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John Grant (screenwriter)

October 15, 2023

John Grant (December 27, 1891 – November 19, 1955) was a comedy writer best known for his association with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. Costello called him their "chief idea man".[1] Grant contributed to Abbott and Costello's radio, film and live television scripts, as well as the films of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and Ma and Pa Kettle.

John Grant
Born(1891-12-27)27 December 1891
Tarentum, Pennsylvania, United States
Died19 November 1955(1955-11-19) (aged 63)
Palm Desert, California, United States
OccupationScreenwriter
SpouseDorothy Maye Grant

Career Edit

Early career Edit

Although he appeared in a few legitimate musical comedies, Grant was primarily a burlesque comedian, straight man and producer. He performed in shows on the Columbia and Mutual Burlesque wheels in the 1920s, and at Minsky's in the early 1930s. His second wife, Dorothy Maye, was a strip tease artist.[2]

Abbott and Costello Edit

Grant met Bud Abbott in burlesque in the early 1920s when Abbott was still working in theater box offices. While working for Mutual as a general manager and trouble shooter, Grant cut Lou Costello's salary during the Great Depression.[3] Two years later, according to Hedda Hopper, he and Costello met again when the latter was appearing on a bill at a Brooklyn theatre; Abbott was also appearing there and Grant suggested that they team up. They did and were an immediate success. (This story is inconsistent with the most credible and documented version of events, where the team first performed together at the Eltinge Theater in 1935 and teamed nearly a year later.[4])

Abbott and Costello spent the next two years playing burlesque, vaudeville, and the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. In February 1938 they were booked on the Kate Smith radio program. After several appearances they hired Grant, who was working in Toronto, to be their head writer.[5][6] Grant contributed material for Abbott and Costello on radio, in films, and on the Colgate Comedy Hour.[7]

Grant contributed to nearly every Abbott and Costello film by injecting comedy routines into stories written by other screenwriters. Most of his material would be included in the final film because he was the only writer Abbott and Costello trusted. He was also on the set during filming and helped with ad-libbed material.[8] In 1941 Hedda Hopper described Grant as "much more than the writer of those laugh jerkers that have zoomed the pair into box office tops; he's their friend, confidant and godfather, and the three of them are more like brothers than business associates."[9]

Grant frequently modified established burlesque material and other comedians sometimes claimed ownership. In October 1941 a former burlesque colleague of Grant's, Barney Gerard, claimed Grant and Abbott and Costello had plagiarized or paraphrased two routines when the team were regulars on The Chase and Sanborn Hour radio show.[10]

Producer Edit

In May 1943, with Abbott and Costello temporarily sidelined by Costello's illness, Grant was promoted to producer at the team's home studio, Universal. The studio announced that he would produce a musical in color, Hip Hip Hooray.[11] This became Bowery to Broadway (1944).[12] Grant also received a producer credit on the Abbott and Costello films Here Come The Co-Eds and The Naughty Nineties (both 1945).

Firing and Re-hiring Edit

During the second Red Scare, Costello became convinced that there was a communist conspiracy to infiltrate the film industry. He demanded that his employees sign a loyalty oath swearing that they had no Communist ties. Grant refused to sign and Costello fired him in 1951. Grant, who was never blacklisted, did not work on their film Lost in Alaska (1952),[13] but did work on the films Double Crossbones (1951) with Donald O'Connor, Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair (1951), and Sailor Beware with Martin and Lewis. Costello felt that the script for Lost in Alaska suffered because of Grant's absence and rehired him for Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd (1952) and subsequent films.[14]

Grant's later screenplay credits include Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953);[15]Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953); Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops (1955); and Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955). Grant was credited on a film originally written for Abbott and Costello, Fireman Save My Child (1954), which was made with Hugh O'Brian and Buddy Hackett when Costello became ill.

Final Years Edit

Grant died of a heart attack on 19 November 1955 in Palm Desert, California. He was survived by his wife, Dorothy; his brother and three sisters; and two daughters from his first marriage.[16][17]

Family Edit

Grant's love of burlesque and vaudeville was passed down to his daughters from his first marriage. He also inspired his great-grandson, Ken Drab, who in 2008 became created a webcomic artist and has authored and illustrated several children's books.

