The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-03-12
HOLLYWOOD
NOTES
BIZ soR THOMAS

HOLLYWOOD t4a - Lou Costello
dropped his usual role of funny
man today and urged his fellow
comics to adopt code fs..' tele,
vision behavior.
''feleyision can be a tremendous
force for good or for evil, re-
marked the little comedian. 80
days kids are influenced greatly
by what they see on TV. And
some of the comedy material on
TV can certainly do them harm.
Some comedians don't realize
that they can't use the same ma
terial on TV that they use in night
clubs, on the stage or even in
pictures. The fact is that the kid
audience is the most important
factor in TV. Kids can make or
break comedian. And it's i'm
p0rtant that comics do not use
material that will give them wrong
ideas"
Amclg the principal offenders
added Costello, are the comics who
use uhmanly gestures such as
stroking the eyebrow with the little
finger OF flouncing around with
hand on hip.
They think they get laughs that
way he said. But the routine
Of acting like a woman has never
seemed funny to me. Think how
il would be ii young boys started
Initiating those things. Their par,
ents would be Mortified.
i've always steered away from
that sort Of thing. On my first TV
show, they wanted me to dress
up like Carmen Miranda and do a.
song number. refused. | don't
know how TO act like a woman.
Costello also criticized comics
who 60 into contortionS as though
they were victims Of disabling
disease. Ed Wynn, also a critic
Of this brand of humor, calls il
"spastic comedy"
II think it's mistake To- poke
fun at any persons infirmity, di-
rectly or Indirectly said Costello.
Imagine how the afflicted people
must feel That's why we never
use suffering for comedy"
He added that he was also
alarmed ty the use of drunkenness
In an effort to get laughs.
How would you like to come
home and find your child had found
some liquor and drank it, because
it seemed funny when a comedian
did it on Tv?" he asked. Its
entirely possible"
Abbott and Costello have another
rule concerning their comedy.
Don't scare the kids. But they
had to learn it the hard way.
Costello told the story CT getting
a phone cali from mother in
Kansas City. AT first, he thought it
was going to be touch for moneys
But the mother explained that she
was seeking his help because her
8 year old daughter had been
frightened by the Frankenstein
monster who menaced Abbott and
Costello in picture. Medical and
psychiatric aid couldn't overcome
the girls bad dreams.
Costello had the mother and
daughter fly out and stay at his
home for two weeks. During that
time, he showed the girl the make
believe of the movies. He took her
into the makeup department and
stomped on a Frankenstein mask.
Still she was frightened. All the end
Of the stay, he held her hand while
she saw the Frankenstein film, He
hit at the screen when the monster
came on. Finally the girl overcame
her fear.
THAT taught me a lesson, Cos,
tello remarked. From then on,
we've had nothing that would
really brighten the kids. Even in
ny picture, Jack and the Bean,
stalk, there's nothing really fright.
ening. Buddy Baer plays the giant,
but we treat him lightly, instead
az as n rpal manaca'