“Danny Kaye Says Comedians Have Less Opportunity Today”
The Rock Hill-
By: Gene Hansaker (For Bob Thomas)
HOLLYWOOD (AP)—Danny Kaye remarks sadly that aspiring comedians today have no “place to be lousy.”
In the old days there were burlesque, small-
“Or he’s told, ‘You’ll never have it,’” the comic continued.
“There’s less opportunity than ever to develop a number of sides of your talent.
“Suppose you wanted to be a doctor. You wouldn’t wake up some morning, go to a hospital and say, ‘I’ve decided I want to be a doctor. Give me a scalpel.’”
Comedy also requires a lot of training, but, said Danny, “A lot of newcomers don’t realize it’s an art, a profession, and you have to study hard.”
Kaye has “done everything in show business you could do”—except TV. That included summer shows, night clubs, vaudeville, Broadway, radio.
“Everybody has to go through a painful learning process,” he advised. “There are a lot of talented comedians around. But if they don’t develop, they’ll find they’re not going ahead.”
Even for veterans, however, he is against “overexposure.” If he ever goes on television, it won’t be oftener than once a month.
“Only a few can go on week after week and not have their work deteriorate. Mr. (Jack) Benny is a prime example of one who can. He’ll go on for a hundred years. All of his experience has accumulated into a rounded character.”
To avoid overexposure on the screen, Kaye never has made more than one picture a year. His current “Merry Andrew” is his 12th in 14 years.