ABBOTT & COSTELLO (LOU COSTELLO) - DOCUMENT SIGNED 10/23/1952 - HFSID 217364

LOU COSTELLO
Comedian Lou Costello, one-half of Abbott and Costello, signed this document in 1952 to receive a $5,000 loan from Universal pictures, to be paid back out of any payments that Universal would make to him in the future.
Document signed"Lou Costello" in black ink and by two representatives of Universal Pictures Company, Inc. in black and blue ink. Blue ink date stamp near bottom right corner. Embossed seals near bottom corners. 1 page, 8½x10½, carbon copy. Universal City, California, Oct. 23, 1952. Addressed to Mr. Lou Costello, c/o Edward Sherman Agency, Los Angeles, California. Abbott signed this document with Universal to receive a loan of $5,000. The loan was to be paid back out of any payments that Universal would make to Costello in the future. Costello and partner Bud Abbott premiered their TV show, The Abbott and Costello Show (1952-1958), in the year that Costello signed this contract. The comedy duo also appeared in three movies: Jack and the Beanstalk, Lost in Alaska and Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd. With partner BUD ABBOTT (1895-1974, born William A. Abbott in Asbury Park, New Jersey), LOU COSTELLO (1906-1959, born Louis Francis Cristillo in Paterson, New Jersey) 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 to 1946 and on NBC from 1946 to 1949. Abbott and Costello were also guest hosts of NBC's hour-long live variety show, The Colgate Comedy Hour, seven times between 1951 and 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. Lightly toned and creased. Signatures of Universal representatives touch but are legible. Paper clip impression near top left corner. Otherwise in fine condition.