Bud Abbott

Born
October 2, 1895 
Active Decades
 
 
by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
"It gets so boring at home. After all, how many reruns of Abbott & Costello movies can a guy watch on televisionNULL" -- Bud Abbott



While Bud Abbott is best known for his radio, movie, and television work with Lou Costello, his career both predated and extended beyond the partnership. Abbott was born William Alexander Abbott on October 2, 1895, in Asbury Park, NJ. Abbott grew up in a show business family; both of his parents worked for Barnum & Bailey Circus. Abbott eventually dropped out of school, first working at Coney Island and then working the box office of the Casino Theatre in Brooklyn. Abbott married Jenny May Pratt (her stage name was Betty Smith) in 1918, and the two worked together in a vaudeville show called Broadway Flashes and toured with the Gus Sun Vaudeville Circuit.



In 1924 Abbott began playing the straight man in a comic act with Smith. He quickly gained a reputation for the quality of his work, and teamed with a number of other comics including Harry Steppe and Harry Evanson. During the 1930s, Abbott also worked the Minsky's Burlesque circuit.

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