Make Room for Danny

Thanks to Davidson's collaborative skills (previously with President Kennedy, Sid Caesar, etc.), the full flavor of Thomas's much-admired personality emerges in this autobigraphy. The son of poor Lebanese immigrants, the entertainer was born in 1914 on a horse farm in Michigan and grew up among Jewish, Irish, Italian and other new Americans, an ethnic mix that provides the material for the comic's storytelling routines. After breaking into radio in his youth, Thomas rose to fame in films and TV, remained married to his wife of 54 years, Rose Marie. He attributes his successful life to a kept promise to St. Jude to found and support a children's hospital in his name, an institution for which Thomas was awarded the Congressional Medal. The hospital, according to the star, is his greatest reward, outweighing his professional achievements, even his record-setting TV show, an 11-year prime-time favorite, Make Room for Daddy. Father to Tony, a noted TV producer, and actress-producer Marlo, Thomas also reports proudly on their careers. Among other attractions in the book are tender and funny tales of cherished friends Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, Sinatra, Sammy Davis and others. Photos not seen by PW. (Jan.)