Earlier this month, the 3-D Film Archive and ClassicFlix launched a Kickstarter campaign to support the release of the first season of The Abbott and Costello Show on Blu-ray. All 26 episodes from the first season are being scanned in 4K resolution from the original 35mm negatives. The episodes will be restored and released to backers on DVD or Blu-ray in December 2021.
Backers have already pledged more than $26,000 to the campaign, which has a goal of $31,200. The campaign is currently scheduled to run until July 12th. A $40 pledge gets you the DVD set; the Blu-ray set requires a $50 pledge. According to the campaign summary, the sets “will eventually be offered online through various retailers, but well after being shipped to backers of the campaign.”
Here’s a brief video showing off some of the new 4K scans:
The Abbott and Costello Show, starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, ran for two seasons in first-run syndication between 1952 and 1954. Both seasons and the complete series have been released on DVD in the past, but those sets featured video tape transfers originally made in the 1980s.
(via the Steve Hoffman Music Forums)