Select Credits Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ STEWART, R.W. (11 Aug 1940). "THE 'HOKIEST OF THE HOKE': Stepping Out of the Old Joke Book, Abbott and Costello Clown On the Air in Unrestrained Fashion". The New York Times. p. 110.
  2. ^ "Palace Buff Drops Wheel". Variety. 6 October 1937. p. 51.
  3. ^ ABBOTT, COSTELLO AND THE MILKWAGON HORSE Smith, Frederick James. Los Angeles Times 28 Sep 1941: I10.
  4. ^ Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0
  5. ^ Furmanek
  6. ^ Variety. 2 March 1938. Page 32
  7. ^ One Pair Full House: Funny Abbott and Costello Box Office Darlings Looking at Hollywood with JOHN CHAPMAN. Chicago Daily Tribune 17 Aug 1941: d3.
  8. ^ Furmanek
  9. ^ Furmanek
  10. ^ "Old Burlesque Routines in Dispute". Variety. October 22, 1941. p. 3.
  11. ^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: ' Hip, Hip, Hooray,' a Musical, Placed on Universal List New York Times 18 May 1943: 19.
  12. ^ Unique Tale of Circus Heralded for Tracy Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 22 May 1944: 10.
  13. ^ Remembering Father, With Pens Often Sharper Than Serpents' Teeth New York Times 19 June 1994: E7.
  14. ^ Furmanek p 224
  15. ^ Schallert, Edwin (5 July 1952). "Drama: Anthony Steel Enacts Brother in 'Ballantrae;' Bobby Van Speeds Along". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
  16. ^ Furmanek p 255
  17. ^ "Obituary". Variety. 23 November 1955. p. 63.

Notes Edit

  • Furmanek, Bob and Ron Palumbo (1991). Abbott and Costello in Hollywood. New York: Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-51605-0

External links Edit

  • John Grant at IMDb
  • John Grant at Library of Congress, with 5 library catalog records
  • Donald W. McCaffrey, Bound and Gagged in Hollywood (Scarecrow Press, 2006), ISBN 0810857294 – pages 28, 29, 41 at Google Books

