How Did Sammy Davis, Jr., Become the World's Greatest Entertainer?

<!doctype html> <html lang="en" class="standalonevideo-desktop ui-ie7 ui-ie"> <head prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns# fb: https://ogp.me/ns/fb#"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133"> <link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js" /> <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.png" /> <meta name="description" content="Davis recorded more than 50 albums and starred in three Broadway shows." /> <meta name="keywords" content="britannica, reference, online, encyclopedia, encyclopaedia, store, dictionary, thesaurus" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/sammy-davis-entertainer/-295765" /> <title>How Did Sammy Davis, Jr., Become the World's Greatest Entertainer? | Britannica</title>  <script> !function(){"use strict";function e(e){const t=e.match(/((?=([a-z0-9._!#$%+^&*()[\]<>-]+))\2@[a-z0-9._-]+\.[a-z0-9._-]+)/gi);return t?t[0]:""}function t(t){return e(a(t.toLowerCase()))}function a(e){return e.replace(/\s/g,"")}async function n(e){const t={sha256Hash:"",sha1Hash:""};if(!("msCrypto"in window)&&"https:"===location.protocol&&"crypto"in window&&"TextEncoder"in window){const a=(new TextEncoder).encode(e),[n,c]=await Promise.all([s("SHA-256",a),s("SHA-1",a)]);t.sha256Hash=n,t.sha1Hash=c}return t}async function s(e,t){const a=await crypto.subtle.digest(e,t);return Array.from(new Uint8Array(a)).map(e=>("00"+e.toString(16)).slice(-2)).join("")}function c(e){let t=!0;return Object.keys(e).forEach(a=>{0===e[a].length&&(t=!1)}),t}function i(e,t,a){e.splice(t,1);const n="?"+e.join("&")+a.hash;history.replaceState(null,"",n)}var o={checkEmail:e,validateEmail:t,trimInput:a,hashEmail:n,hasHashes:c,removeEmailAndReplaceHistory:i,detectEmails:async function(){const e=new URL(window.location.href),a=Array.from(e.searchParams.entries()).map(e=>`=`);let s,o;const r=["adt_eih","sh_kit"];if(a.forEach((e,t)=>{const a=decodeURIComponent(e),[n,c]=a.split("=");if("adt_ei"===n&&(s={value:c,index:t,emsrc:"url"}),r.includes(n)){o={value:c,index:t,emsrc:"sh_kit"===n?"urlhck":"urlh"}}}),s)t(s.value)&&n(s.value).then(e=>{if(c(e)){const t={value:e,created:Date.now()};localStorage.setItem("adt_ei",JSON.stringify(t)),localStorage.setItem("adt_emsrc",s.emsrc)}});else if(o){const e={value:{sha256Hash:o.value,sha1Hash:""},created:Date.now()};localStorage.setItem("adt_ei",JSON.stringify(e)),localStorage.setItem("adt_emsrc",o.emsrc)}s&&i(a,s.index,e),o&&i(a,o.index,e)},cb:"adthrive"};const{detectEmails:r,cb:l}=o;r()}(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel"> window.$UI = {}; window.Constants = {"LICENSE_URL": "/bps/license","DEFAULT_TEST_VERSION": "A","DEFAULT_STATE": "XX","QUIZ_URL": "/quiz","SPOTLIGHT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/spotlight","CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT": "text/plain;charset=UTF-8","TOPIC_FACTS_DATA_URL": "/facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_IMAGE_QUIZZES": "images","TOPIC_MEDIA_PATH": "/images-videos","USER_PROFILE_URL": "/user","DEBUG_URL": "/debug","ONE_GOOD_FACT_URL": "/one-good-fact","ERROR_404_URL": "/error404","PROCON_CITED_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/ProCon-in-the-News","PROCON_URL": "/procon","TOPIC_PAGE_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/page","INFINITE_SCROLL_PREFIX_URL": "/scroll","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_BROWSE_URL": "/questions","CC_USD": "USD","domain": "britannica.com","PROCON_EDITOR_ID": "12941390","SURVEY_URL": "/survey","CATEGORY_BROWSE_URL": "/browse","STORY_BROWSE_URL": "/stories","COUNTRY_US": "US","OPEN_MEDIA_OVERLAY_PARAMETER": "/media","NEWSLETTER_SUBSCRIPTION_URL": "/newsletter-subscription","MAINTENANCE_ERROR_URL": "https://maintenance.eb.com","IMARS_EDITOR_ID": "12365882","PROFILE_EB_EDITOR_URL": "/editor","WEB_INF_RESOURCES_PATH": "WEB-INF/resources","AI_ABOUT_PAGE_URL": "/about-britannica-ai","TOPIC_ADDITIONAL_INFO_PATH": "/additional-info","SUDOKU_GAME_URL": "/games/sudoku","CC_INR": "INR","ARTICLE_PRINT_URL": "/print/article","FIRST_EDITION_URL": "/subscriber/firstedition","WW1_PORTAL_URL": "/discover/World-War-I","MENDEL_COOKIE": "__mendel","topicUrlClasses": "[topic, animal, art, biography, event, place, plant, science, sports, technology, procon, money]","DEMYSTIFIED_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/demystified","LIST_BROWSE_URL": "/list/browse","PROFILE_EXPERT_URL": "/contributor","ASSEMBLY_IMAGE_URL": "/image/assembly","DAY_IN_HISTORY_URL": "/on-this-day","DEFAULT_CURRENCY": "USD","CONTENT_TYPE_XML": "text/xml;charset=UTF-8","PORTAL_FINANCE_BROWSE_URL_PREFIX": "/money/browse","MONEY_IMARS_CATEGORY": "13000","AJAX_PREFIX_URL": "/ajax","TOPIC_BROWSE_URL": "/topic-browse","MARKETING_CONTENT": "/marketing-content","ENV_RUNTIME": "runtime","GALLERY_URL": "/gallery","topicUrlClassesList": "topic|animal|art|biography|event|place|plant|science|sports|technology|procon","CONTENT_TYPE_HTML": "text/html;charset=UTF-8","ENV_LOCAL": "override","MEDIA_OVERLAY_URL": "/media-overlay","CHATBOT_PAGE_URL": "/chatbot","NEWSLETTER_PAGE_URL": "/newsletters","ENV_DEV": "development","MEDIA_URL": "/media","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_URL": "/question","PORTAL_FINANCE_URL_PREFIX": "/money","PODCASTS_URL": "/podcasts","STAND_ALONE_VIDEO_URL": "/video","MORE_ON_THIS_DAY_URL": "/more-on-this-day","TOPIC_QUOTES_URL": "/quotes","SEARCH_PAGE_URL": "/search","PROCON_CLASS": "PROCON","KUSTOM_MENDEL_APPLICATION_ID": "1","TOPIC_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/topic","ENV_BRANCH": "branch","ERROR_URL": "/error","MAIN_VERSION": "mainVersion","TOPIC_COLLECTION_URL": "/summary","LOGINBOX_URL": "/auth/loginbox","PROCON_DEBATE_TOPICS_URL": "/procon/Debate-Topics","ONE_GOOD_FACT_BROWSE_URL": "/one-good-fact/all-good-facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_URL": "/quiz/browse","BIO_BROWSE_URL": "/browse/biographies","LIST_URL": "/list","TIGHTROPE_QUIZ_URL": "/quiz/tightrope","ALPHA_BROWSE_URL": "/sitemap","CONTENT_TYPE_JSON": "application/json","DICTIONARY_URL": "/dictionary","COBRAND_IMAGE_URL": "/image/cobrand","PROCON