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Danny Kaye Collection

As a youngster, the only thing Danny Kaye was good at was singing songs and telling jokes. After spending time on the Borscht Belt, he found success on Broadway.

Danny Kaye

61 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 33 hours, 1882 min)
available in the following formats:

2 MP3 CDs
or
30 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from July 22, 1940:

"Danny Kaye in Forecast: When You Were 21"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Danny Kaye
(1911 – 1987)

Danny Kaye and David Kapp 1947After Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster left DC Comics over a dispute to the rights to their creation Superman, the team needed to come up with a new super-hero. What they came up with was Funnyman. It featured mild mannered TV comedian Larry Davis, whose agent devises a scheme where Larry performs a super-hero type stunt for publicity. The stunt goes wrong when Larry foils an actual crime without realizing it, and decides to continue his work as a costumed super-hero.

Funnyman’s mannerisms were based on Danny Kaye, which is not surprising. Not only did rubber-faced Kaye put on performances which would seem like they came from the pages of a comic book, but with his humanitarian work in support of UNICEF, Danny Kaye was a bona fide hero in real life.

Jacob and Clara Kaminsky immigrated from the Ukraine to Brooklyn with their two boys, two years before their youngest, David Daniel, was born in 1911. Little Danny attended PS 149 where he entertained his schoolmates and teachers with songs and jokes, but dropped out of Thomas Jefferson High School without graduating. After Danny’s mother died while he was in his early teens, he ran away to Florida where he scratched out a living busking on the streets.

When Danny returned to New York, he took up a series of jobs for which he would be woefully unsuited. As a soda jerk he could never get the ratio of syrup, ice cream and soda right. As an insurance investigator he made a boo-boo that cost the insurance company $40,000. A dentist who hired Danny to watch the office returned from lunch to find the youth refurbishing the office woodwork, using the dentist’s drill!

About the only thing he was good at was telling jokes and singing songs. Danny spent his teen years working the Borscht Belt resorts in the Catskills. His break came when he joined the dance troupe "The Three Terpsichoreans" He adopted the name Danny Kaye and the group made a vaudeville tour of the U.S. and in 1934 left for a six month tour of the Far East. A storm in Osaka damaged the hotel where the group was staying, nearly killing Danny when a chunk of debris was blown through his window. There was no power for the evening’s performance, so Danny illuminated his face using a flashlight and sang every song he could remember. In English, of course. This was when Danny became interested in pantomime. He found it a useful skill when ordering in restaurants where he didn’t know the language, sometimes with mixed results. Once in China, he wanted to order chicken, so he began clucking and flapping his arms. The waiter smiled in realization, left then returned with two eggs.

Danny KayeWhen he returned to New York, he made a few two-reel comedy shorts for Educational Pictures and returned to the Borscht Belt circuit. In 1939, Danny was in the short lived Broadway show Straw Hat Revue. The show closed after 10 weeks. Kaye got decent reviews, but the best was from the show’s rehearsal pianist, Sylvia Fine, whom Danny married in 1940. Although they didn’t know until working on Straw Hat, Danny and Sylvia grew up just blocks from one another. Sylvia’s father was a dentist whose office had been damaged when the boy he hired began carving up the furniture with a dentist’s drill…

Danny found success on Broadway in 1941’s Lady In The Dark. The showstopper was a number called "Tchaikovsky" where Danny rattled off the names of 50 Russian composers in 39 seconds. In 1944, Danny was cast in MGM’s Technicolor Up in Arms, a remake of Whoopee (1930). The next year, The Danny Kaye Show began broadcasting, which featured Eve Arden and Harry James and His Music Makers. During the summer break after the first season, Danny was asked to participate in a USO tour for the troops occupying Japan. Not only was there the honor of entertaining the troops, Danny would be the first American actor to visit Tokyo after the War, territory he knew from his 1934 vaudeville tour. Unfortunately, making the tour meant he would miss the first two months of The Danny Kaye Show’s second season. Several of Danny’s friends, including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, George Burns and Gracie Allen, and Jack Benny stepped up as substitute hosts.

