Product Description
1960 1ST EDITION, COLOR & B&W ILLUSTRATIONS & PHOTOS ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

One of the Great Collection
This was a book I fell in love with as a child of the 60s.Danny Kaye lent his name to this collection, no doubt reflecting his being U.N.I.C.E.F.'s children's ambassador at the time and a tireless campaigner for kids' rights around the globe.I not only loved the rich and wide-ranging illustration styles, but the diversity of compelling stories (full of talking animals, trickster spiders, wishful princesses, and brave knights) made for a great hour or more of captivating reading.I would have to say this was the collection that really facilitated my loving to read--and learning that I could enjoy books other than those assigned to us in school.I would memorize the stories and perform them for anyone who would listen.(I remember performing some of the African ones when I was in 4th grade, when our creative teacher, Mrs. Sarcia, turned our classroom into an African village.)Additionally, it was a book that introduced me to the idea of different cultures around the world and that while there were differences, there were ideas and morals that were universal and appealed to kids everywhere.

I am happy to report that in recent years, I located another copy of the book--and found it just as entrancing.This is one that deserves a re-issue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

a shy retiring genius
I've always liked Danny Kaye as a film comic and TV personality but not until I read "Nobody's Fool" did I realize that this was a man whose intellect bordered ongenius.After a very succesful career in films and television,Danny Kaye took up a number of hobbies and pursued them to the nth degree. He was interested in flying and so he got his pilot's license, then his jet pilot's license, then his multi-engine license and wound up piloting one of the first DC-10's across the Atlantic. He next developed an interest in surgery, talked to and learned from every surgeon he came across and became so adept that he was allowed to assist in an open-heart operation. He next took up cookery and became such a great chef, any restaurant would have eagerly hired him. Yet, with all that, when given the starring role in the Broadway version of Noah's Ark, he walked on stage, completely lost his nerve and could not continue the performance. Read this book and you will get an incredible insight into the life of a man whom most of us regarded as just a clever comic not knowing we were watching a funny man with a mind that was nothing short of brilliant.

Author Despises Kaye
This is nothing but an assassination of Danny Kaye.From the first lines of the book, one can see the author has no use for Kaye.Every line of praise is followed by the authors snide comments.If one of his movies was considered "classic", he says "maybe for the time, but not now."He speculates on Kaye's "sexuality", although claims of Kaye's homosexuality have been thoroughly rebuffed in three separate books, including a definitive bio of Olivier.

There are glaring errors in the book - a picture of Danny and his daughter caption reads "Danny and his thirteen year-old daughter", when it's quite obvious it should have read "thirty year-old" - as the picture is from the 1970's, and the daughter is grown in the photo.He bases the claim of Kaye's daughter being unable to write about her parents on a clip from a Houston newspaper.You can purchase his will for $10 online - I may, just to complete the research!

Kaye was an intensely private man, which seems abhorrent to the author.He did not socialize with other actors/players, and probably had an altered image of himself.His wife was commanding, and it's apparent that he was insecure in his actions, constantly fearing people would turn on him.However, this does not make him evil.

Horribly unbalanced, the few kind words the author allows are outweighed by the constant speculations of the author.It's sad that he was able to publish this one-sided view.

Reads like a tabloid
The author of this book is no gentleman, neither is he a fan of Danny Kaye.It is impossible to enjoy any biography written by someone who has no respect for his subject.Danny Kaye was a huge star in Hollywood, and as such, we can reasonably expect that, in contrast to the wondrous and happy act he played, he was in private an unhappy man with problems.This book is chocked full of first-hand accounts of his often inappropriate and sometimes shocking behavior, which, though very unpleasant and disappointing to read about, isn't too hard to believe.However, the author does not content himself in letting us believe D.K. had many demons, but rather tries to convince us that Danny Kaye was himself, a demon. The dark side of Danny Kaye could have been mentioned without all the endless nasty comments by the author, who seems to give himself utterly to whatever was corrupt in the actor, magnifying his faults to such an extreme that you forget why you liked Danny Kaye to begin with. It's all very one-sided, as if no one had any positive dealings with Danny Kaye.Even the account of his death is treated with flippant, disrespectful remarks. If that wasn't bad enough, sexuality is the darling theme of this frustrating book.It felt like abuse to have it continually thrown in my face. In summary, the author dug for dirt, found it, and slung it at me.Too extreme, and quite nasty, Mr. Gottfried, and not at all appreciated by this reader.A more honest title would have been, "All The Dirt on Danny Kaye."

