“Danny Kaye Will Aid Hill City Youth Group”

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Oct. 20, 1949
















Click Here to download or listen to an interview with Danny regarding this event
Click Here for the Transcript from the above interview

Danny Kaye, stage, radio and screen star, goes to work Sunday for the Hill City Youth Administration.

For Kaye, it will be a busman’s holiday. The funnyman and his all-star stage show will put on four complete performances on the Stanley Theater stage under the Hill City’s sponsorship.

Each year the Stanley Theater management has staged a midnight show to provide funds for the Hill City Administration, the Hill District recreation and civic training group. This year, however, the theater intends to top them all with the Kaye show. He will give the first Sunday stage performance in years.

Kaye, the six-foot, wavy-haired comedian, arrived in Pittsburgh yesterday to open his regular stage engagement at the theater. Before he was off the plane at County Airport he was talking about the benefit.

Talking Straight English

The master of gibberish was talking straight English when he explained to the Pittsburgh officials who greeted him:

“It just happens that we stage and screen players can help out now and then in something fine, such as your work combating juvenile delinquents, but never forget that what you people are doing with these kids is more important than anything else you and I can do.”

Louis Little, president of the Hill City Administration, and County Court Judge Lois McBride attempted to thank the star, but Kaye cut them off:

“There’s no need to thank me,” he said, “I’m doing my job just as you people are in working with these boys and girls.”

Embraces Hill Boys

With that, he turned to embrace two Hill District boys who had come out to greet him.

“What do you say,” the star asked them, turning on the famous Kaye grin.

“I can’t think of anything but, thanks,” stuttered 13-year-old Sam Spezzano, of 1711 Cliff street.

Kaye’s show will play at the Stanley all next week and the Sunday performance will be the same as the regular presentations on the other days.

On the screen will be the movie, “Strange Bargain,” featuring Martha Scott and Geoffrey Lynn. Tickets will be the regular $1.10 for all seats for the Sunday benefit.


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