Danny was flying home from London in 1949 when the aircraft experienced mechanical difficulties 500 miles over the Atlantic. While the crew began preparing life jackets and rafts as the plane clawed its way back to Shannon, Ireland, Danny’s nervous seatmate, Maurice Pate, began talking about his work as head of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. From that day forward, Danny was tireless in his efforts to support UNICEF. When UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965, Danny Kaye was selected to accept the award on behalf of the organization.

In 1983, Danny underwent a quadruple bypass heart surgery. Although the operation was a success, he contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion. Complications from the hepatitis lead to internal bleeding in 1987, which induced heart failure. Danny Kaye died on March 3, 1987, at the age of 76. There are three Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame honoring Danny Kaye, at 6563 Hollywood Blvd for Motion Pictures, at 6125 Hollywood Blvd for Recording, and at 6101 Hollywood Blvd for his work in Radio.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

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    COMMENTS

    I personally wish there were more shows to listen to. I think they are all amazing. Danny Kaye was just so fantastic.

    Karen Verified Purchase

    I think he was better on TV -- his Wednesday night show in the 60s is one of my earliest TV memories

    Ken Verified Purchase

    Than you for all The recordings of past era.In my case the fabulous catalogue you have compiled of vocalist that I did not know, plus your outstanding help with my enquiries.

    Bruce Verified Purchase

    Thank you for the reemergence of wonderful memories to share with my family. We are having great times all over again.

    Seth Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    61 recordings on 2 MP3 CDs for just $10.00. Total playtime 33 hours, 1882 min
    61 recordings on 2 MP3 CDs for just $10.00
    total playtime 33 hours, 1882 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. Volume 1 – 28 shows – total playtime 15 hours, 54 minutes
      MP3 CD
      Volume 1: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Big Show 510128 Ray Bolger Gary Cooper.mp3
    3. Bill Stern Sports Newsreel 501020 12th Anniversary Show.mp3
    4. Biography In Sound 570910 90 Danny Kaye.mp3
    5. CP 420308 Eddie Cantor.mp3
    6. CP 440819 134 Judy Garland Danny Kaye Helen Forrest.mp3
    7. CP 450719 184 Judy Canova Hoosier Hot Shots Danny Kaye.mp3
    8. CP 450815 Victory Extra.mp3
    9. CP 460630 228 Janet Blair Danny Kaye Carmen Miranda.mp3
    10. CP 470529 Fifth Anniversary Special Pt 1.mp3
    11. Danny Kaye 4550106 001 First Show.mp3
    12. Danny Kaye 4550113 002 Life Of Danny Kaye.mp3
    13. Danny Kaye 4550120 003 Milking Machine.mp3
    14. Danny Kaye 4550127 004 Plane Trip To Washington.mp3
    15. Danny Kaye 4550203 005 Baby From Washington Afrs.mp3
    16. Danny Kaye 4550203 005 Baby From Washington.mp3
    17. Danny Kaye 4550210 006 Valentine For Jack Benny.mp3
    18. Danny Kaye 4550217 007 Dog Gets Danny Evicted Afrs.mp3
    19. Danny Kaye 4550217 007 Dog Gets Danny Evicted.mp3
    20. Danny Kaye 4550224 008 Woman Building Inspector Afrs.mp3
    21. Danny Kaye 4550224 008 Woman Building Inspector.mp3
    22. Danny Kaye 4550303 009 Danny Kaye Theater Afrs.mp3
    23. Danny Kaye 4550303 009 Danny Kaye Theater.mp3
    24. Danny Kaye 4550310 010 Romeo And Juliet.mp3
    25. Danny Kaye 4550317 011 One Mans Irish Family Afrs.mp3
    26. Danny Kaye 4550407 014 Diary Of Train Trip To Hollywood Afrs.mp3
    27. Danny Kaye 4550511 019 Concerto For War Bonds.mp3
    28. Danny Kaye 4550601 022 Danny Has Dream.mp3
    29. Danny Kaye 4551005 024 Frank Sinatra Subst Danny Tour Afrs.mp3

