On Red Buttons: Never Got a Dinner

Red Buttons (Aaron Chwatt, 1919-2006) was born too late for vaudeville, our primary bailiwick; he got his start performing in the Catskills (where he partnered with Robert Alda), Minsky’s burlesque, and starting in 1941, Broadway shows. From 1952-55, he starred in his own tv variety show, and from there went on to a distinguished Hollywood movie career, winning a best-actor Oscar for his role in Sayonara (1957), and following up with dozens of other memorable parts (I first saw him in 1972’s The Poseidon Adventure, one of my favorite movies.) I’ve also always loved the 1962 Howard Hawks film Hatari! with John Wayne and a whole bunch of rhinoceroses in which Buttons plays “Pockets” (I wonder how long it took them to think of that name).  Buttons was also a much beloved figure at Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts in the 70s, with his popular “…Never Got a Dinner” routines. He passed away in 2006.

And now here he is singing a rather terrifiying song from 1953, which sounds very much like it was produced by Mitch Miller. The effect is best if you picture him wearing clown make-up: