Bud Abbott was the straight-man half of the legendary comic duo Abbott and Costello, who made history as stars of movies, TV and radio. Virtually every biography states that Bud Abbott was born in Asbury Park, but the birth dates vary. And, in his bio on IMDB.com, it states that Abbott was actually born in Reading, Penn., and moved to Asbury Park as a youth…and that Abbott himself is the source for the erroneous citations of Asbury Park as his birthplace. We have been unable to reach the author of the IMDB bio.
So where was Bud Abbott born, and when? Somewhere, a birth certificate exists. Other sources refer to his draft card. If you can supply us with an authentic image of Bud Abbott’s birth certificate, or other conclusive documentation of his birthplace, we add it to the Timeline, and you win a free t-shirt! If we receive multiple submissions with the same information at the same time, we’ll give out multiple prizes, but otherwise the prize goes who whomever solves the mystery first.
Looking around a bit and found this apparent record of a birth for a child with the last name of Abbott, without a first name yet, on Oct 6, 1897. Again the date is off but the birthplace is Asbury Park, NJ. Parents are Harry Abbott and Ray Fisher, the same ones listed on IMDB at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007941/bio/
Look at https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10160321032716851&set=gm.10163006257007474&idorvanity=46310472473
Wow, thank you! I am persuaded that this is the real deal, you are correct that it fits all other known facts about Bud Abbott’s birth. I’m going to insert this image into this story and will give you credit for this new information. Thanks again… – John