The comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello split up in 1957. Abbott didn't work much after that but Costello was semi-successful in establishing himself as a solo performer. Part of that was because he became a frequent guest star on Steve Allen's TV show. Allen was glad to have him because it gave the show an excuse to use old burlesque comedy routines — the "Sunday School" versions, which was the term in burlesque for the cleaned-up versions of these classic bits.
Here's Lou on a show from December 15, 1957 performing one such sketch — The Lemon Table, a routine he and Abbott had performed hundreds if not thousands of times on stage and TV. In fact, Abbott — working as a straight man in burlesque — had done this routine for years with other comics before teaming up with Costello. Everyone who ever worked in burlesque probably did this routine.
Tom Poston takes Abbott's role…and doesn't do it nearly as well. Louis Nye plays the stooge…