    1. Volume 2 – 33 shows – total playtime 17 hours, 36 minutes
      MP3 CD
      Volume 2: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Danny Kaye 4551019 026 George Burns Gracie Allen SubstAfrs.mp3
    3. Danny Kaye 4551026 027 Jack Benny Subst Danny Is On Tour.mp3
    4. Danny Kaye 4560125 040 Court Of Human Relations Afrs.mp3
    5. Danny Kaye 4560215 043 Carmen Miranda.mp3
    6. Danny Kaye 4560301 045 Orson Welles Afrs.mp3
    7. Danny Kaye 4560301 045 Orson Welles.mp3
    8. Danny Kaye 4560315 047 Edward Everette Horton.mp3
    9. Danny Kaye 4560322 048 Guests Benay Venuta And Dick Powell.mp3
    10. Danny Kaye 4560524 057 Arthur Treacher Afrs.mp3
    11. Danny Kaye Forecast 1940 When You Were 21.mp3
    12. Democratic National Committee 441106 .mp3
    13. Forecast 400722 03 When You Were Twentyone.mp3
    14. Hedda Hopper Show 510401 X Agnes Moorehead.mp3
    15. Heres To Veterans 460616 0003 Sioux City Sue.mp3
    16. Jack Benny 440528 518 Life Story Of Jack Benny.mp3
    17. Jack Benny 460428 584 Kid From Brooklyn.mp3
    18. Jack Benny 480613 660 From Detroit Dons Weight Is Discussed.mp3
    19. Jack Benny 520302 798 Frank Sinatra Danny Kaye George Burns.mp3
    20. Jack Benny 540221 874 Jack At Train Station.mp3
    21. Jack Benny 550306 913 Life Of Jack Benny Movie.mp3
    22. Jimmy Durante And Garry Moore 450427 Umbriago Kidnapped.mp3
    23. Lux 460325 Wonderman.mp3
    24. Mail Call 441025 115 Tallulah Bankhead Ethel Smith.mp3
    25. Mail Call 450201 Dinah Shore Nat King Cole Dorothy Lamour.mp3
    26. Mail Call 481013 320 Betty Grable Gregory Ratoff O.Welles.mp3
    27. One Night Stand 450117 0484 Bluetopia.mp3
    28. Philco Radio Time4649 470319 023 Danny Kaye And Peggy Lee.mp3
    29. Red Feather Roundup 480930 Red Feather Roundup.mp3
    30. Screen Guild Theater 471103 Secret Life Of Walter Mitty.mp3
    31. Stars In Afternoon 460922 1946 Cbs Programming Preview.mp3
    32. Suspense 490113 323 Too Perfect Alibi.mp3
    33. Suspense 500105 I Never Met Dead Man.mp3
    34. Treasury Star Parade 420000 11 Danny Kaye.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    61 recordings on 2 MP3 Collection Downloads for just $10.00. Total playtime 33 hours, 1882 min
    61 recordings on 2 MP3 Collection Downloads for just $10.00
    897 MB – total playtime 33 hours, 31 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. Volume 1 – 28 shows – 437 MB – total playtime 15 hours, 54 minutes
      Instant Download
      Volume 1: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Big Show 510128 Ray Bolger Gary Cooper.mp3
    3. Bill Stern Sports Newsreel 501020 12th Anniversary Show.mp3
    4. Biography In Sound 570910 90 Danny Kaye.mp3
    5. CP 420308 Eddie Cantor.mp3
    6. CP 440819 134 Judy Garland Danny Kaye Helen Forrest.mp3
    7. CP 450719 184 Judy Canova Hoosier Hot Shots Danny Kaye.mp3
    8. CP 450815 Victory Extra.mp3
    9. CP 460630 228 Janet Blair Danny Kaye Carmen Miranda.mp3
    10. CP 470529 Fifth Anniversary Special Pt 1.mp3
    11. Danny Kaye 4550106 001 First Show.mp3
    12. Danny Kaye 4550113 002 Life Of Danny Kaye.mp3
    13. Danny Kaye 4550120 003 Milking Machine.mp3
    14. Danny Kaye 4550127 004 Plane Trip To Washington.mp3
    15. Danny Kaye 4550203 005 Baby From Washington Afrs.mp3
    16. Danny Kaye 4550203 005 Baby From Washington.mp3
    17. Danny Kaye 4550210 006 Valentine For Jack Benny.mp3
    18. Danny Kaye 4550217 007 Dog Gets Danny Evicted Afrs.mp3
    19. Danny Kaye 4550217 007 Dog Gets Danny Evicted.mp3
    20. Danny Kaye 4550224 008 Woman Building Inspector Afrs.mp3
    21. Danny Kaye 4550224 008 Woman Building Inspector.mp3
    22. Danny Kaye 4550303 009 Danny Kaye Theater Afrs.mp3
    23. Danny Kaye 4550303 009 Danny Kaye Theater.mp3
    24. Danny Kaye 4550310 010 Romeo And Juliet.mp3
    25. Danny Kaye 4550317 011 One Mans Irish Family Afrs.mp3
    26. Danny Kaye 4550407 014 Diary Of Train Trip To Hollywood Afrs.mp3
    27. Danny Kaye 4550511 019 Concerto For War Bonds.mp3
    28. Danny Kaye 4550601 022 Danny Has Dream.mp3
    29. Danny Kaye 4551005 024 Frank Sinatra Subst Danny Tour Afrs.mp3

