Worked in a haberdashery, a slaughterhouse and the prize ring before he met William 'Bud' Abbott while working as a $40-a-week comic in burlesque; Abbott a last-second substitute one night for Costello's indisposed straight man

Joined with Bud Abbott in Brooklyn

First radio performance (as Abbott and Costello) on the Kate Smith program

Broadway acting debut in revue, "Streets of Paris", alonside Carmen Miranda

Film debut with Abbott in comic supporting roles, "One Night in the Tropics"

First starring roles for the duo, "Buck Privates", for Universal Studios

Abbott and Costello consistently voted among the top ten box office stars by motion picture exhibitors

Unsuccessfully attempted to work separately within the same film, "The Little Giant"

Flagging popularity revived with "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein"; film initiated a series of onscreen encounters with other monsters

Team appeared in 52 episodes of half-hour TV series, "The Abbott and Costello Show", reprising most of their comic routines

Ended association with Universal after "Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy"

Their most famous comic routine, "Who's on First?", placed on permanent display at the National Baseball Fall of Fame Museum in Cooperstown, NY, in the form of a gold record and a framed copy of the text

Last film with Abbott, "Dance with Me, Henry"

Ended partnership with Bud Abbott

Made one solo film appearance (also his last), "The Thirty Foot Bride of Candy Rock"