The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-24
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 Hollywood - The offstage quality that I like best about Bud Abbott and Lou Costello is their all-round enthusiasm and frank enjoyment of their current triumphs. Too often, when somebody shoots into topl notch stardom, he accepts it with smugness indicating that wealth and prominence are 8 natural des- tiny and somewhat overdue.
 These two ex-burlesque comedians, although hampered by modesty, are tickled silly with all the things that have happened to them since their brief part in a feeble flicker last year won recall to star in pie lures at Universal. "Buck Privates" set a series of such astonishing records that "Oh, Charlie" made before the army film was released, was held up for refurbishing. Re- titled, Hold That Ghost" it's going out on the heels of Tn the Navy. {
 Costello and Abbott now are making dude ranch western called Ride Elm Cowboy" and after hop ping over to Metro for "F2io Rita" in which they'll have the former Wheeler and Woolsey parts, they return for another national defense comedy. The latter will deal mostly with aviation and is named Up in the Air"
 RAGS TO RICHES
 All this is quite a change from their lives among the strippers and grinders and smoky theaters on the burly circuits. It's better, too, than a decade ago when Abbott lost his shirt as theater owner and Cos- tello hitch linked to Hollywood and nearly starved to death as an oc- casional laborer and stunt man. He admits he's going to get a lot of sat- isfaction returning in stellar style to M-G-M, where once he performed merial chores.
 The plump funnyman also is cherishing 8 plan to drive back east, retracing his original hitch- hike route. This time he'll go over the roads in a 5000 car haul ing a $5000 trailer. Abbott has trailer, too, and there is constant squabbling between the pair about which Pullmanlike conveyance is the more luxurious.
 Abbott has only his own family for which to buy gifts, but he has been pleased to heap mink and diamonds on his wife, an ex- chlorine whose original engage ment ring contained a stone so small that 1t scarcely could be seen. It looked tine to her, though.
 Costello Is lucky in having a mother and sister back in Patter- son, N J. His father was Italian, and his mother is Irish She also has high blood pressure and talent for fainting every time her son brings her some little token such as a chauffeured limousine or diamond bracelet. Last Christi mas he gave his sister, Marie, an elegant silver fox cott She tainted, was out cold for an hour, and then cried for six hours.
 LOU MAY SOB
 I should warn you now that some CnapEueSque paCnoS IS pelng planned for these champions of low comedy. Arthur Lubin, their di- rector, says that Costello can evoke tears as easily as belly-laughs; be- sides, few sad scenes would pro- vide @ change of pace.
 All such speculations take little notice of Bud Abbott, the straight man. He never tells 8 joke. Pre- surnably he'd never have to do any sobbing, either, but there is no likelihood that Costello ever will work by himself. He'd be helpless. Quite a lot of people in show business believe straight mans job is harder than a comics. Costello does, anyway, and it's his opinion that counts.