_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/pro-and-con-issues-in-the-news","PROCON_BROWSE_URL": "/procon","QUIZ_BROWSE_VOCAB_QUIZZES": "vocabulary-quizzes","SUBMISSION_URL": "/submission","EB_LOG_OUT": "/auth2/logout","ENV_PRODUCTION": "production","EXPLORE_PORTAL_URL": "/explore","TOPIC_AJAX_URL": "/ajax/topic","TOPIC_SUMMARY_BROWSE_URL": "/summaries","WTFACT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/wtfact","VIDEO_CHANNEL_URL": "/videos","GALLERY_BROWSE_URL": "/gallery/browse","CACHE_URL": "/cache","PROCON_ABOUT_URL": "/procon/About-ProCon","COMPANION_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/companion","MEDIA_FOLDER": "/eb-media","SHOW_ALL_CONTRIBUTORS": "/additional-info#contributors","BRITANNICA_EDITORS_ID": "4419","ENV_CACHE_DISABLED": "mendelCache","CALCULATORS_BROWSE_URL": "/calculators","STORY_URL": "/story","DEFAULT_COUNTRY": "US","NAVBAR_URL": "/ajax/navbar","EB_LOGIN_URL": "/auth/eb-login","NEW_ARTICLES_URL": "/new-articles",}; window.CDN = "https://cdn.britannica.com"; window.CAM_SETTINGS_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/settings"; window.CAM_LOGIN_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/login"; window.CAM_SIGN_UP_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/registration" window.Mendel = { "config" : { "domain": "britannica.com", "page": "StandaloneVideo", "videoPlayerId": "UyMCoK2v", "sharedUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/video/sammy-davis-entertainer/-295765", "amuselabsUrl": "https://cdn3.amuselabs.com", "resourcesPrefixUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/[url]?v=3.133.9", "date": 20250217, "userInfo": { "type": "ANONYMOUS" ,"currency": "AUUS" ,"country": "SG" ,"state": "XX" ,"timezone": "Asia/Singapore" ,"bcomId": "-7669263240478322216" ,"hasAds": true ,"testVersion": "A" ,"adsTestVersion": "A" ,"consumerId": "" ,"instId": "" ,"consumerUserName": "" ,"instUserName": "" ,"cognito": null }, "tvs":{ "r":[25,25,25,25], "a": [25,25,45,5]}, "isLoggedInAsUser": false, "isPhone": false, "isDesktop": true, "logoutUrl": "/auth2/logout", "selfServiceUrl": "https://myaccount.britannica.com", "cdnUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com", "chatbotApi": "https://www.britannica.com/chat-api", "fetchOffset": 800, "mendelCookieName": "__mendel", "mendelCookie": {"surveyShown":false,"visitedTopicId":0,"currentDate":20250217}, "autocompleteToSearchPage": false,"assetId": 250945, "assemblyId": 295765 }, "GA": {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"StandaloneVideo","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} }; </script> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1887621861548296"/ <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@britannica" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/250945-138-826DE4F1/sammy-davis-entertainer.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Davis recorded more than 50 albums and starred in three Broadway shows."/> <meta property="og:type" content="WEBSITE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="How Did Sammy Davis, Jr., Become the World's Greatest Entertainer? | Britannica"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Davis recorded more than 50 albums and starred in three Broadway shows."/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.britannica.com/video/sammy-davis-entertainer/-295765"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/250945-138-826DE4F1/sammy-davis-entertainer.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="init opengraph"> Mendel.openGraph = {"type":"WEBSITE","title":"How Did Sammy Davis, Jr., Become the World's Greatest Entertainer?","description":"Davis recorded more than 50 albums and starred in three Broadway shows.","imageUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/45/250945-138-826DE4F1/sammy-davis-entertainer.jpg","imageType":"image/jpeg","pageUrl":"https://www.britannica.com/video/sammy-davis-entertainer/-295765"}</script> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/" > <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/icon?family=Material+Icons"> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/vendor-bundle.css?v=3.133.9" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/mendel-css.css?v=3.133.9" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/standalone-video-page.css?v=3.133.9" rel="stylesheet" /> <script type="text/javascript"> if (self !== top) { top.location = self.location; } </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/at.js?v=3.133.9" async ></script> <script> dataLayer = []; </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5W6NC8'); </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "VideoObject", "uploadDate": "2023-12-22T01:33:47.687Z", "name" : "What made Sammy Davis, Jr., the world's greatest entertainer?", "description": "Davis recorded more than 50 albums and starred in three Broadway shows.", "duration" : "PT4M19S", "contentUrl" : "//content.jwplatform.com/videos/w16zYVdx-Qc3NyWj4.mp4", "thumbnailUrl" : "https://cdn.britannica.com/45/250945-138-826DE4F1/sammy-davis-entertainer.jpg", "transcript" : "Sammy Davis, Jr., is often called the greatest entertainer of all time. His act showcased dancing, comedy, music, and vocals. His talent and perseverance brought him fame, even as he contended with being a Black performer\u2026 during the era of segregation, dealing with racism, violence, and substance abuse issues. Sammy Davis, Jr., was born in Harlem, New York, in 1925\u2026 to a Puerto Rican mother who was a tap dancer and a Black father who was a vaudeville actor. Sammy Davis, Sr., took his son on tour with him. By the time he was four, Davis was part of the act, now a trio. Davis toured with the company until he was drafted in 1942. He later wrote that the racism he encountered in the army surprised him, because his father had shielded him from it so well during childhood. Davis was repeatedly assaulted and harassed by fellow soldiers. He focused on honing his entertaining craft during this time, performing for camps as part of the Special Services unit. He rejoined the Will Mastin Trio after the army, and he began recording