What happens
Costello is preparing a new play and needs a leading lady, so he and Abbott go looking for one among their neighbors and acquaintances. The episode of the Abbott and Costello series first aired on 1946-02-21, on NBC and ABC, with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the leads, alongside Joe Kirk, Elvia Allman and Connie Haines. Costello's search takes him through a series of comic encounters with the apartment building's residents, including Mrs. Niles, whose husband Mr. Niles is Abbott's neighbor. Each attempt to find a suitable actress turns into a running gag, as the pair's misunderstandings and rapid-fire banter build toward the casting of the play.
An apartment building and its neighborhood, where Costello searches for a leading lady for his play.
Characters: Costello, Abbott, Mrs. Niles, Mr. Niles, Phoebe, Scotty Brown, Melonhead
Listen for: Costello's repeated attempts to find a leading lady for his play, and the comic exchanges with Mrs. Niles.
Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.