Discouraged by his lack of success, in 1930 he hitchhiked back home but ran out of money in [[St. Joseph (Missouri)|St. Joseph]], Missouri. He took a job as a Dutch-accented comic at a local [[burlesque]] theater. Changing his name to "Costello," he went back to New York and began working in vaudeville theater and burlesque there.<ref> Costello, 14-17</ref>
Unlike many burlesque comics of the era, Costello did not use "off-color" material--a trait that continued for the rest of his career.
While working at vaudeville theaters in the 1930s, Costello became acquainted with a talented [[Double act|straight man]] named [[Bud Abbott]]. After working together sporadically, Abbott and Costello formally teamed up in 1936. They performed together in burlesque shows, minstrel shows, vaudeville and movie houses.