October 15, 2023
john, grant, screenwriter, john, grant, december, 1891, november, 1955, comedy, writer, best, known, association, with, abbott, costello, costello, called, their, chief, idea, grant, contributed, abbott, costello, radio, film, live, television, scripts, well, . John Grant December 27 1891 November 19 1955 was a comedy writer best known for his association with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Costello called him their chief idea man 1 Grant contributed to Abbott and Costello s radio film and live television scripts as well as the films of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and Ma and Pa Kettle John GrantBorn 1891 12 27 27 December 1891Tarentum Pennsylvania United StatesDied19 November 1955 1955 11 19 aged 63 Palm Desert California United StatesOccupationScreenwriterSpouseDorothy Maye Grant Contents 1 Career 1 1 Early career 1 2 Abbott and Costello 1 3 Producer 1 4 Firing and Re hiring 1 5 Final Years 2 Family 3 Select Credits 4 References 5 Notes 6 External linksCareer EditEarly career Edit Although he appeared in a few legitimate musical comedies Grant was primarily a burlesque comedian straight man and producer He performed in shows on the Columbia and Mutual Burlesque wheels in the 1920s and at Minsky s in the early 1930s His second wife Dorothy Maye was a strip tease artist 2 Abbott and Costello Edit Grant met Bud Abbott in burlesque in the early 1920s when Abbott was still working in theater box offices While working for Mutual as a general manager and trouble shooter Grant cut Lou Costello s salary during the Great Depression 3 Two years later according to Hedda Hopper he and Costello met again when the latter was appearing on a bill at a Brooklyn theatre Abbott was also appearing there and Grant suggested that they team up They did and were an immediate success This story is inconsistent with the most credible and documented version of events where the team first performed together at the Eltinge Theater in 1935 and teamed nearly a year later 4 Abbott and Costello spent the next two years playing burlesque vaudeville and the Steel Pier in Atlantic City In February 1938 they were booked on the Kate Smith radio program After several appearances they hired Grant who was working in Toronto to be their head writer 5 6 Grant contributed material for Abbott and Costello on radio in films and on the Colgate Comedy Hour 7 Grant contributed to nearly every Abbott and Costello film by injecting comedy routines into stories written by other screenwriters Most of his material would be included in the final film because he was the only writer Abbott and Costello trusted He was also on the set during filming and helped with ad libbed material 8 In 1941 Hedda Hopper described Grant as much more than the writer of those laugh jerkers that have zoomed the pair into box office tops he s their friend confidant and godfather and the three of them are more like brothers than business associates 9 Grant frequently modified established burlesque material and other comedians sometimes claimed ownership In October 1941 a former burlesque colleague of Grant s Barney Gerard claimed Grant and Abbott and Costello had plagiarized or paraphrased two routines when the team were regulars on The Chase and Sanborn Hour radio show 10 Producer Edit In May 1943 with Abbott and Costello temporarily sidelined by Costello s illness Grant was promoted to producer at the team s home studio Universal The studio announced that he would produce a musical in color Hip Hip Hooray 11 This became Bowery to Broadway 1944 12 Grant also received a producer credit on the Abbott and Costello films Here Come The Co Eds and The Naughty Nineties both 1945 Firing and Re hiring Edit During the second Red Scare Costello became convinced that there was a communist conspiracy to infiltrate the film industry He demanded that his employees sign a loyalty oath swearing that they had no Communist ties Grant refused to sign and Costello fired him in 1951 Grant who was never blacklisted did not work on their film Lost in Alaska 1952 13 but did work on the films Double Crossbones 1951 with Donald O Connor Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair 1951 and Sailor Beware with Martin and Lewis Costello felt that the script for Lost in Alaska suffered because of Grant s absence and rehired him for Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd 1952 and subsequent films 14 Grant s later screenplay credits include Abbott and Costello Go to Mars 1953 15 Abbott and Costello Meet Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 1953 Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops 1955 and Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy 1955 Grant was credited on a film originally written for Abbott and Costello Fireman Save My Child 1954 which was made with Hugh O Brian and Buddy Hackett when Costello became ill Final Years Edit Grant died of a heart attack on 19 November 1955 in Palm Desert California He was survived by his wife Dorothy his brother and three sisters and two daughters from his first marriage 16 17 Family EditGrant s love of burlesque and vaudeville was passed down to his daughters from his first marriage He also inspired his great grandson Ken Drab who in 2008 became created a webcomic artist and has authored and illustrated several children s books Select Credits EditOne Night in the Tropics 1941 uncredited Buck Privates 1941 In the Navy 1941 Hold That Ghost 1941 Keep Em Flying 1941 Ride Em Cowboy 1942 Rio Rita 1942 special material Pardon My Sarong 1942 Who Done It 1942 It Ain t Hay 1943 Hit the Ice 1943 In Society 1944 Lost in a Harem 1944 Bowery to Broadway 1944 producer only Here Come the Co eds 1945 also producer The Naughty Nineties 1945 also producer The Time of Their Lives 1946 Buck Privates Come Home 1947 The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap 1947 The Noose Hangs High 1948 Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein 1948 Mexican Hayride 1948 Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff 1949 Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion 1950 Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man 1951 Double Crossbones 1951 Comin Round the Mountain 1951 Sailor Beware 1952 additional dialogue The Colgate Comedy Hour 1952 55 TV Series Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair 1952 Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd 1952 Abbott and Costello Go to Mars 1953 Abbott and Costello Meet Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 1953 Fireman Save My Child 1954 Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops 1955 Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy 1955 References Edit STEWART R W 11 Aug 1940 THE HOKIEST OF THE HOKE Stepping Out of the Old Joke Book Abbott and Costello Clown On the Air in Unrestrained Fashion The New York Times p 110 Palace Buff Drops Wheel Variety 6 October 1937 p 51 ABBOTT COSTELLO AND THE MILKWAGON HORSE Smith Frederick James Los Angeles Times 28 Sep 1941 I10 Furmanek Bob and Ron Palumbo 1991 Abbott and Costello in Hollywood New York Perigee Books ISBN 0 399 51605 0 Furmanek Variety 2 March 1938 Page 32 One Pair Full House Funny Abbott and Costello Box Office Darlings Looking at Hollywood with JOHN CHAPMAN Chicago Daily Tribune 17 Aug 1941 d3 Furmanek Furmanek Old Burlesque Routines in Dispute Variety October 22 1941 p 3 SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD Hip Hip Hooray a Musical Placed on Universal List New York Times 18 May 1943 19 Unique Tale of Circus Heralded for Tracy Schallert Edwin Los Angeles Times 22 May 1944 10 Remembering Father With Pens Often Sharper Than Serpents Teeth New York Times 19 June 1994 E7 Furmanek p 224 Schallert Edwin 5 July 1952 Drama Anthony Steel Enacts Brother in Ballantrae Bobby Van Speeds Along Los Angeles Times p A7 Furmanek p 255 Obituary Variety 23 November 1955 p 63 Notes EditFurmanek Bob and Ron Palumbo 1991 Abbott and Costello in Hollywood New York Perigee Books ISBN 0 399 51605 0External links EditJohn Grant at IMDb John Grant at Library of Congress with 5 library catalog records Donald W McCaffrey Bound and Gagged in Hollywood Scarecrow Press 2006 ISBN 0810857294 pages 28 29 41 at Google Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Grant screenwriter amp oldid 1154770356, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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