Danny Kaye hilariously conducts the National Symphony Orchestra (1962) | The Kennedy Center

Following words from President John F. Kennedy, actor Danny Kaye took to the podium and led the National Symphony Orchestra in an act that has been described as a satire of great conductors.
From of "An American Pageant of the Arts," on November 29, 1962. The purpose of the event was to raise funds for the National Cultural Center, begun under Eisenhower's administration and encouraged under Kennedy's.
Two months after President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, Congress passed and President Johnson signed into law legislation renaming the National Cultural Center as a "living memorial" to John F. Kennedy.
Watch the full pageant with Bob Newhart, Harry Belafonte, Yo-Yo Ma, Marian Anderson, Robert Frost, Maria Tallchief, Andre Previn, and many more:
• "An American Pageant o...
Learn more about the Kennedy Center's history:
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Danny Kaye was an American actor, singer, dancer, comedian, musician, and philanthropist. His performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomimes, and rapid-fire novelty songs. Kaye starred in 17 movies, notably Wonder Man (1945), The Kid from Brooklyn (1946), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), The Inspector General (1949), Hans Christian Andersen (1952), White Christmas (1954), and The Court Jester (1956). His films were popular, especially for his performances of patter songs and favorites such as "Inchworm" and "The Ugly Duckling." He was the first ambassador-at-large of UNICEF in 1954 and received the French Legion of Honour in 1986 for his years of work with the organization.
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[@marieclark8563]

Danny Kaye was such a gift to this planet. So glad he's been recorded!!!

[@fulcrum8108]

he couldn’t read a note of music, all of this lived in his head. he was a true renaissance man and is so missed.

[@AdamFuqua]

You know they say he took serious effort to master any craft that he clowned. When he played a boxer, he really learned to box. When he conducted, he really learned to conduct. When he fenced, he really learned to fence. Truly a man of many talents.

[@flipflopmcgurt3403]

He flew planes. Jet planes too

[@judithlecount4292]

Is there a dr hochberg in henniker nh

[@vickipeck3624]

When I was a dance major at the University of Washington, in the late 1970’s, Danny Kaye came to Seattle to “steal the baton.” He knew my teacher, Ruthanna Boris and showed up one morning to “watch” our ballet class for awhile. Well, of course, that didn’t last long! He took over for a few minutes. He was delightful!

[@tantejopie268]

I think you were so lucky to see this wonderful man, in person. I have truly loved everything I've seen or heard from this man, ever since my late father played ( a 78rpm record ) his copy of Tubby the Tuba. I sat by the radiogram, as a 6yo, completely enthralled by the dialogue. So, at 70yo, I still enjoy Danny Kaye.

[@ChrisWelch]

​@@tantejopie268so identify at 65

[@wilee.coyote6063]

His movements are poetry in motion. I could hear music with his movements and expressions, a true dancer.

[@patfowler9174]

He is true magic. We lost him when he was far too young and not finished giving to the world. He was a very humble man.

[@megankumamoto3645]

Everyone the whole world loved him even children

[@thescribe7117]

This is what I call TRUE talent!

[@carolynpefley2596]

This is hardly a parody. The man knows how to conduct. He obviously rehearsed and understands the music. Amazing.

[@thescribe7117]

Carolyn, This is true talent. Knowing how to do something yet able to make it look funny is not easy. That Rowan Atkinson Mr Bean is also very good at playing parody.

[@psakbar]

@@thescribe7117 Danny conducted Yale Philharmonia when I was in grad school and he was one of the best conductors I have ever encountered, no joke. Note how great the orchestra sounds! He's so easy to follow, his tempos are perfect, and he's just plain a great musician. (I'm a former member of the NSO too.)

[@psakbar]

PS His conductor parodies are spot on.

[@Arkelk2010]

I am an audience type, not a musician. But I have wondered over the years how some conductors can be followed. Kaye certainly seemed clear to me.

[@nealbradleigh5069]

​@thescribe7117 I think.Atkinson may have seen Danny's antics as a child. Always the clown for our entertainment (who suffered so internally). Read into his bio and learn about his love for the arts.

[@johnclawed]

The greatest all-around entertainer of the 20th century. He did a one-man show in London after WWII, and went back a year later. The theater put up posters that said only "He's back" and everyone knew who they meant.

[@myratravin9588]

He's such a profound delight.

[@KerstinS-qo5xf]

It is so wonderful to see how happy he was conducting. And his joy is also transporting to the musicians and the audience. Music is communication and I think one can say Danny Kaye found this way of communication in his later years, doing less shows, but so much humanitarian work (also his conducting was for charity). A way that made him smile and glowe, while he sometimes getting older is described as morose. He brought so much joy to his audience and to the children, and it makes me happy to think he enjoyed conducting and was serendipitous with this furthermore talent.

[@loreleielkins]

What a great talent that man had.

[@LauraTenora]

It is said that he couldn't read music at all. Yet his gesture is clearer and easier to follow than many professional conductors I've had to perform under!

[@minebosman2809]

I remember watching this recording (or something similar) as a 6-7 year old and loving every moment of it.

[@cherowa]

Unique!!!!!!!!!!

[@cruisematt8585]

Brilliant

[@edoardopesce9226]

He was a dear friend of the great Italian conductor Carlo Maria Giulini.

[@christalstarkey1456]

good music

[@tomstarkey8712]

danny kaye❤❤❤

[@julietcunningham852]

The first piece is the overture to Rossini's "The Thieving Magpie" (or crow). A girl is arrested on charges of theft, but things continue to go missing as she sits in jail. The bird's crime is revealed, and all ends happily. Almost noone does the whole opera anymore, except for this famous overture. This is not the Kennedy Center, as it wasn't finished until 1971. I saw Danny Kaye perform with the National Symphony, at about this time, but in their previous home, Constitution Hall. He was great.

[@frodomccoy]

Always fabulous!!

[@DiversityFuturist]

Genius with joy!

[@christalstarkey1456]

good song

[@christalstarkey1456]

danny kaye his music

[@salvinasantoro1959]

Fantastico Kaye❤❤

[@MrAztel09]

he is a multy talent

[@lanebrain55]

great conductor

[@crossroads4527]

Please upload some more video of Danny kaye

[@davemiller7633]

In 1981 he did a whole concert with the NY Philharmonic. The video is on KZbin

[@christalstarkey1456]

danny kaye you are mine

[@christalstarkey1456]

good muisc

[@heididepotter8136]

Feeling music!

[@christalstarkey1456]

funny danny kaye

[@MrKlausbaudelaire]

Just dropping this here, the music started as Rossini's "La Gazza ladra" (the thieving Magpie) which is more recognizable by its second half.

[@flipflopmcgurt3403]

Wait, it was called the Kennedy Center even before he was assassinated? Man, they really did know about it.

[@WashinRob]

It was called the Natural Cultural Center before his death. They renamed it after his death 2 months after

[@mnuman22]

Opera House Ankara… did I read that right?

[@minebosman2809]

Where did you see that please?

[@khaliffoster3777]

Can update and put closed caption.

[@xres1329]

Imagine what could he have done with Pacman, rap music and virtual reality...Probably more than a hydrogen bomb,,,

[@gkes]

at Opera House ANKARA ?

[@ReallyJillRogoff]

I thought it said Antwerp. I'll have to look again.

[@catycat28meow]

If I lead an orchestra, I won't do ANY of that.

[@cgallagher5023]

😊

[@megankumamoto3645]

is he doing this to be funny 1:42 2:13 2:32 4:35

[@christalstarkey1456]

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