ENGLISH LIT 344 / COMEDY & SATIRE Who's Who in American Comedy
Durante was know for his distinctive voice, his butchery of the English language, and his large nose. His career began in vaudeville as part of a trio (Clayton, Jackson, and Durante) and ran through films and television. He was also known for his theme song ("Inka Dinka Doo") and the way he ended his act, saying "Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are." Here's a clip of Jimmy with his former partner Eddie Jackson, performing on TV in the 1950's.
[For more details on Jimmy Durante, check his listing in Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Durante], but note--this is one of the rare times I can accept the use of Wikipedia as a source. I have found that most of the information there about these people is reliable.]
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