DURANTE 509

Durante, Jimmy 1893 -198o

U.S. Radio, Film, and Stage Performer

When Jimmy Durante performed, he appeared to the world Durante appeared in 17 films over the next four years. In like a king penguin in basic black evening wear and a shapeless his first film he supported William Haines in The New Adven- black fedora. Strong in his stride and tireless while performing, tures of Get -Rich -Quick Wallingford (1931). During his early he was known for his rapid speech, gravelly voice, and cathe- film career, there were few memorable moments. He took time dral nose. His legacy continues every Christmas season when off to reteam with Clayton and Jackson in the Broadway show he is heard as the narrator of Frosty, the Snowman. Strike Me Pink. The play got modest reviews. Although his film career was not spectacular, Durante appeared in a number appeared on Broadway in Origins of films from 1936 to 1941. He also the Cole Porter revue Red, Hot & Blue (1936 -37, with Ethel Durante was born to Italian immigrant parents in New York Merman and Bob Hope) and then in Stars in Your Eyes (1939, City on the kitchen table in his parents' apartment. His parents again with Merman). gave him piano lessons as he grew up. From 1910 until 1914 Durante worked at Diamond Tony's on Coney Island. Billed as Radio "Ragtime Jimmy," he became a talented piano player and learned the ins and outs of handling a crowd. Durante was a guest on many radio shows in the 193os and Durante worked his way up to the Alamo Club in Harlem, 1940s. He appeared with Eddie Cantor, Rudy Vallee, Fred where he was bandleader and talent booker. He worked there Allen, and others, making appearances as well on such pro- until 1921 and moonlighted at other clubs. He also made a grams as Fibber McGee and Molly and Duffy's Tavern. In series of recordings with the Original New Orleans Jazz Band. 1943 Durante began appearing on CBS's Camel Comedy Cara- During his time at the Alamo, Durante met his wife, Jeanne van with Garry Moore. In 1945 the program was renamed The Olson. They were married in 1921. Jimmy Durante -Garry Moore Show. Moore left in 1947, but During the 192os, Durante gravitated toward vaudeville, Durante continued with the show through 1949. While where he became part of a comedy music team with Lou Clay- appearing on radio, Durante also appeared in six films at ton and Eddie Jackson, known as the "Three Sawdust Bums." MGM. He was a great comic foil for Van Johnson and June He opened his own place, The Club Durant, which, although it Allyson. In the 195os he made only three films, starring with did not last long, made Jimmy Durante a star. After the club Donald O'Connor in The Milkman, The Great Rupert, and closed in 1925, the three men continued performing music and Beau James. comedy at various theaters and finally at the Palace Theater. Durante developed much of his characteristic style during Film and Television his vaudeville days. He purposefully misused the English lan- guage and enthusiastically delivered his signature "Hotcha- During the late 194os and the 195os, some of Durante's great- cha." He also became known for tunes such as "I Ups to est success came from television. He co- hosted NBC's Four Him," "I'm Jimmy, That Well- Dressed Man," and his theme Star Revue in 195o, as well as the All Star Revue (195 I-52) song, "Inka -Dinka Doo." and the Colgate Comedy Hour (NBC, 1953 -54). In 1954 he Clayton, Jackson, and Durante made their Broadway debut starred in his own show, which ran through 1956. Though his in Ziegfelds Show Girl in 1929. Durante had a chance to do a show went off the air, Durante continued to guest -star on tele- solo and let his personality shine through. The "Bums" also vision shows and in specials. Baby boomers knew him in the made their film appearance in Roadhouse Nights, filmed on early 196os from his various appearances on the Ed Sullivan Long Island in the Paramount studio. Durante played Helen Show. In 1969 he supplied the narration for the CBS cartoon Morgan's piano accompanist. He knew that he was not the Frosty, the Snowman, which still runs every year at Christmas. matinee idol type, and he found his popularity increasing as he His last television appearance was on the Sonny and Cher aged and became loved by another generation. Comedy Hour in 1971. The next Broadway appearance for the trio was The New Unlike most of his contemporaries, Durante seemed ageless Yorker (193o-193I), playing speakeasy gangsters. At that time from the late 194os throughout the early 197os. In 1972, he Durante was offered a five -year contract by Metro Goldwyn suffered a stroke and his health declined. Wheelchair bound, Mayer (MGM), breaking up the trio. Lou Clayton became he appeared on various award shows, making his last public Jimmy's manager and confidant until Clayton's death in 195o. appearance at his 83rd birthday bash in 1976. His fame was