Many thanks to the numerous readers who responded. There was less to this

than meets the eye (than met my ear, I mean). Everyone agrees that “Goo

Fay” is just Costello’s idea of a Frenchman’s pronunciation of “Goofy.”

This must have been a lot funnier in 1946 than it seems to me now, to judge

from the gales of audience laughter. The actual sketch, however, is still

one of the all-time best comedy routines, for my money. Just listen to

their timing! BTW, does everyone know how A & C split the proceeds from

their act? I was surprised when I heard.