Durante’s Signature Sign Off…Who Was Mrs. Calabash?

The most revered part of Jimmy’s show was the finale when he would slowly fade away walking through a succession of spotlights, pausing in each one to either look down or look back at the audience (see the video clip below). He did this after bidding farewell, commenting, “And good night, Mrs. Calabash–wherever you are!” Who was Mrs. Calabash? No one but Jimmy ever knew. This led to all sorts of speculation. The most accepted came to be that it was a pet name for Jimmy’s first wife, Jeanne Olsen. Another was that it referred to the place where Jimmy and Jeanne lived, Calabasas, California. Perhaps the line refers to the owner of a restaurant in Calabash, North Carolina, where Jimmy and his troupe stopped once to eat. He was so taken by the food, the service, and the chitchat that when he left he turned and said,”Good night, Mrs. Calabash,” not knowing the lady’s name. Only Jimmy knew. His reply when asked: “Ha-cha-cha-chaaaaaaa!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWN97q7xtDE

Goodnight Mrs. Calabash – The Jimmy Durante Show 1959

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