Born to Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn, red-haired Kaye became one of the world's best-known comedians. He learned his trade in his teen years as a tummler in the Catskills. In 1941 he appeared in the Broadway show, Lady in the Dark and performed the famous number "Tchaikovsky," by Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin, in which he sang the names of a whole string of Russian composers at breakneck speed, seemingly without taking a breath.
According to The New York Times, when he appeared at the London Palladium music hall In 1948, he "roused the Royal family to shrieks of laughter and was the first of many performers who have turned English variety into an American preserve." Life magazine described his reception as "worshipful hysteria" and noted that the royal family, for the first time in history, left the royal box to see the show from the front row of the orchestra.
Kaye made his film debut in a 1935 comedy short subject, entitled Moon Over Manhattan. His feature film debut was Up in Arms (1944). He starred in several movies with actress Virginia Mayo in the 1940's, and is well known for his roles in films such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), The Inspector General (1949), White Christmas (1954), Knock on Wood (1954), The Court Jester (1956), and Merry Andrew (1958). Kaye starred in two pictures based on biographies, Hans Christian Andersen (1952) about the Danish story-teller, and The Five Pennies (1959) about jazz pioneer Red Nichols. His wife, Sylvia Fine, wrote many of the songs Danny Kaye became famous for. Some of Kaye's films included the theme of doubles, two people who look identical (both played by Danny Kaye) being mistaken for each other, to comic effect.
Kaye starred in a radio program of his own, The Danny Kaye Show, on CBS in 1945-1946. Despite its clever writing (radio legend Goodman Ace, Sylvia Fine, and respected playwright-director Abe Burrows were the writers for the show) and performing cast (including Eve Arden, Lionel Stander, and big bandleader Harry James), the show lasted only a year.
He hosted his own variety hour on CBS, The Danny Kaye Show, from 1963 to 1967. Kaye also did a stint as one of the What's My Line? Mystery Guests on the popular Sunday Night CBS-TV program. Later, Kaye also served as a guest panelist on that quiz show. Years later, Kaye also guest-starred in episodes of The Cosby Show and of the 1980's remake of The Twilight Zone (see The New Twilight Zone).
Kaye's influence was felt beyond the entertainment world in the world of professional sports as well. Kaye was the original owner of the Seattle Mariners along with his partner Lester Smith, from 1977-81.
During the 1950s, Kaye also acted in a pantomime production of Cinderella, in Sydney, Australia, where he played the role of "Buttons", Cinderella's stepfather's servant, and also Cinderella's friend.
In many of his movies, as well as on stage, Kaye proved to be an able actor, singer, dancer and comedian, often having his comedic talents showcased by special material written by his wife, Sylvia Fine. He showed quite a different and serious side as Ambassador for UNICEF, and in one of his few dramatic roles in the memorable TV-movie Skokie, in which he played a Holocaust survivor. Before he died in 1987, Kaye also demonstrated his ability to conduct an orchestra during a comical, but technically sound, series of concerts organised for UNICEF fundraising. Kaye received two Academy Awards, an honorary award in 1955 and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1982. In his later years he took to entertaining at home as chef—he had a special stove installed in his patio—and host. He specialized in Chinese cooking.
Kaye died in 1987 from a heart attack, following a bout of hepatitis. He left a widow Sylvia Fine and a daughter Dena. He is interred in the Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. His grave is adorned with a bench that contains friezes of a baseball and bat, an aircraft, a piano, a flower pot, musical notes, and a glove.
Pigalle
Danny Kaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like Paree oughta be?
All the natives agree
Pigalle!
Wonderful street
Where the simple folk meet
with the social elite
Pigalle!
Sidewalk cafes,
Waiters balancing trays,
Mornin', night and noon.
Taxicabs toot
While a guy on a flute
Renders "Claire De Lune".
Mademoiselles
Wink their eyes at the swells
Where the corner sign spells
Pigalle!
Take it from me,
when you visit Paree,
Yes, you better had see
Pigalle!
It's just a part of the city,
Part of the heart of Paree.
Not to be there is a pity,
Won't you visut Pigalle with me?
What makes Paree
Like Paree oughta be?
All the natives agree
Pigalle!
Wonderful street
Where the simple folk meet
with the social elite
Pigalle!
Sidewalk cafes,
Waiters balancing trays,
Mornin', night and noon.
Taxicabs toot
While a guy on a flute
Murders "Claire De Lune".
Mademoiselles
Wink their eyes at the swells
Where the corner sign spells
Pigalle!
Take it from me,
when you visit Paree,
Yes, you better had see
Pigalle!
The song "Pigalle" by Danny Kaye is a tribute to the famous Pigalle district in Paris, a vibrant and colorful neighborhood filled with nightclubs, cafes, and cabarets. The song conveys the energy and excitement of the area, describing the various sights and sounds that one would encounter during a visit.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Pigalle," which serves as a sort of rallying cry for the neighborhood. The first verse describes the diversity of people found in the district, from simple working-class folks to the wealthy elite. The second verse highlights the various entertainments available, including sidewalk cafes, live music, and the flirtations of the beautiful Mademoiselles.
