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Is "Who's On First?", by Abbott and Costello, in Public

Sent to General Experts October 4 2006 at 9:50 AM
   

How do I found out if WHO'S ON FIRST? by Abbott and Costello, is in Public Domain?
My students would like to perform it for an acting competition.

 

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $9
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October 4 2006 at 2:28 PM (4 hours and 38 minutes and 4 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
I have looked around online, basically punching in "who's on first" "public domain" <--keep the quotes just as it is and paste into google.

It apears that the copyright has run out on this performance. I remember there was a fight not too long ago when family members of Costello wanted to keep the copyright, but it ran out or was already run out by time they tried to transfer said copyright.

Have fun with this performance.....I have the original video and it is still funny more than a half-century later!
Jeffrey Flaker -- Private internet research -- 100% Positive Feedback on 14 General Accepts
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October 4 2006 at 6:31 PM (4 hours and 3 minutes and 23 seconds later)
         
Reply to Jeffrey Flaker's Post: Hello there.. thank you for the response. Is there any PROOF online that it (WHO'S ON FIRST)is in Public Domain? or is it just your speculation? I have to have something documented for this competition.
Thank you
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
October 5 2006 at 3:53 PM (21 hours and 22 minutes later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
I have searched the US Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/records/) and find 2 documents registered around 1984. The documents refer to the radio script and not the video as shown (I think it was "The naughty 90's).

Abbott & Costello Enterprises has the copyright for the "Colorized version"

acTwentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, and CBS Worldwide, Inc. has the copyright for all cinematographic material excluding preexisting television screenplay.

You can do some more searching to be sure, but it looks like there are no CURRENT copyrights to this skit--The one that appeared on TV--that you are interested in performing.

I can do some more searching if you wish, let me know.

I hope this information helps
Jeffrey Flaker -- Private internet research -- 100% Positive Feedback on 14 General Accepts
I like researching information.
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October 5 2006 at 5:40 PM (1 hour and 46 minutes and 38 seconds later)
         
Reply to Jeffrey Flaker's Post: Thank you so much!! I finally got a hold of Chris Costello ( I guess he is a relative) and he told me that that he normally does own the Abbott and Costello estate does own the rights to WHO'S ON FIRST?, but because it's a high school drama competition, he is not going to charge us anything.
I will definitely use your answer, as well..thank you.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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