Dick Wolfsie
Hanging from a rack on my office wall is a collection of neckties, each one emblazoned with a picture of comedy greats: Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers, and my favorite, Abbott and Costello. My love of this comedy team is long-standing but in recent months Bud Abbott and Lou Costello have acquired a new meaning for me.
Peter Spellos was my student back in the early ’70s when I taught high school English. We didn’t share my disdain for dangling participles or misplaced modifiers, but we did share a love of comedy, including movies, stand-up, sketches, and improv. You name it, we laughed at it and analyzed it.
I invited Peter and one of his friends to my apartment to watch the Mel Brooks classic, “The Producers.” We talked about the brilliant performances by Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. Peter’s persona reminded me of Mostel. Both were bigger than life, in more ways than one.
Peter enjoyed a career doing roles in films and voiceovers in a number of well-known anime movies, a genre popular with the younger generation. He had a booth at Gen Con here in Indy where fans of his work lined up for autographs. Peter ultimately moved to Indy, got an apartment on the southside and began teaching acting, comedy and improv to eager students who came to love him and learn from him.
So, what does this all have to do with Abbott and Costello? The legendary team is best known for what is considered the greatest comedy sketch of all time: “Who’s on First?” Peter and I had tried to learn the routine in the past, but it wasn’t easy. It’s all about mastering the timing.
One night at a Greek restaurant downtown, we had a few too many Corfu Lagers and while our cheese was flaming, we stood up in the middle of a packed room and performed “Who’s on First?” It wasn’t flawless, but the patrons gave us a standing ovation, as well as another round of Greek beer. The next time Peter was in town for a convention, we did it live on WISH-TV to a much larger audience.
Before Peter moved here back in 2015 I signed up to do a one-man show at Fringe, an annual festival of multi-talented people who do hundreds of performances over a three-week period at theatres along Mass Ave in Indy. My topic was Jewish humor, a subject I knew well, but the hour-long act was way out of my comfort zone. The first evening of the show I peeked around the curtain to see if anyone had bought a ticket. There in the front row was Peter. He was working in New York and made the trip back for that one night only.
Peter passed away quietly in hospice this past week. He was constantly surrounded by his students who revered him. He taught them all how to enjoy the sound of laughter, to think creatively, and to make the world a brighter place. We certainly need that now.
This past Sunday at our Unitarian church, I lit a candle for Peter to celebrate our friendship and his life. I also wore my Abbott and Costello tie to honor him. I don a comedy tie to most occasions, but sometimes it’s difficult to decide which comedians to put around my neck. For the near future it’s pretty obvious who’s on first.
Television personality Dick Wolfsie writes columns for The Daily Reporter. Send comments to [email protected].
