Jimmy Durante

Jimmy Durante was an all-around entertainer, from the early 1900s right into the 1970s. He performed on stage, in movies, on radio, and on tv during his very long career.

Mr. Durante was one of my earliest autographed photo requests. I wrote him in 1968, sending the letter to his residence in Beverly Hills, and he responded with this letter and this 5x7 photo.

For a few years following, I sent him a Christmas card. He always sent one in return, always with a theme of 'Santa playing a piano'. Below is one from 1970.

Here's a video clip from 1960 of Jimmy Durante joking and singing along with Steve Allen.