Remember the Abbott and Costello TV show? Being restored from the camera negatives at long last..

Ever notice in the tv show Lou gets smacked around by just about every cast member.

 

Once again, your support and generosity is outstanding. I am delighted to announce that Stretch Goal #2 has been met and the two audio commentaries with Gilbert Gottfried, Frank Santopadre and Ron Palumbo will be included on this set!

I've gotten several inquiries about the rather unusual survival rate of these original 35mm picture and track negatives. That's not always the case with an independently produced and syndicated show from the dawn of television.

Honestly, I was in the right place at the right time 37 years ago to track them down and ensure their survival. If I hadn't been proactive with my research, most (if not all) of these master 35mm negatives would now be gone.

Check out today's update on the campaign for the full story:
Update 13: Saving the Original 35mm Negatives · Pre-order THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW Season One Restored!

 

Yesterday's update got a nice response so I thought I'd share a little more info with you. These are the eight picture and track negatives (totaling forty-eight reels) that I saved from destruction at Film Salvage in the mid-1980s.

#1 Drug Store, #4 Vacation, #7 Vacuum Cleaner Salesman, #11 Westerner, #17 Wrestling, #19 Chimpanzee, #25 Police Rookie, #26 Safari. (These are the correct episode titles.)

I had mentioned Don Buckles as the gentleman who initially took my call and dug in the warehouse for the elements. Another person mentioned in my original handwritten notes was Robert Freedman. They went to bat for me and took the time to actually look around for the material. This was a HUGE building with literally thousands of film cans and reels. I remember they were physically slicing through films on a bandsaw to destroy them while I was inside.

I also found dozens of 2-inch quad videotapes and was able to secure those masters. One of them was a color George Burns NBC special from June 1960 that was eventually restored by the UCLA Television Archive.

Thank goodness Mr. Buckles and Mr. Freedman made the effort or these precious Abbott and Costello 35mm negatives would be long gone!

 

THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW will truly sound better than ever before. We are restoring the audio from original 35mm Variable Density push-pull negatives and this campaign update has the exciting details!

Update 16: Audio Restoration · Pre-order THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW Season One Restored!

 

THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW was one of the first syndicated TV shows. It was a big hit on stations across the country after it premiered in October 1951. This two page ad is from the Broadcasting magazine of August 18, 1952.

Pre-order THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW Season One Restored!

 

This delightful ad from Broadcasting dated February 2, 1953 shows the great appeal and huge success of this syndicated show from MCA TV Ltd. Rather than use a current image, they added a mustache on Bud to this 1946 TIME OF THEIR LIVES publicity photo!



We have three weeks to go on the campaign. If you'd like to get this exciting Blu-ray and DVD release hot off the presses, preorder it today!

Pre-order THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW Season One Restored!

 

We are making excellent progress with scanning all of the 35mm picture negatives and push-pull track elements on our restoration of the Abbott and Costello Show. We came across something the other day which dramatically illustrates the importance of preserving this precious material ASAP.

Check out today's update for the full story: Update 19: Just in Time · Pre-order THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW Season One Restored!

 

I'll buy it just for that: those guys are hilarious, and Gilbert will undoubtedly go into his "Strawberry Malted" impression from the 1978 Bud & Lou TV movie.

 

I LOVE all these survival/discovery stories!!

Any chance of writing a book about the minutiae of the circumstances? LOL

An Aside:
Was the classic, hysterically funny, "sharing the turkey sandwich/why keep coaxing me?" episode in season one, or was it later in the series?

 

I'm a little behind on my film soundtrack recording techniques; push-pull?

 

Here is an old article that does not include enough info, but it does have a picture and a sample sound comparison. I hope they are using a better more proper way there now. I'm sure Bob F has a place doing better....
The Challenge of the Push-Pull Track

 

Thanks, we're too busy doing the work to actually write about it!

That's season one, episode 14: HUNGRY. A gem!

 

The 35mm push-pull transfer and vital processing is being done by Simon Daniel Sound - on original Westrex equipment. The audio quality is phenomenal!

Simon Daniel Sound

 

This seems like a worthy endeavour, good luck to you.

I’d love to see a Blu-ray of The Phil Silvers Show.

 

Those were fascinating. It is amazing , astounding, incredible, etc that Bob was able to procure as many negatives as he did. Abbot and Costello are , for me, the greatest comedy team of all time. Great work!!

Its time for a big budget movie about Bud and Lou. They could do better than the 1980 TV movie.

 

The commentary tracks have just been announced in today's update:
Update 20: Commentary Tracks · Pre-order THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW Season One Restored!

There's one week to go on the Kickstarter campaign. Don't just stand there; pre-order the restored Season One of THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW today!

 

Bob....Do you like cranberries?

 

I LOVE 'EM!

 

We have just announced a bonus commentary track with Louis Antonicello, Bob Greenberg, Jack Theakston and Michael Townsend Wright. Check out today's update for more information on this truly unique episode and it's originally scripted bizarre ending!

Update 21: Bonus Commentary Track · Pre-order THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW Season One Restored!

 

I am delighted to announce a new commentary track from horror/comedy film historian, Paul Castiglia.

You can read the details in todays campaign update:Update 22: New Commentary Track · Pre-order THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW Season One Restored!

The Kickstarter campaign ends in three days; pre-order this essential Abbott and Costello Blu-ray and DVD release today!

 

You asked for it: with just 50 hours left on the campaign, we've added two more commentary tracks!

Update 23: You Asked for It! · Pre-order THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW Season One Restored!

 

Just 24 hours remain to pre-order stunning new 4K restorations of this iconic TV show selected by Time Magazine as one of "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME." Don't miss your chance to get this exciting new Blu-ray and DVD release hot off the presses!

Update 24: Final Commentary List · Pre-order THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW Season One Restored!

 

any further updates on this wonderful event?! I can't wait for this...

 

Negative optical tracks have always been difficult to use for video transfers. It is possible to coax good sound out of them today, and there's specialized equipment that can play negative optical tracks. Variable-density adds another level of difficulty.

 

Up for pre-ordering now!

The Abbott and Costello Show - Season 1 (Blu-ray) - ClassicFlix