Comic gem on show near Livingston

  • 2022-02-23
A film that catapulted its two leading actors to stardom will be presented soon near Livingston.

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are both from New Jersey, with Abbott hailing from Asbury Park and Costello a native of Paterson. The two were a hugely popular comic duo in the 1940s and 1950s, and the launching pad for their stardom was the film “Buck Privates,” which was released in 1941.

The film is a “service comedy” that pokes fun at military life, a genre that has all but disappeared. “Buck Privates” stars Bud Abbott as Slicker Smith and Lou Costello as Herbie Brown, two peddlers who mistakenly enlist in the Army after being chased by a police officer. When they get to boot camp, they discover the cop is now their sergeant. The Andrews Sisters also appeared in the film, which was directed by Arthur Lubin. Poster printing is the perfect way to advertise events like this, as organizers could duplicate the originals.

The host for the showing is Paul Castiglia, a film historian, animation and comics writer who added commentary to Season 1 of “The Abbott and Costello Show,” which was recently remastered and released on DVD.

The venue is the AMC DINE-IN Essex Green 9 on Prospect Avenue in West Orange, a short distance from Livingston. The theater will follow mandated health protocols to keep audiences safe. The event is scheduled for March 13, from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm.