“‘Knock on Wood’ Kaye Says ‘Entombment’ Over”

The Desert News – Sep. 2, 1954

By: Danny Kaye

I see people are going to the movies again. I can tell because someone recognizes me every once in a while. I’ve never been seen on television.

For awhile this meant I was never seen—period. But now, I guess people are getting out of the house once in a while—to buy food and go to the movies, anyhow.

During the period of the Great Entombment—the first two years of television—if an entertainer wasn’t on television he wasn’t on. I made one appearance in a theater in those days and the announcer said: “And now, your favorite comedian—Danny Thomas!”

Things Improve

But things have improved since then. Just last week I made a radio appearance and the announcer announced: “And now, here he is, that world-famous entertainer, Sammy Kaye!”

I figured that was an improvement, anyhow. They’re getting closer all the time.

I haven’t made up my mind yet what brought people back to the theaters. I have a hunch that new movies look better by contrast. I’ve seen some of the pictures they show on television. They’re all period pictures—either Early American or Old English.

I’ve recently finished a new picture called “Knock on Wood.” We called it that because my wife, Sylvia, and I, plus our partners, made it with our own money. And every time anyone said, “it’s sure to be a hit,” we’d all knock on wood. I’m the only actor in Hollywood who had to be operated on for splinters in his knuckles.

Plays Ventriloquist

I play a ventriloquist in that one. It was pretty hard learning to make a dummy talk. But that was nothing compared to my next picture, “The Court Jester.” I have to duel, joust, fight and do a lot of dangerous stunts. So I went to Burt Lancaster for some advice. He was very helpful. He loaned me his first-aid kit.

Other actors need make-up kits, stand-ins, costumes. But not Burt. All he needs is plenty of band-aids. I may go back to being a comedian. You last longer.

I still have no plans to appear on television. I’m a firm believer in the adage that a man’s home is his castle.

If a man is going to retire to the quiet of his hearth to get away from entertainers, I’m not gonna pursue him there. There’s little enough of the sanctity of the home left, as it is.


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