His Life and Career
Growing Up
Born in Deerfield Michigan January 6th 1912 to a family of eight brothers and one sister. His birth names was Muzyad Yakhoob but his parents changed it to Amos Jacobs. Selling candy and ice cream at a burlesque show was his first job in the entertainment world at age 11.
How Danny got his name
"The Happy Hour Club," an amateur show on WMBC Radio, was his official show business debut in 1932. He got the name Danny Thomas August 12th 1940 at the 5100 Club in Chicago, Danny after his younger brother and Thomas after his oldest brother.
Career Path
Danny Thomas produced movies and starred inn some such as; 'The Big City'(1948), 'I'll See You In My Dreams' (1951),'The Jazz Singer'(1953) and many more. In 1953 Danny Thomas starred in, 'The Danny Thomas Show' later renamed, 'Make Room for Daddy'and it was about Danny Williams a nightclub owner, trying to balance his career with his family.
From Actor to Producer
The show ran until 1964 at which point Danny Thomas went on to produce several shows including; 'The Dick Van Dyke Show,''The Andy Griffith Show,' and 'The Mod Squad.'
The Promise
At the Church of Saints Peter and Paul before the statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, Danny made this prayer and vow,"Help me to find my way in life, and I'll build you a shrine."Danny Thomas believed that, "No child should die in the dawn of life."
ALSAC is Founded and the Hospital Opens
ALSAC was created in Chicago in the year 1957, with its only goal being to raise money to build St. Jude Children''s Research Hospital. In 1962, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital opened its doors.