songs. The trio performed at popular nightclubs in New York, which is where Davis befriended Frank Sinatra. Davis made his Broadway debut a year later. Several television appearances followed. In 1960 he accepted Sinatra\u2019s invitation to join him\u2014along with Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford\u2014in Vegas. By day they filmed Ocean\u2019s Eleven, and by night they played shows. They were a smash success, with 35,000 requests for rooms at the casino in the first month. The press dubbed them the Rat Pack. Lawford\u2019s connections to the Kennedy family meant that John F. Kennedy began attending their shows. The Rat Pack ardently campaigned for JFK\u2019s presidency\u2026 but Davis\u2019s interracial marriage to Swedish actress May Britt\u2014then still illegal in 31 states\u2014caused JFK to rescind Davis\u2019s invitation to perform at an inaugural gala. This rejection led Davis to embrace Richard Nixon\u2026 \u2014literally, he hugged him onstage and received criticism for it\u2014 and he also marched with Martin Luther King, Jr., and championed civil rights. A wave of uprisings swept the country after King's assassination in 1968. Demonstrations in nearly 200 cities turned to riots with varying levels of violence that saw 43 killed and more than 3,500 injured. Davis condemned the response. And I don't see sad faces mourning the tragic loss of this great American. I see people laughing and giggling. I somehow want to disown those people. I don't want to call those people who are laughing\u2014less than 48 hours after our leader died\u2014and stealing\u2026 those are not really brothers. Those cannot be the people who are striving for the dignity that we should have at this point. Before Davis became a star, he wasn\u2019t allowed to stay in the hotels he performed at. After his fame skyrocketed, however, he could afford to turn down gigs that treated him poorly because of his race\u2026 and in doing so he helped spur the integration of Miami nightclubs and Las Vegas casinos. By the time of his death in 1990, Davis had recorded more than 50 albums and starred in three Broadway shows. He was posthumously awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy.", "width" : 1920, "height" : 1080, "url": "https://www.britannica.com/video/sammy-davis-entertainer/-295765" } </script> </head> <body data-leg="A" class="standalone-video-page user-ANONYMOUS user-ads md-desktop leg-a b-ie">  <script>Mendel.config.adProvider='cafemedia';</script> <script data-no-optimize="1" data-cfasync="false"> (function(w, d) { w.adthrive = w.adthrive || {}; w.adthrive.cmd = w. adthrive.cmd || []; w.adthrive.plugin = 'adthrive-ads-manual'; w.adthrive.host = 'ads.adthrive.com';var s = d.createElement('script'); s.async = true; s.referrerpolicy='no-referrer-when-downgrade'; s.src = 'https://' + w.adthrive.host + '/sites/61575e5c934c481d714b3ca9/ads.min.js?referrer=' + w.encodeURIComponent(w.location.href) + '&cb=' + (Math.floor(Math.random() * 100) + 1); var n = d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; n.parentNode.insertBefore(s, n); })(window, document); </script> <div class="ie-warning d-flex align-items-center align-self-center justify-content-center site-alert bg-orange"> <div> You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. Please <a class="text-white text-underscore" href="https://browsehappy.com/">upgrade your browser</a> to improve your experience and security. </div> </div> <script id="json-navbar-info" type="application/json"> {"topSectionLinks":[{"title":"Ask the Chatbot","url":"/chatbot","navbarId":"CHATBOT"},{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse","navbarId":"QUIZZES"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society","navbarId":"HISTORY"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech","navbarId":"SCIENCE"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies","navbarId":"BIOS"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature","navbarId":"ANIMALS"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel","navbarId":"GEOGRAPHY"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture","navbarId":"ART"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon","navbarId":"PROCON"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money","navbarId":"MONEY"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos","selected":true,"navbarId":"VIDEOS"}],"selectedNavbarLink":{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos","selected":true,"navbarId":"VIDEOS"}} </script> <script id="json-hamburger-menu" type="application/json"> {"britannicaMenu1":[{"title":"Home","url":"/"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money"}],"britannicaMenu2":[{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos"},{"title":"On This Day","url":"/on-this-day"},{"title":"One Good Fact","url":"/one-good-fact"},{"title":"Dictionary","url":"/dictionary"},{"title":"New Articles","url":"/new-articles"}],"browseByCategory":[{"title":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},"links":[{"title":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","url":"/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues"},{"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"/browse/Philosophy-Religion"},{"title":"Politics, Law & Government","url":"/browse/Politics-Law-Government"},{"title":"World History","url":"/browse/World-History"}]},{"title":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},"links":[{"title":"Health & Medicine","url":"/browse/Health-Medicine"},{"title":"Science","url":"/browse/Science"},{"title":"Technology","url":"/browse/Technology"}]},{"title":{"id":3,"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},"links":[{"title":"Browse Biographies","url":"/browse/biographies"}]},{"title":{"id":1,"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},"links":[{"title":"Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates","url":"/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates"},{"title":"Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates","url":"/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates"},{"title":"Environment","url":"/browse/Environment"},{"title":"Fossils & Geologic Time","url":"/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time"},{"title":"Mammals","url":"/browse/Mammals"},{"title":"Plants","url":"/browse/Plants"}]},{"title":{"id":4,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},"links":[{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/browse/Geography-Travel"}]},{"title":{"id":2,"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},"links":[{"title":"Entertainment & Pop Culture","url":"/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture"},{"title":"Literature","url":"/browse/Literature"},{"title":"Sports & Recreation","url":"/browse/Sports-Recreation"},{"title":"Visual Arts","url":"/browse/Visual-Arts"}]}],"browseByFeature":[{"title":"Companions","url":"/stories/companion"},{"title":"Demystified","url":"/stories/demystified"},{"title":"Image Galleries","url":"/gallery/browse"},{"title":"Lists","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Podcasts","url":"/podcasts"},{"title":"Spotlight","url":"/stories/spotlight"},{"title":"Summaries","url":"/summary"},{"title":"The Forum","url":"/stories/the-forum"},{"title":"Top Questions","url":"/question"},{"title":"#WTFact","url":"/stories/wtfact"}],"moreFromBritannica":[{"title":"Britannica Kids","url":"https://kids.britannica.com/","newTab":true}],"menuType":"DEFAULT"} </script> <header id="header" class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="global-nav-top-bar"> <div class="grid gx-0 h-100 justify-content-between align-items-center container-lg mx-auto p-0 position-relative"> <div class="d-flex align-items-center"> <button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-self-start js-toggle js-toggle-hamburger btn btn-link link-white btn-sm rounded-0 p-10"> <div class="hamburger-tooltip"> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24" id="nav-toggle" data-icon="menu"></em> </div> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24 global-nav-search-icon" id="nav-search-icon" data-icon="search" ></em> </button> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center ml-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-logo global-nav-logo-left" /> </a> <div class="global-nav-top-search-bar global-nav-top-search-container global-nav-search-container" id="global-nav-top-search-bar"> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> </div> </div> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-center global-nav-logo non-homepage-logo" /> </a> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small global-nav-center search global-nav-center-search-container"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> <div class="col-35 col-sm-auto text-right order-3 mr-lg-15 align-items-center d-flex justify-content-end"> <div class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2 marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav&utm_campaign=evergreen-cap" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5 mr-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> SUBSCRIBE </a></SPAN></div> <div class="d-inline-block d-md-none mr-5 mr-sm-10"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=evergreen" class="subscribe-link btn btn-xs btn-orange p-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> SUBSCRIBE </a></SPAN></div> <button class="js-toggle-user-dropdown js-toggle btn btn-sm btn-link link-white rounded-0 px-md-15 pl-5 pr-5"> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block mr-5">Login</span> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block d-md-none font-16 font-sm-20" data-icon="account_circle"></em> <div class="d-none dropdown-menu-subscription-link">https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=nav-login-box&utm_campaign=evergreen</div> <em class="material-icons inactive-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_down"></em> <em class="material-icons active-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_up"></em> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none hamburger-menu-subscription-link"><DIV class="marketing-HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=evergreen" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5" target="_blank"> SUBSCRIBE </a></DIV></div> <div id="global-nav-react"> <div class="d-none"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a></li> <li><a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a></li> <li><a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a></li> <li><a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a></li> <li><a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> <li><a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/procon">ProCon</a></li> <li><a href="/money">Money</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/videos">Videos</a></li> <li><a href="/on-this-day">On This Day</a></li> <li><a href="/one-good-fact">One Good Fact</a></li> <li><a href="/dictionary">Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="/new-articles">New Articles</a></li> </ul> <a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues">Lifestyles & Social Issues</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Philosophy-Religion">Philosophy & Religion</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Politics-Law-Government">Politics, Law & Government</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/World-History">World History</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Health-Medicine">Health & Medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Science">Science</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Technology">Technology</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/biographies">Browse Biographies</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates">Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates">Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Environment">Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time">Fossils & Geologic Time</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Mammals">Mammals</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Plants">Plants</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture">Entertainment & Pop Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Literature">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Sports-Recreation">Sports & Recreation</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Visual-Arts">Visual Arts</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/stories/companion">Companions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/demystified">Demystified</a></li> <li><a href="/gallery/browse">Image Galleries</a></li> <li><a href="/list/browse">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/spotlight">Spotlight</a></li> <li><a href="/summary">Summaries</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/the-forum">The Forum</a></li> <li><a href="/question">Top Questions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/wtfact">#WTFact</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://kids.britannica.com/">Britannica Kids</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </header> <div class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="container-lg p-0 d-flex justify-content-center global-nav-categories-bar overflow-hidden"> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 global-nav-slider category-snap-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex font-14 overflow-hidden text-nowrap mx-5"> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-CHATBOT " href="/chatbot">Ask the Chatbot</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-QUIZZES " href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-HISTORY " href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-SCIENCE " href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-BIOS " href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ANIMALS " href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-GEOGRAPHY " href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ART " href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-PROCON " href="/procon">ProCon</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-MONEY " href="/money">Money</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-VIDEOS selected selected" href="/videos">Videos</a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="container"> <br class="d-block mt-20"> <h1 id="video-title" class="h2">What made Sammy Davis, Jr., the world's greatest entertainer?</h1> <hr class="mt-20 mb-30"> <div class="content"> <div id="video-container"> <div class="grid video-player-with-playlist"> <div class="col-100 "> <div id="vpwpl-video-player-container" class="vpwpl-video-thumbnail-container position-relative top-0"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/250945-138-826DE4F1/sammy-davis-entertainer.jpg" alt="What made Sammy Davis, Jr., the world's greatest entertainer?" class="rounded super-video-thumbnail" /> <div class="btn btn-xl border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 4px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </div> <div class="vpwpl-video-title mt-10 font-weight-bold mb-10"> What made Sammy Davis, Jr., the world's greatest entertainer? </div> <div class="vpwpl-video-caption mt-15 d-none d-md-block mb-10"> Davis recorded more than 50 albums and starred in three Broadway shows. </div> <div class="vpwpl-credit mb-20 font-13 text-gray-600 font-italic "> Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. </div> </div> <ul class=" col-100 vpwpl-playlist-below vpwpl-playlist mt-15 mt-md-0"> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-1 vpwpl-video-item video-playing" data-assemblyid="295765"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/45/250945-138-826DE4F1/sammy-davis-entertainer.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/w16zYVdx.m3u8"}],"assetId":250945,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/4c3uQIIi.m3u8","title":"What made Sammy Davis, Jr., the world's greatest entertainer?","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/Oj0Q8ICG.vtt","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/sammy-davis-entertainer/-295765#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Davis recorded more than 50 albums and starred in three Broadway shows.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/sammy-davis-entertainer/-295765" >What made Sammy Davis, Jr., the world's greatest entertainer?</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/sammy-davis-entertainer/-295765"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/250945-138-826DE4F1/sammy-davis-entertainer.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="What made Sammy Davis, Jr., the world's greatest entertainer?" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-2 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="19174"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/11/22611-138-53FCD336/Vladimir-Estragon-Waiting-for-Godot-Samuel-Beckett-1952-San-Quentin-Drama-Workshop.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/RLNTbBud.m3u8"}],"assetId":22611,"title":"Watch an excerpt from a production of <em>Waiting for Godot<\/em>","transcriptUrl":"/video/Vladimir-Estragon-Waiting-for-Godot-Samuel-Beckett-1952-San-Quentin-Drama-Workshop/-19174#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">A Co-Production of the University of Maryland at College Park Visual Press, Caméras Continentales, Société Française de Production, La SEPT-Drama Division Guillaume Gronier, FR3 Music & Drama Division Dominique Fournier,WGBH Boston, PBS, Radioteleviseo Portuguesa-EP; courtesy Smithsonian Institution Press Video</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">The characters Vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot; from Samuel Beckett's play <em>Waiting for Godot</em>, featuring members of the San Quentin Drama Workshop.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Vladimir-Estragon-Waiting-for-Godot-Samuel-Beckett-1952-San-Quentin-Drama-Workshop/-19174" >Watch an excerpt from a production of <em>Waiting for Godot</em></a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Vladimir-Estragon-Waiting-for-Godot-Samuel-Beckett-1952-San-Quentin-Drama-Workshop/-19174"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/22611-138-53FCD336/Vladimir-Estragon-Waiting-for-Godot-Samuel-Beckett-1952-San-Quentin-Drama-Workshop.