    1. Volume 2 – 33 shows – 459 MB – total playtime 17 hours, 36 minutes
      Instant Download
      Volume 2: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Danny Kaye 4551019 026 George Burns Gracie Allen SubstAfrs.mp3
    3. Danny Kaye 4551026 027 Jack Benny Subst Danny Is On Tour.mp3
    4. Danny Kaye 4560125 040 Court Of Human Relations Afrs.mp3
    5. Danny Kaye 4560215 043 Carmen Miranda.mp3
    6. Danny Kaye 4560301 045 Orson Welles Afrs.mp3
    7. Danny Kaye 4560301 045 Orson Welles.mp3
    8. Danny Kaye 4560315 047 Edward Everette Horton.mp3
    9. Danny Kaye 4560322 048 Guests Benay Venuta And Dick Powell.mp3
    10. Danny Kaye 4560524 057 Arthur Treacher Afrs.mp3
    11. Danny Kaye Forecast 1940 When You Were 21.mp3
    12. Democratic National Committee 441106 .mp3
    13. Forecast 400722 03 When You Were Twentyone.mp3
    14. Hedda Hopper Show 510401 X Agnes Moorehead.mp3
    15. Heres To Veterans 460616 0003 Sioux City Sue.mp3
    16. Jack Benny 440528 518 Life Story Of Jack Benny.mp3
    17. Jack Benny 460428 584 Kid From Brooklyn.mp3
    18. Jack Benny 480613 660 From Detroit Dons Weight Is Discussed.mp3
    19. Jack Benny 520302 798 Frank Sinatra Danny Kaye George Burns.mp3
    20. Jack Benny 540221 874 Jack At Train Station.mp3
    21. Jack Benny 550306 913 Life Of Jack Benny Movie.mp3
    22. Jimmy Durante And Garry Moore 450427 Umbriago Kidnapped.mp3
    23. Lux 460325 Wonderman.mp3
    24. Mail Call 441025 115 Tallulah Bankhead Ethel Smith.mp3
    25. Mail Call 450201 Dinah Shore Nat King Cole Dorothy Lamour.mp3
    26. Mail Call 481013 320 Betty Grable Gregory Ratoff O.Welles.mp3
    27. One Night Stand 450117 0484 Bluetopia.mp3
    28. Philco Radio Time4649 470319 023 Danny Kaye And Peggy Lee.mp3
    29. Red Feather Roundup 480930 Red Feather Roundup.mp3
    30. Screen Guild Theater 471103 Secret Life Of Walter Mitty.mp3
    31. Stars In Afternoon 460922 1946 Cbs Programming Preview.mp3
    32. Suspense 490113 323 Too Perfect Alibi.mp3
    33. Suspense 500105 I Never Met Dead Man.mp3
    34. Treasury Star Parade 420000 11 Danny Kaye.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    61 recordings on 30 Audio CDs. Total playtime 28 hours, 57 min
    61 recordings on 30 Audio CDs
    total playtime 28 hours, 57 min

