes me want to seek it out.

The Youtube clip I posted earlier in this thread is from a visit that my son Dennis and I made to the Costello statue, and yes, it's in the heart of Paterson, New Jersey.

The Lou Costello Youth Club is also in Paterson, located in its original building dedicated by Bud & Lou, but it's been converted into a sparring gym for boxing hopefuls. The last time that I visited, the original weathered sign "For The Kids" still hung over the entrance.

The Youtube clip I posted earlier in this thread is from a visit that my son Dennis and I made to the Costello statue, and yes, it's in the heart of Paterson, New Jersey.

Hmm...went back through the thread and couldn't find it. I'll try looking on YouTube.

Found it!

A fairly recent reference in the funnies -- sounds like something out of their movies!

http://www.gocomics.com/broomhilda/2010/11/30

I realized yesterday that although I have had a copy for ages I had never seen Kentucky Kernels all the way through, so on it went. Fairly standard fare and the boys certainly had their wings clipped post-Code, but the musical number is fine, as is Mary Carlisle. Spanky is an acquired taste though and has far too much screen time for me.