Overall, the song presents Pigalle as the beating heart of Paris, a place where one can experience the city's rich culture and soak up its unique atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
What makes Paree
What are the unique qualities that set Paris apart from other cities?
Like Paree oughta be?
In the way that Paris is expected to be?
All the natives agree
The locals all concur
Pigalle!
It's Pigalle that makes Paris unique
Wonderful street
A boulevard worth visiting
Where the simple folk meet
A place where regular people can interact
with the social elite
Only those with high social status are allowed
Pigalle!
It's Pigalle that makes Paris unique
Sidewalk cafes,
Eateries by the roadside
Waiters balancing trays,
Servers carrying plates and cups skillfully
Mornin', night and noon.
At any time of day or night
Taxicabs toot
Cars honk their horns
While a guy on a flute
As a musician with a flute plays...
Renders "Claire De Lune".
...the tune of Debussy's Claire De Lune
Mademoiselles
Young unmarried women
Wink their eyes at the swells
Flirt with wealthy men
Where the corner sign spells
Where the street sign says
Pigalle!
It's Pigalle that makes Paris unique
Take it from me,
Believe me when I say
when you visit Paree,
If you go to Paris
Yes, you better had see
You absolutely must see
Pigalle!
It's Pigalle that makes Paris unique
It's just a part of the city,
It's just one neighborhood of many
Part of the heart of Paree.
A core component of what makes Paris great
Not to be there is a pity,
To miss out on Pigalle would be a shame
Won't you visit Pigalle with me?
Will you come to Pigalle with me?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEORGE KOGER, GUY LUYPAERTS, HANS GEORG SCHENCKENDORFF VON, GEORGES ULMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheAloweWolf
Oooh !!!!!!!! I enjoyed hearing this Wonderful piece !!!!!!!!!!!! Hahaha !!!!!!!! It seems beautiful and very exciting !!!!!!!!!!! After having endured several days over here during last week that were around 35 degrees celsius.. The temperatures seem to be cooling !!!!!!!! In fact yesterday evening we saw several strong thunderstorms move through producing heavy rain !!!!!! And I believe after this sudden cool down things might be heating back up again !!!!!!! So the temperatures do appear to be rather changeable.. for a bit !!!!!!!!!! Please do know that my very Warmest Feelings are for you !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🌹🌹🌹🌻🌻🌻🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Henk Gloudemans
Overhere it is not warm anymore my precious friend and I like it that way !!!!!!!! I hope everything is fine with you my wonderful friend !!!!!! And I hope that you have a nice and pieceful Sunday !!!!!! And I thank you for all that flowes and all that hearts !!!!!!! Is everything allright with the foxes Wolfie ? I give you my most warmest feelings !!!!!!! Greetings Henk !
jytte thagaard nielsen
Good morning, dear Henk!!!!!! Thank you so much for playing this lovely melody. It brings out one of my most dear memories. !!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Paris I spent a whole day with a frenchman. From 9 in the morning till 3 in the night. He showed me places not known to many tourists. He was the most romantic man, I have ever met in my life. He bought some food, we would eat in some park. After eating we rested in the grass. and he spent almost an hour just kissing my face. Later in my life I never met such a man (most danes just kiss your face two minutes or less). Next day I had to go home to Denmark. We wrote letters to each other for some months, and then he told me that he was married to a woman in the south of France. So I stopped writing , but I always will cherish the memory of him. !!!!!!!!!!!! I wish you a lovely day!!!!!!! Your danish friend Jytte
Henk Gloudemans
What a romantic storie !!!!!! And how sad it ended………………you must be hurt verry much at that time...………. Jytte have a beautyful Sunday !!!!!!!!!!!! I thank you that you like my record from Danny !!!!!!!!! For me is this the best performance from Pigalle, together with the one from Yvette Horner !!!!!!! I give you my warmest feelings !!!!! Henk !!!!!!
OUD PLAATWERK
Dank je wel voor deze muzikale rondreis door Parijs.M.vr.gr.🤗
Henk Gloudemans
Oui,oui ! Mon ami !!!!!!! Ca cést Paris !!!!!!!!
Henri de Lagardère
At times, human chameleon Danny Kaye virtually grows a boater hat out of his head, so close is he to Maurice Chevalier. This record puts me right into an Inspector Clouseau sort of mood.
Henk Gloudemans
Do you have a Reuimm !!!!!! Is there a massage for me ? Hahaha !!!!!!!
jytte thagaard nielsen
Oh inspector clouseau is so funny and so nice at the same time ☺️☺️☺️
TheAloweWolf
@Henri de Lagardère Ahhhhh Henri my friend !!!!!!!! It is always wonderful to read your Fantastic fantastic comments !!!!!!!! I hope you’re having a magical weekend !!!!!!!!!