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Watch an excerpt from a production of Waiting for Godot" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-3 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="100089"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/61/99861-138-7734F11B/Video-clips-Winsor-McCay-Gertie-on-Tour.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/N9VoEKFf.m3u8"}],"assetId":99861,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/Ikjd4GQ4.m3u8","title":"Take a look at a video clip from Winsor McCay's \u201cGertie on Tour\u201d","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/1NsVdaD3","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/Video-clips-Winsor-McCay-Gertie-on-Tour/-100089#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division, Washington, D.C.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Video clips from Winsor McCay's <em>Gertie on Tour</em> (1921).</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Video-clips-Winsor-McCay-Gertie-on-Tour/-100089" >Take a look at a video clip from Winsor McCay's “Gertie on Tour”</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Video-clips-Winsor-McCay-Gertie-on-Tour/-100089"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/99861-138-7734F11B/Video-clips-Winsor-McCay-Gertie-on-Tour.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Take a look at a video clip from Winsor McCay's “Gertie on Tour”" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-4 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="129658"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/19/125319-138-421B4389/Medieval-Theater-The-Play-of-Abraham-and-1974.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/FHwigCV3.m3u8"}],"assetId":125319,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/gbbqpiHl.m3u8","title":"Witness Western theatre in the Middle Ages by following a troupe performing The Play of Abraham and Isaac","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/7HCN0U1V","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/Medieval-Theater-The-Play-of-Abraham-and-1974/-129658#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">The video <em>Medieval Theater: The Play of Abraham and Isaac</em> depicts a family of traveling players performing <em>The Play of Abraham and Isaac</em> at an English estate in 1482. This video was produced in 1974 by The Movie Show Co., Inc., for Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Medieval-Theater-The-Play-of-Abraham-and-1974/-129658" >Witness Western theatre in the Middle Ages by following a troupe performing The Play of Abraham and Isaac</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Medieval-Theater-The-Play-of-Abraham-and-1974/-129658"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/125319-138-421B4389/Medieval-Theater-The-Play-of-Abraham-and-1974.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Witness Western theatre in the Middle Ages by following a troupe performing The Play of Abraham and Isaac" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-5 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="278082"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/72/240872-138-3D434C6C/Bobby-McFerrin-Demonstrates-the-Power-of-the-Pentatonic-Scale.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/ioQ73bRf.m3u8"}],"assetId":240872,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/7CpdCkUx.m3u8","title":"Bobby McFerrin","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/8fGO4I3w","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/Bobby-McFerrin-Demonstrates-the-Power-of-the-Pentatonic-Scale/-278082#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">© World Science Festival (<a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://corporate.britannica.com/partners" data-show-preview="true">A Britannica Publishing Partner</a>)</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">The universality and innate nature of music, and the pentatonic scale, as demonstrated by singer Bobby McFerrin. </script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Bobby-McFerrin-Demonstrates-the-Power-of-the-Pentatonic-Scale/-278082" >Bobby McFerrin</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Bobby-McFerrin-Demonstrates-the-Power-of-the-Pentatonic-Scale/-278082"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/72/240872-138-3D434C6C/Bobby-McFerrin-Demonstrates-the-Power-of-the-Pentatonic-Scale.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Bobby McFerrin" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-6 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="245516"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/45/214045-138-CCFEF1AB/Job-description-actor-interview-with-Kunal-Nayyar.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/3wEu7XlO.m3u8"}],"assetId":214045,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/BtRPoQW7.m3u8","title":"Learn about acting in a tv show filmed in front of a live studio audience","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/kJgtaXYB","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/Job-description-actor-interview-with-Kunal-Nayyar/-245516#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">CandidCareer.com (<a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://corporate.britannica.com/knowledge-experts/candid-career/" data-show-preview="true">A Britannica Publishing Partner</a>)</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">An interview with actor Kunal Nayyar.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Job-description-actor-interview-with-Kunal-Nayyar/-245516" >Learn about acting in a tv show filmed in front of a live studio audience</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Job-description-actor-interview-with-Kunal-Nayyar/-245516"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/214045-138-CCFEF1AB/Job-description-actor-interview-with-Kunal-Nayyar.