[Baseball] Abbott and Costello [Abbott, Bud. (1895 - 1974) & Costello, Lou. (1906 - 1959)]
"Who's On First?" - Signed Record Album Framed Ensemble
Rare signed vintage 1956 RCA Victor 78-rpm recording of their famous routine, a specially produced edition for the Baseball Hall of Fame, as noted on the label, “Abbott and Costello’s ‘Who’s on First?’ – Presented to National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum – Cooperstown, N. Y. – 1956,” this copy hand signed in blue ink by both Bud and Lou on the record’s "Side 1" label.With the passing of Lou Costello in 1959, there was only a very short window for other examples of this 1956 album to have been signed and this is one of only a few examples of this extremely rare signed record we have encountered. In very fine condition, amusingly framed together with a black-and-white photo of the two performing their skit on stage (modern print) and a series of engraved plaques, all of which arranged against a green linen backing in the formation of a baseball diamond. Dimensions: 20.5 x 20.5 inches. Together with a Full 2010 LOA from James Spence/JSA.
Abbott and Costello will forever hold a special place in the hearts and minds of all baseball fans by virtue of their classic comedy routine “Who’s on First?” The premise of the sketch, of course, is that Abbott is identifying the players on a baseball team for Costello. However, the players' names can simultaneously serve as the basis for questions (e.g., "Who is the first baseman?") and responses (e.g., "The first baseman's name is "Who."), leading to repeated misinterpretations and growing frustration between the performers. Abbott and Costello performed "Who's on First?" numerous times in their careers, rarely performing it exactly the same way twice. They did the routine for President Franklin Roosevelt several times. An abridged version was featured in the team's 1940 film debut, One Night in the Tropics. The duo reprised the bit in their 1945 film The Naughty Nineties and it is that longer version which is considered their finest recorded rendition. They also performed "Who's on First?" numerous times on radio and television (notably in The Abbott and Costello Show episode "The Actor's Home", widely considered the definitive version). In 1956, a gold record of "Who's on First?" was placed in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. A video (taken from The Naughty Nineties) now plays continuously on screens at the Hall. (21350)
Signed Document/Item Film