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Jimmy Durante
On May 8, 1945, U.S. Design Patent No.: 141,111 issued to James Durante and Ernest Hamlin Baker for a "Design for a Doll Head". James Durante is better known as Jimmy Durante, who was a popular pianist, comedian and actor from the 1920s through the 1970s. Today, Durante is best remembered for his large nose, gravelly voice and use of catch phrases, such as "I got a million of 'em!"; "Ha cha cha!"; and "Dat's my boy dat said dat!"; all of which were delivered in a strong Lower East Side Manhattan accent. Imitations of Durante were routinely used in cartoons of the 1940s and 1950s, such as Bugs Bunnyand Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy, which still enjoy some popularity today. Durante was also the narrator for the 1969 Rankin-Bass cartoon, "Frosty the Snowman", which is still routinely shown on television during Christmastime.
While not quite as famous as Durante, Ernest Hamlin Baker was a noted artist and illustrator, who is best known for illustrating over 300 covers of Time magazine, from 1939 through 1956. Indeed, Baker has been described as being the father of Time magazine portraiture and is credited with developing the "facial reporting" style. Before working for Time, Baker had illustrated the covers of Fortune magazine in the 1930s, using a distinctive art deco-type of style.
Presumably, Durante provided the conceptual features of the doll of the '111 design patent, while Baker created the actual doll. The doll was the embodiment of "Umbriago", an imaginary character that Durante often referred to in his live and radio comedy routines as a peculiar one of his acquaintenances. The term "Umbriago" was an Italian slang word for a drunkard and/or a village idiot. Durante's mere mention of Umbriago would often evoke laughter from the audience, even before Durante had a chance to tell a joke about him.
In 1944, Durante starred in the movie "Music for Millions" in which Durante performed a rousing rendition of "Umbriago", a song written by Irving Caesar especially for the movie. While singing and playing the piano, Durante is continually being interrupted. At one point, the noted Jazz drummer, Jack Roth, interrupts Durante with an impromptu drum roll, which prompts Durante to quip: "you know you can be easily replaced". The song became quite popular, rising to the top of the Billboard charts for juke box music. It was a favorite of American soldiers in World War II and resulted in at least two American bombers being named "Umbriago".
While not quite as famous as Durante, Ernest Hamlin Baker was a noted artist and illustrator, who is best known for illustrating over 300 covers of Time magazine, from 1939 through 1956. Indeed, Baker has been described as being the father of Time magazine portraiture and is credited with developing the "facial reporting" style. Before working for Time, Baker had illustrated the covers of Fortune magazine in the 1930s, using a distinctive art deco-type of style.
Presumably, Durante provided the conceptual features of the doll of the '111 design patent, while Baker created the actual doll. The doll was the embodiment of "Umbriago", an imaginary character that Durante often referred to in his live and radio comedy routines as a peculiar one of his acquaintenances. The term "Umbriago" was an Italian slang word for a drunkard and/or a village idiot. Durante's mere mention of Umbriago would often evoke laughter from the audience, even before Durante had a chance to tell a joke about him.
In 1944, Durante starred in the movie "Music for Millions" in which Durante performed a rousing rendition of "Umbriago", a song written by Irving Caesar especially for the movie. While singing and playing the piano, Durante is continually being interrupted. At one point, the noted Jazz drummer, Jack Roth, interrupts Durante with an impromptu drum roll, which prompts Durante to quip: "you know you can be easily replaced". The song became quite popular, rising to the top of the Billboard charts for juke box music. It was a favorite of American soldiers in World War II and resulted in at least two American bombers being named "Umbriago".
Umbriago
I know a fellow
A fellow can make your life so mellow
There's one like him in every town
He's half a man and half a clown
Umbriago
Could be mayor of New York
And of Chicago, hoo-hoo
Umbriago
Raises cane from Portland
Maine to Santiago
When you worry
Better send for Umbriago in a hurry
He's got lots of time
That's all he spends is time
He never spends a dime
So when you feel low
Better send for my friend
Umbriago
I know a fellow
A fellow can make your life so mellow
There's one like him in every town
He's half a man and half a clown
Umbriago
Could be mayor of New York
And of Chicago, hoo-hoo
Umbriago
Raises cane from Portland
Maine to Santiago
When you worry
Better send for Umbriago in a hurry
He's got lots of time
That's all he spends is time
He never spends a dime
So when you feel low
Better send for my friend
Umbriago