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Learn about acting in a tv show filmed in front of a live studio audience" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-7 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="205318"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/13/186013-138-B57F7FFC/Mime-members-Northwestern-University-Company.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/cqaWmRuz.m3u8"}],"assetId":186013,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/fpm7hgci.m3u8","title":"Know about mime, the silent art of storytelling as discussed and presented by members of the Northwestern University Mime Company","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/T4fbOezy","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/Mime-members-Northwestern-University-Company/-205318#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Courtesy of Northwestern University (<a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://corporate.britannica.com/partners" data-show-preview="true">A Britannica Publishing Partner</a>)</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Mime being performed—and discussed—by members of the Northwestern University Mime Company.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Mime-members-Northwestern-University-Company/-205318" >Know about mime, the silent art of storytelling as discussed and presented by members of the Northwestern University Mime Company</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/Mime-members-Northwestern-University-Company/-205318"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/13/186013-138-B57F7FFC/Mime-members-Northwestern-University-Company.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Know about mime, the silent art of storytelling as discussed and presented by members of the Northwestern University Mime Company" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-8 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="214634"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/97/191997-138-9753FA41/demystified-why-do-movie-theaters-serve-popcorn.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/Tf4eXJvV.m3u8"}],"assetId":191997,"title":"Why do movie theaters serve popcorn?","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/CNesoKhA","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/demystified-why-do-movie-theaters-serve-popcorn/-214634#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Learn how popcorn became a popular snack to eat at the movies.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/demystified-why-do-movie-theaters-serve-popcorn/-214634" >Why do movie theaters serve popcorn?</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/demystified-why-do-movie-theaters-serve-popcorn/-214634"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/97/191997-138-9753FA41/demystified-why-do-movie-theaters-serve-popcorn.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Why do movie theaters serve popcorn?" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="vpwpl-video-item-9 vpwpl-video-item " data-assemblyid="128653"> <script type="application/json">{"image":"https://cdn.britannica.com/26/125326-138-31504C9C/example-John-Barnes-dramatization-problems-Encyclopaedia-Britannica-1977.jpg","sources":[{"file":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/E2qtb5WZ.m3u8"}],"assetId":125326,"adfile":"//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/CshF2Dhu.m3u8","title":"Examine how to direct a film adaption of Walter van Tilburg Clark's short story \u201cThe Portable Phonograph\u201d","tracks":[{"file":"//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/EhxIQA2Q","label":"English"}],"transcriptUrl":"/video/example-John-Barnes-dramatization-problems-Encyclopaedia-Britannica-1977/-128653#transcript"}</script> <script data-id="video-credit" type="text/plain">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</script> <script data-id="video-caption" type="text/plain">Using the example of Encyclopaedia Britannica Educational Corporation's 1977 dramatization of Walter van Tilburg Clark's “The Portable Phonograph,” director John Barnes discusses the problems of translating a short story into film and explains what it means to be faithful to the original.</script> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal " > <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/example-John-Barnes-dramatization-problems-Encyclopaedia-Britannica-1977/-128653" >Examine how to direct a film adaption of Walter van Tilburg Clark's short story “The Portable Phonograph”</a> </div> <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="https://www.britannica.com/video/example-John-Barnes-dramatization-problems-Encyclopaedia-Britannica-1977/-128653"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/125326-138-31504C9C/example-John-Barnes-dramatization-problems-Encyclopaedia-Britannica-1977.jpg?w=100&h=75&c=crop" alt="Examine how to direct a film adaption of Walter van Tilburg Clark's short story “The Portable Phonograph”" width="100" height="75" /> <div class="btn btn-sm border border-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="border-width: 3px; top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%,-50%)"> <em class="material-icons text-white" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="related-topics mt-20 font-14 text-muted"> <strong>Related Articles:</strong> <span id="related-articles"> <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sammy-Davis-Jr">Sammy Davis, Jr.