JIMMY "SCHNOZZOLA" DURANTE - AUTOGRAPHED INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH - HFSID 46482
Price: $240.00
JIMMY DURANTE
Black and white publicity photograph of Jimmy Durante adjusting his
tie in the foreground of a silhouette of himself.
Photograph inscribed and signed: "To/Margie/a pleasure/I loves
ya/Jimmy Durante". B/w, 8x10. Photograph superimposed on a photograph of his
profile. Dated (unknown hand) on verso: "1949". At the time he
signed this photograph, Durante was one of the rotating hosts of The Texaco
Star Theatre. The rotation lasted only the first year of the variety
hour (which was modeled on the format of vaudeville shows). Milton Berle then
became the permanent host and the show, renamed The Milton Berle Show,
shot to No. 1 in the ratings (1950-1951) and aired until 1956. Margie was the
nickname of Durante's second wife, Marjorie Little Durante, whom he would marry
in 1960 after a 16-year courtship (his first wife, the former Jeanne Olsen
had died in 1943). Margie, a former hat check girl at the Copacabana, and
Durante were married until his death in 1980 and adopted a baby girl,
Cecelia Alicia, whom Durante affectionately called "CeCe". Jimmy Durante
(1893-1980), known to family, friends and fans as "The Schnozzola",
"Schnozzle" or simply "the Schnoz" because of his Cyrano-sized nose, began
his career as a piano player on the Lower East Side of New York City. He and his
partners, dancers Eddie Jackson and Lou Clayton, had become overnight
sensations on vaudeville, and Durante later lent his talents to films,
radio and television as well as being a popular performer in nightclubs
and on stage. His act included telling jokes, playing the piano and singing
in his raspy voice. Two of his most popular songs were "Inka Dinka Doo" and
"Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey?", and Durante was also well known for his
trademark sign off line, "Goodnight, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are." An
active life member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, he often performed pro bono
with the proceeds that would have been his pay, going to the Children's Fund.
All he asked in the way of pay was that people, "Help Da Kids". Lightly creased
at blank margins, ½x½-inch paper loss at mid-left blank margin. Minor surface
creases (not evident head on). Lightly soiled, light stains touch 2 letters of
writing. Overall, fine condition.
Following offer submission users will be contacted at their account email address within 48 hours. Our response will be to accept your offer, decline your offer or send you a final counteroffer. All offers can be viewed from within the "Offer Review" area of your HistoryForSale account. Please review the Make Offer Terms prior to making an offer.
If you have not received an offer acceptance or counter-offer email within 24-hours please check your spam/junk email folder.