John Grant

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". 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. Career Early career 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. Abbott and Costello 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. 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.)