Danny Kaye: King of Jesters

Koenig (Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World) uncovers entertainer Danny Kaye's life with his wife, Sylvia Fine. Known for his songs, dances, movies, and radio show—in particular, iconic films such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Inspector General, and Hans Christian Andersen—Kaye brought fun, laughter, and showmanship to Hollywood. Koenig argues that Kaye would never have had the legacy he did if not for his partnership with Fine, who was the actor's writer and manager as well as his spouse. It was only through Fine's determination and Kaye's willingness to give it his all that this powerhouse couple rose up from the streets of Brooklyn to the lights of Broadway and eventually to Los Angeles, and this book honors Fine as much as it does her husband. Koenig avoids any discussion of Kaye's sexuality and Laurence Olivier, his rumored partner, is mentioned only twice, in passing, as a fellow actor. The book also does not address Kaye's interactions with the House Committee on Un-American Activities.