    Danny Kaye Disc A001

    1. Danny Kaye 4550106 001 First Show
    2. Danny Kaye 4550113 002 Life Of Danny Kaye

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A002

    1. Danny Kaye 4550120 003 Milking Machine
    2. Danny Kaye 4550127 004 Plane Trip To Washington

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A003

    1. Danny Kaye 4550203 005 Baby From Washington Afrs
    2. Danny Kaye 4550203 005 Baby From Washington

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A004

    1. Danny Kaye 4550210 006 Valentine For Jack Benny
    2. Danny Kaye 4550217 007 Dog Gets Danny Evicted Afrs

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A005

    1. Danny Kaye 4550217 007 Dog Gets Danny Evicted
    2. Danny Kaye 4550224 008 Woman Building Inspector Afrs

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A006

    1. Danny Kaye 4550224 008 Woman Building Inspector
    2. Danny Kaye 4550303 009 Danny Kaye Theater Afrs

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A007

    1. Danny Kaye 4550303 009 Danny Kaye Theater
    2. Danny Kaye 4550310 010 Romeo And Juliet

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A008

    1. Danny Kaye 4550317 011 One Mans Irish Family Afrs
    2. Danny Kaye 4550407 014 Diary Of Train Trip To Hollywood Afrs

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A009

    1. Danny Kaye 4550511 019 Concerto For War Bonds
    2. Danny Kaye 4550601 022 Danny Has Dream

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A010

    1. Danny Kaye 4551005 024 Frank Sinatra Subst Danny Tour Afrs
    2. Danny Kaye 4551019 026 George Burns Gracie Allen SubstAfrs

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A011

    1. Danny Kaye 4551026 027 Jack Benny Subst Danny Is On Tour
    2. Danny Kaye 4560125 040 Court Of Human Relations Afrs

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A012

    1. Danny Kaye 4560215 043 Carmen Miranda
    2. Danny Kaye 4560301 045 Orson Welles Afrs

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A013

    1. Danny Kaye 4560301 045 Orson Welles
    2. Danny Kaye 4560315 047 Edward Everette Horton

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A014

    1. Danny Kaye 4560322 048 Guests Benay Venuta And Dick Powell
    2. Danny Kaye 4560524 057 Arthur Treacher Afrs

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A015

    1. Danny Kaye Forecast 1940 When You Were 21
    2. Forecast 400722 03 When You Were Twentyone
    3. Treasury Star Parade 420000 11 Danny Kaye

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A016

    1. CP 420308 Eddie Cantor
    2. Jack Benny 440528 518 Life Story Of Jack Benny

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A017

    1. CP 440819 134 Judy Garland Danny Kaye Helen Forrest
    2. Mail Call 441025 115 Tallulah Bankhead Ethel Smith

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A018

    1. Democratic National Committee 441106

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A019

    1. One Night Stand 450117 0484 Bluetopia
    2. Mail Call 450201 Dinah Shore Nat King Cole Dorothy Lamour

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A020

    1. Jimmy Durante And Garry Moore 450427 Umbriago Kidnapped
    2. CP 450719 184 Judy Canova Hoosier Hot Shots Danny Kaye

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A021

    1. Lux 460325 Wonderman

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A022

    1. Jack Benny 460428 584 Kid From Brooklyn
    2. Heres To Veterans 460616 0003 Sioux City Sue

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A023

    1. CP 460630 228 Janet Blair Danny Kaye Carmen Miranda
    2. Philco Radio Time4649 470319 023 Danny Kaye And Peggy Lee

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A024

    1. CP 470529 Fifth Anniversary Special Pt 1
    2. Screen Guild Theater 471103 Secret Life Of Walter Mitty

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A025

    1. Jack Benny 480613 660 From Detroit Dons Weight Is Discussed
    2. Red Feather Roundup 480930 Red Feather Roundup

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A026

    1. Mail Call 481013 320 Betty Grable Gregory Ratoff O.Welles
    2. Suspense 490113 323 Too Perfect Alibi

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A027

    1. Suspense 500105 I Never Met Dead Man
    2. Bill Stern Sports Newsreel 501020 12th Anniversary Show

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A028

    1. Hedda Hopper Show 510401 X Agnes Moorehead
    2. Jack Benny 520302 798 Frank Sinatra Danny Kaye George Burns

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A029

    1. Jack Benny 540221 874 Jack At Train Station
    2. Jack Benny 550306 913 Life Of Jack Benny Movie

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Danny Kaye Disc A030

    1. Biography In Sound 570910 90 Danny Kaye

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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