Billy "Red Pepper Sam" Costello: The First Popeye by Trav S.D.

Rhode Island born William “Billy” Costello (1898-1971) started out in vaudeville under the moniker “Red Pepper Sam”, playing the uke, singing and scatting. In his early days he worked with Ginger Rogers and had been a drummer in Paul Whiteman’s and Fred Waring’s orchestras. In 1930 he got a job doing voiceovers at Fleischer Studios. Costello’s […]

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