<P> His last regular television appearance was co-starring with the Lennon Sisters on "Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters Hour" which lasted for one season on ABC (1969--1970). </P> <P> Durante's first wife was Jean "Jeanne" Olson, whom he married on June 19, 1921 . She was born in Ohio on August 31, 1896 . She was 46 years old when she died on Valentine's Day in 1943, after a lingering heart ailment of about two years, although different newspaper accounts of her death suggest she was 45 or perhaps 52 . As her death was not immediately expected, Durante was touring in New York at the time and returned to Los Angeles right away to complete the funeral arrangements . </P> <P> Durante's radio show was bracketed with two trademarks: "Inka Dinka Doo" as his opening theme, and the invariable signoff that became another familiar national catchphrase: "Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are ." For years no one knew who Mrs. Calabash referred to and Durante preferred to keep the mystery alive . One theory was that it referred to the owner of a restaurant in Calabash, North Carolina, where Durante and his troupe had stopped to eat . He was so taken by the food, the service, and the chitchat he told the owner that he would make her famous . Since he did not know her name, he referred to her as "Mrs. Calabash". Another idea was that it was a personal salute to his deceased wife, Jeanne..."Calabash" might have been a mangle of Calabasas, the California city where they made their home during the last years of her life . His friend and co-star, Candy Candido, (in an interview with Chuck Shaden's "Speaking of Radio" in 1988), reported that he met the actual woman in Chicago when traveling with Durante, but was sworn to keep the secret . Alternatively, Jimmy's friend and radio producer, Phil Cohan revealed to Chuck Shaden's Speaking of Radio interview in 1988 that it was a fabrication . Needing a closing to his show, the writers tossed around several names settling on Cohan's calabash pipe as the best - sounding moniker . </P> <P> At a National Press Club meeting in 1966 (broadcast on NBC's Monitor program), Durante finally revealed that it was indeed a tribute to his wife . While driving across the country, they stopped in a small town called Calabash, whose name Jean had loved . "Mrs. Calabash" became his pet name for her, and he signed off his radio program with "Good night, Mrs. Calabash ." He added "wherever you are" after the first year . </P>

Who said goodnight mrs. calabash wherever you are