He certainly worked hard to be a fool...
This is probably one of the best movie-star biographies I know. And I've read a lot of them.
What makes "Nobody's Fool" so different is the fact that the author manages not to get all sappy and emotional just because he is a fan of his subject. And Gottfried certainly is a fan of Danny Kaye, this is evident in his admiration for Kaye's work on stage and screen and especially in the little scenes where he describes that Kaye could be a very helpful and caring person if someone really needed him. But that admiration doesn't make Gottfried blind for Kaye's faults - and he had a lot of them. He describes Kaye as a brilliant man on stage but very private and emotionally restraint off stage. He had a mean streak a mile wide when in a foul mood and the older he got the worse his off stage (and sometimes even his on stage) behaviour got. Gottfried tries to explain this development and character traits with Kaye's tendency to get depressive as well as with his need to be the center of attention when performing - a need that is at the core of the success of every great star.
The book doesn't focus on Kaye's individual movies or performances (but there are nevertheless many examples from his movies and shows as well as some nice photos). Instead, Gottfried tries to show the reader how the "Danny Kaye" act and persona developed over the years and which elements where characteristic of the act and how they worked. He describes in a very interesting way how Kaye worked and how he (and his wife Silvia Fine, among others) discovered what worked with an audience and which routines showcased his many talents best.
"Nobody's Fool" doesn't idealize Danny Kaye. It shows an extremely talented man who wasn't a very nice person. But what Gottfried manages to convey is the fact that Kaye was one of the greatest entertainers of his time and why. In my opinion Kaye's talent and brilliance are summed up best by Gottfried when he describes Danny Kaye as absolutely unique.

Met him
I have to admit I haven't read the book, but from one brief experience with Danny Kaye, I just hopped on to attest to the claims I read in the reviews of the book re: Kaye's personality.

I met Kaye when I was a teenager, one who was already self-conscious about myself, my appearance, pretty much everything.Kaye took the opportunity to belittle me in front of other people, including my peers (NOT what you want to have happen when you're a teenager!).Who knows, perhaps he sensed my vulnerabilities and decided to have a little fun at my expense.I don't know what his motivations were, but the effect on me was devastating.Home already wasn't a happy place for me and then a childhood "hero" did his best to finish the job that was begun at home.

I'd grown up listening to Kaye's records and watching his movies.He was one of my all time favorites growing up.Since meeting him, I've never watched another Kaye movie -- I can't bear looking at him knowing what a SOB he was.

This was a nasty,heartless man.What kind of person would do that to a kid?

So, there's a little confirmation from someone who had the distinct displeasure of being in this little man's presence. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an MP3 Audio CD of Danny Kaye Show, an oldtime radio show from the 1940's. If you love agood comedy show, you'll love these. You get all these (and many others):First ShowThe Story of His LifeAuction SaleSinging in the BathtubBack from WashingtonAir Mail LetterTeaching an Old Dog New TricksOpening NightKing Danny the Kaye of BrooklynTheater PerformanceUncle Dan's Cabin Mystery of the Murdered Meatball The Great Donivitch Kayeoff Danny Returns from New YorkOne Irish Man's Family Guest Benny RubinHis Own Guest StarThe Wife of O'rileyPlus many more related shows from the same era. Relive the magic of oldtime radio! This is an mp3 audio CD, so it won't play on a standard cd player. You'll need to download the files to your ipod or other mp3 player or play them on your computer or use a mp3 CD player. This listing is in compliance with existing copyright laws and Amazon's policies. These are public domain oldtime radio shows legally produced by our company. ... Read more

Product Description
DANNY KAYE
Danny Kaye, a Hollywood comedian and actor was born David Kaminsky on January 18, 1911, in Brooklyn, New York. There was a story going around that he "pulled a fast one" to get a 4 - F classification when he reported for induction into the army. In 1942, Kaye starred in the musical comedy "Up in Arms." Danny Kaye was married to Sylvia Fine. Danny Kaye and his daughter took an FBI tour on June 26, 1956, and met Director Hoover.


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