Hold That Ghost (1941)

Hold That Ghost is a 1941 comedy film directed by Arthur Lubin. It is the first film featuring the classic comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello that contains a supernatural theme. The films was re-released theatrically in 1948 and again in 1949.

Notes & Trivia

 * Alternate title for this film is Oh, Charlie.


 * Principal shooting for Hold That Ghost began on January 21st, 1941 and concluded on February 26th.


 * The extinguishing candle gag used in this film is later revisited in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.


 * Following Hold That Ghost, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello team-up for five more horror-related ventures beginning with 1948's Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and continuing with Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff, Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and concludes with Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy.


 * On August 1st, 1941, Abbott and Costello performed a live version of the film for radio audiences on Louella Parsons' Hollywood Premiere.


 * Evelyn Ankers, who plays Norma Lind in this film is more famously known for playing the role of Gwen Conliffe in Universal's The Wolf Man, released the same year as Hold That Ghost.


 * In comedic circles, Shemp Howard is commonly known as the "fifth stooge" of The Three Stooges, replacing Curly Howard and then later Joe. Film director Sam Raimi pays homage to Shemp Howard by referring to his zombie characters as "shemps" in the Evil Dead franchise.