<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> 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>
who said goodnight mrs. calabash wherever you are
who said goodnight mrs. calabash wherever you are
Durante
Durante