ABBOTT & COSTELLO (LOU COSTELLO) - DOCUMENT SIGNED 09/17/1955 CO-SIGNED BY: PAT COSTELLO, ANNE (MRS. LOU) COSTELLO, MARGARET JANE COSTELLO, HELEN CRISTILLO, MARIE KIRK - HFSID 177693

LOU COSTELLO'S WIFE, MOTHER, BROTHER, SISTER AND SISTER-IN-LAW TRANSFER THEIR INTEREST IN HIS PRODUCTION COMPANY TO HIM TO ENABLE COSTELLO TO SETTLE HIS TAX BILL WITH THE I.R.S.
 
LOU COSTELLO, ANNE COSTELLO, PAT COSTELLO, MARGARET JANE COSTELLO, HELEN CRISTILLO and MARIE KIRK
Typed Document Signed: "Lou Costello", "Anne Costello", "Pat Costello", "Margaret Jane Costello", "Helen Cristillo" and "Marie Kirk", 1p, 8½x13. Los Angeles, California, 1955 September 17. Headed: "Bill of Sale". Five members of Lou Costello's family transfer their interests in Cosman Productions, Inc. to the comedian/actor. In part: "That LOU COSTELLO and ANNE COSTELLO, his wife, PAT COSTELLO and MARGARET JANE COSTELLO, his wife, HELEN CRISTILLO, an unmarried woman, and MARIE KIRK, and unmarried woman, in consideration of One Dollar ($1.00) and other good and valuable considerations, do hereby sell, assign and transfer to LOU COSTELLO, a married man, all of their right, title and interest in and to all of the assets of every class and character received by them from Cosman Productions, Inc...said personal property...shall not be limited to, the following: All cash in bank, notes and accounts receivable, choses in action, inventories, supplies, furniture and fixtures, office equipment and supplies, prepaid items of expense, contracts, rights, remedies and all other personal property of whatsoever kind or nature, situated at the former principal place of business of Cosman Productions, Inc., or wheresoever situated...." PAT COSTELLO (1903-1990) was Lou's older brother. An actor and a stuntman, he had done stunts and was an occasional stand-in for Lou. MARGARET JANE COSTELLO was Pat's wife. HELEN REGE "LOLLY" CRISTILLO was Lou's mother (the comedian had been born Louis Francis Cristillo). She had married Lou's father, producer SEBASTIAN CRISTILLO (1879-1947), in 1902. MARIE KIRK was Lou's sister, the former MARIE KATHERINE CRISTILLO (the last of the Cristillo children, she was born in 1912). Marie had been married to actor JOE KIRK (1903-1975), who appeared in several Abbott and Costello films and on their television show. ANNE BATTLERS was married to LOU COSTELLO from 1934 until his death on March 3, 1959. The couple had four children, including a son who drowned just days before his first birthday. In the year this document was signed, Costello appeared in two feature films, Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops and Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy. With partner BUD ABBOTT, COSTELLO (1906-1959) formed one of the greatest comedy teams in the history of show business. They mastered the straight man/clown relationship, creating a magical chemistry that took them from vaudeville and burlesque to radio, Broadway, film and television. The Abbott & Costello Show aired on radio on ABC from 1941-1946 and on NBC from 1946-1949. Abbott and Costello were also guest hosts of NBC's hour-long live variety show, The Colgate Comedy Hour, seven times between 1951-1954. Their "Who's on First?" routine is enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Abbott and Costello split up in 1957 after troubles with the Internal Revenue Service left both men broke. Folds, not at signatures. Staple holes and two file holes at upper blank margin, chipped at mid-right blank edge at fold. Fine condition.