Watched the classic Jimmy Durante film Joe Palooka last night. Great stuff but it was Durante, of course, that made it worth the watch. What a shame that the majority of his films are not available on DVD or even on VHS.
Durante started his career as a ragtime pianist in New York about 1911 playing in the same circles with musicians like the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. He played in a mess of Jazz bands into the 20's which was when his vaudville career took off.
He smoked cigars. He was a Catholic.
Fr. Peyton had a radio show called the Rosary Hour and he'd get prominent Catholics to come on the air to recite the rosary. Durante was one guest. That would have been a thing to hear...
"Hail Mary fulla greats, da Lord is wit'dee."
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