(NBC Saturday Nights, 1954 - 1956; NBC Saturday Nights, 1956 - 1957 *summer re-runs) [first season umbrella title: "Texaco Star Theater"; In its first season, this series alternated with "The Donald O'Connor Show" under the umbrella title of the "Texaco Star Theater", and thereafter was seen every week under its own name; Durante was a clown-like old-time vaudeville comic. He had a stooped stature, a raspy Brooklyn voice, and a bulbous nose which became his signature and butt of his self-deprecating jokes -- he called his nose "the schnozzola" or "the schnozz"; His rough exterior was an obvious shield for his gentler soul, and a kinder side that also shined through when he smiled... Most of the references to his first name spell it as "Jimmy". But there are also spellings of it as "Jimmie" on printed material as well. Jimmy was a veteran of stage, screen and radio for decades; although his career began in vaudeville, he was a frequent guest on radio shows, had regular appearances in Las Vegas, in motion pictures, and finally on television... He starred in this series, posing as the manager of a small nightclub -- "the Club Durante", auditioning and conducting humorous interviews with regular castmembers, that included his old vaudeville comedy partner -- Eddie Jadckson, the actor-musicians Jack Roth and Joey Buffano, a group of dancer/showgirls known as "The Durante Girls", and musical accompaniment from the Roy Bargy Orchestra; Before the End Credits, Durante would sing one of two show closing songs (see below) and he would concluded with his signature line, "Good-night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are"; apparently this was just a device to touch the individual listeners hearing him on radio or tv; Although some believed she was a fictional character, Mr. J. Friedman contributed the idea to this Web Site that there was a real "Mrs. Calabash" who lived on Prescott Street in Meriden, CT. Mr. Friedman writes, "I'm sure Durante's connection with her is the reason he came to Meriden when we got the 'ideal war community' award during WWII."]
[Texaco Oil Co. jingle, used as an opening, aka: "The Texaco T.V. Star Theatre Theme Song", aka: "The Texaco Star Theme"; The publishing company "MilBud music was a joint venture of Milton Berle and Buddy Arnold.] Composers: Bernard ("Buddy") Arnold (ASCAP), and Heywood ("Woody") Kling (ASCAP) 1978 Publishers: B. Arnold and H. Kling (ASCAP) 1998 Publishers: Milbud Music (ASCAP), of Los Angeles, CA; and Heywood Kling Publisher (ASCAP), of Los Angeles, CA 2018 Publishers: Milbud Music (ASCAP), of Newport Beach, CA; and Heywood Kling Publisher (ASCAP), of Los Angeles, CA [Registered under the following title -- "We Are The Men of Texaco; or, The Texaco T.V. Star Theatre Theme Song"]: Copyright Date: April 23, 1976; EU 672 692. Renewal Date: Recordings: CD - "TeeVee Toons: The Commercials" TVT Records TVT 1400 CD (1989)
[Copyright application states "portions derived from the 'Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2' by Franz Liszt"; also references "We Are the Men of Texaco", aka "Texaco Star Theatre T.V. Theme Song", listed above...] Arranger/Adapter: Allen Roth (not affiliated) Orig. Publisher/Claimant: Texaco, Inc. 1998 Publisher: [no publisher listed in ASCAP or BMI] Original Creation Date: 1948 [new words, some music]: Revision Copyright Date: July 10, 1981, PAu-359-618. Revision Renewal Date: Recordings:
[above is the title as filed for copyright; ASCAP title... aka: "You Gotta Start Off Each Day With A Song"; this was one of the two signature songs of Jimmy Durante on radio and TV (the other was "Inka-Dinka-Doo"). After the "Texaco Star Theater" umbrella ended, this was the Main THEME which opened the show... In the year this song was composed, Jimmy Durante starred in a film called "Land Without Music" (aka: "Forbidden Music") based upon an Oscar Strauss operetta where the residents of a European kingdom are forbidden from singing or playing music because a princess thinks they are having too much fun; she wants them to work harder and pay off the nation's debt, so music is banned...there may be a connection here...] Composer: James ("Jimmy") Durante (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: Robbins Music Corp. (ASCAP) 2001 Publisher: EMI-Robbins Catalog, Inc. (ASCAP) c/o EMI Music Publishing, Inc. of New York, NY Composition Date: 1936 Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings: CD: "TV Classic Themes: 25th Anniversary Edition" (1999) Breakable Records DPMC 105
[aka: "What a Day"; this was an alternate opening THEME song sung by Jimmy Durante during his opening medley on TV in combination with "Start Off Each Day With a Song"; verified on aircheck of tv show, which was reproduced on soundtrack of CD "TV Classic Themes"] Composers: James ("Jimmy") Durante (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: J. Durante Mus. Pub. Co., Inc. (ASCAP) 2001 Publisher: Jimmy Durante Music Publishing Co., Inc. (ASCAP) of Beverly Hills, CA Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings: CD: "TV Classic Themes: 25th Anniversary Edition" (1999) Breakable Records DPMC 105
[above is the title as filed for copyright; ASCAP title... aka: "Goodnight Goodnight Goodnight"; this was one of the two featured songs sung by Jimmy Durante to close his shows on stage performances, radio and TV] Composers: James ("Jimmy") Durante (ASCAP) and Jack Barnett (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: J. Durante Mus. Pub. Co., Inc. (ASCAP) 2001 Publisher: Jimmy Durante Music Publishing Co., Inc. (ASCAP) of Los Angeles, CA [note: copyright numbering "rolled over" in 1978, hence the low number for the Renewal filing...]: Copyright Date: Nov. 27, 1950; Eu 222 783. Renewal Date: Feb. 2, 1978; RE- 332; Recordings: CD: "TV Classic Themes: 25th Anniversary Edition" (1999) Breakable Records DPMC 105
[above is the title as filed for copyright; this was one of two featured songs sung by Jimmy Durante to close his shows on stage performances, radio and TV] Composers: James ("Jimmy") Durante (ASCAP) and Jack Barnett (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: J. Durante Mus. Pub. Co., Inc. (ASCAP) 2001 Publisher: Jimmy Durante Music Publishing Co., Inc. (ASCAP) of Los Angeles, CA Copyright Date: Jan. 5, 1953; Eu 298 968. Renewal Date: Jan. 5, 1981; RE- 78-748. Recordings:
[following the sentimental show closers above, this was used over End Credits on the TV series although it was primarily used as the THEME of Durante's radio show; it was one of the two primary signature songs of Jimmy Durante throughout his career on radio and TV and in night club appearances (the other primary signature tune was "Start Off Each Day With A Song", listed above)] Composers: James ("Jimmy") Durante (ASCAP), Ben Ryan (ASCAP), and Harry Donnely (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: The Bourne Co. (ASCAP) 2001 Publisher: The Bourne Co. (ASCAP) of New York, NY Copyright Date: 1933, EP 39 319. Renewal Date: Recordings: