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Lou's on First: The Tragic Life of Hollywood's Greatest Clown Warmly Recounted by his Youngest Child
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Product Description
This intimate portrait of Lou Costello (1906-1959) offers a rare look at one of the most talented comedians of all time. Starting in the 1930s, Costello attained enormous fame touring the burlesque circuits with straight man Bud Abbott (1895-1974). Their live skits (including "Who's on First?"), radio programs, and films such as One Night in the Tropics, Buck Privates, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, and In the Navy made comic history.
Behind the scenes, however, Costello faced numerous crises: a bout with rheumatic fever that left him bedridden for months, the drowning death of his young son, and constant haggles with Universal Studios over its reluctance to adequately finance productions of Abbot and Costello films. Lou's on First goes beyond Costello's clownish persona to explore his Pagliacci nature: the private demons behind the happy public face, the heartbreaking moments in an otherwise storybook marriage, the business ventures soured by unscrupulous managers, and the true nature of the breakup of his twenty-one-year partnership with Bud Abbott.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #103756 in Books
- Published on: 1982-12-15
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 276 pages
Features
- ISBN13: 9780312499143
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
- Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
Editorial Reviews
Review
" . . . an affectionate look at Lou Costello by the comedian's youngest child . . . more than suds and the underside of Hollywood. It is a warm tale by a loving daughter and has its share of laughter."--Los Angeles Times
"Costello comes to life in these pages."--Baltimore Record
" . . . a loving, deeply felt chronicle of the rotund little comedian who enjoyed a phenomenally successful career, but suffered a tragic personal life . . . [told] with engrossing, touching dedication."--Films in Review
"Lou Costello's daughter is not without objectivity as she relates her father's life, cramming the story full of amusing and poignant anecdotes."--Booklist
" . . . lots of nuggets here for Costello's many fans."--Santa Barbara News-Press
" . . . a tender, intimate, and altogether deserving portrait of a man who had the gift of making people laugh. . . . "--Fresno Bee
-- Review
Review
"Costello comes to life in these pages."--Baltimore Record
" . . . a loving, deeply felt chronicle of the rotund little comedian who enjoyed a phenomenally successful career, but suffered a tragic personal life . . . [told] with engrossing, touching dedication."--Films in Review
"Lou Costello's daughter is not without objectivity as she relates her father's life, cramming the story full of amusing and poignant anecdotes."--Booklist
" . . . lots of nuggets here for Costello's many fans."--Santa Barbara News-Press
" . . . a tender, intimate, and altogether deserving portrait of a man who had the gift of making people laugh. . . . "--Fresno Bee
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Chris Costello tells the true story of her father's life.
In this bio.Chris Costello(Lou's Costello's third daughter)tells the true story of her father's life.And gives us all real insight into who Lou Costello really was.She covers his life from his humble beginnings in Patterson,New Jersey to his cross country trek to Los Angeles,Cal. to try and be a movie star.To his difficult days as a studio laborer(Studio set designer)and stuntman to his early days as a Burlesque clown working with several partners and the true story of how Lou Costello first met Bud Abbott and how they really teamed up.She also tells what caused the problems between the two men and the actual events that lead to the untimely death of the little brother that she never really knew(Lou Costello Jr."Little Butch")and the real cause of the team's second and final breakup.There are also insights into Lou's family.His relationship with his Wife Ann(Which was not as bad as what was depicted in Mr.Bob Thomas'book:Bud & Lou)and his three daughters.And the problems that were instigaited by Lou's mother:Mrs.Helen(Lolly)Cristillo and the team's manager:Eddie Sherman.Both Mrs.Cristillo and Mr.Sherman made an effort to destroy Poor Lou's career and personal life.This is one of the few bios on a famous performer that shows us a more three dimenstional look at this talented but troubled clown.Without the book turning into an ugly scathology.A book worth having.Bravo Chris! Kevin S.Butler.
I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN
Chris Costello does an amazing job of letting you know who Lou Costello the person was. I very much enjoyed the family man attributes of Lou Costello, always going out of his way to entertain people, especially children. Many people can write books about Bud and Lou, but with Chris' book you can an inside the house look at a man we all know and love. After reading the book I felt like I knew Chris and her family personally. Bravo Chris on a job well done.
It is a warm look at a very funny and warm man
I bought this book back in 1979 and I have not put it down since. It is the true story of a clown that had his heart broken more than once but always had a smile and a warm heart for those he loved and those he never knew. I live one town over from Paterson NJ where Lou was from and I had the pleasure to meet his daughter Chris at a fan club gathering and if Lou were with us today he would be very proud of his little girl. God bless Lou and Bud and God Bless Chris for sharing her very special story with us.