</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/art/rhythm-and-blues">rhythm and blues</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/art/tap-dance">tap dance</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Oceans-Eleven-film-by-Milestone">Ocean’s Eleven</a> , <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Grammy-Award">Grammy Award</a> </span> </div> <hr class="my-30 col-100"> <h2 class="font-16 text-uppercase my-30">Transcript</h2> <div id ="transcript" class="lh-lg font-serif"> Sammy Davis, Jr., is often called the greatest entertainer of all time. <br/>His act showcased dancing, comedy, music, and vocals. <br/>His talent and perseverance brought him fame, even as he contended with being a Black performer… <br/>during the era of segregation, dealing with racism, violence, and substance abuse issues. <br/>Sammy Davis, Jr., was born in Harlem, New York, in 1925… <br/>to a Puerto Rican mother who was a tap dancer and a Black father who was a vaudeville actor. <br/>Sammy Davis, Sr., took his son on tour with him. <br/>By the time he was four, Davis was part of the act, now a trio. <br/>Davis toured with the company until he was drafted in 1942. <br/>He later wrote that the racism he encountered in the army surprised him, because his father had shielded him from it so well during childhood. <br/>Davis was repeatedly assaulted and harassed by fellow soldiers. <br/>He focused on honing his entertaining craft during this time, performing for camps as part of the Special Services unit. <br/>He rejoined the Will Mastin Trio after the army, and he began recording songs. <br/>The trio performed at popular nightclubs in New York, which is where Davis befriended Frank Sinatra. <br/>Davis made his Broadway debut a year later. <br/>Several television appearances followed. <br/>In 1960 he accepted Sinatra’s invitation to join him—along with Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford—in Vegas. <br/>By day they filmed Ocean’s Eleven, and by night they played shows. <br/>They were a smash success, with 35,000 requests for rooms at the casino in the first month. <br/>The press dubbed them the Rat Pack. <br/>Lawford’s connections to the Kennedy family meant that John F. Kennedy began attending their shows. <br/>The Rat Pack ardently campaigned for JFK’s presidency… <br/>but Davis’s interracial marriage to Swedish actress May Britt—then still illegal in 31 states—caused JFK to rescind Davis’s invitation to perform at an inaugural gala. <br/>This rejection led Davis to embrace Richard Nixon… <br/>—literally, he hugged him onstage and received criticism for it— <br/>and he also marched with Martin Luther King, Jr., and championed civil rights. <br/>A wave of uprisings swept the country after King's assassination in 1968. <br/>Demonstrations in nearly 200 cities turned to riots with varying levels of violence that saw 43 killed and more than 3,500 injured. <br/>Davis condemned the response. <br/>And I don't see sad faces mourning the tragic loss of this great American. <br/>I see people laughing and giggling. I somehow want to disown those people. <br/>I don't want to call those people who are laughing—less than 48 hours after our leader died—and stealing… <br/>those are not really brothers. <br/>Those cannot be the people who are striving for the dignity that we should have at this point. <br/>Before Davis became a star, he wasn’t allowed to stay in the hotels he performed at. <br/>After his fame skyrocketed, however, he could afford to turn down gigs that treated him poorly because of his race… <br/>and in doing so he helped spur the integration of Miami nightclubs and Las Vegas casinos. <br/>By the time of his death in 1990, Davis had recorded more than 50 albums and starred in three Broadway shows. <br/>He was posthumously awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <footer class="md-footer footer-wrapper hide-on-edit"> <div class="footer-bck"> <DIV class="marketing-FOOTER_NEWSLETTER marketing-content" data-marketing-id="FOOTER_NEWSLETTER"><div class="md-footer-newsletter-form pt-10 mb-30 mx-15 mx-sm-120"> <div class="font-18"> <strong>History at your fingertips –</strong> Sign up here to see what happened On This Day, every day in your inbox! </div> <div class="p-30"> <div class="newsletter-form-container"> <form class="newsletter-form" method="post" action="/newsletter-subscription/EB_ON_THIS_DAY"> <div class="form-group grid d-flex justify-content-center"> <div class="col-sm-50 col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="enter-your-email">Enter your email</label> <input id="enter-your-email" type="email" name="email" class="form-control font-18 p-10" placeholder="Enter your email" pattern="[a-z0-9._%+-]+@[a-z0-9.-]+\.[a-z]{2,4}$" required> </div> <div class="col-sm-auto col-100 mt-5 mt-sm-0"> <button type="submit" class="btn btn-outline-white" style="width: 100%; height:100%;">Subscribe</button> </div> </div> <div class="text-white pt-30 text-opacity"> By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.<br> Click here to view our <a class="link-white text-decoration-underline" href="https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Privacy Notice</a>. Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email. </div> <input type="hidden" name="source" value="Footer" /><input type="hidden" name="campaign" value="Mendel" /><input type="hidden" name="medium" value="Box" /></form> <div class="md-subscribed hidden text-white"> <div class="my-10">Thank you for subscribing!</div> <div>Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div></DIV> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex justify-content-center colored" data-value="connect" > <div class="share-label text-uppercase hidden-xs">Stay Connected</div> <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> <a class="social-icon youtube justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="youtube" href="https://www.youtube.com/c/encyclopaediabritannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>YouTube</span></a> <a class="social-icon instagram justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="instagram" href="https://www.instagram.com/britannica/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Instagram</span></a> <a class="social-icon pinterest justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="pinterest" href="https://www.pinterest.com/britannica/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg height="30" width="30" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" aria-label="" role="img"><path d="M0 12c0 5.123 3.211 9.497 7.73 11.218-.11-.937-.227-2.482.025-3.566.217-.932 1.401-5.938 1.401-5.938s-.357-.715-.357-1.774c0-1.66.962-2.9 2.161-2.9 1.02 0 1.512.765 1.512 1.682 0 1.025-.653 2.557-.99 3.978-.281 1.189.597 2.159 1.769 2.159 2.123 0 3.756-2.239 3.756-5.471 0-2.861-2.056-4.86-4.991-4.86-3.398 0-5.393 2.549-5.393 5.184 0 1.027.395 2.127.889 2.726a.36.36 0 0 1 .083.343c-.091.378-.293 1.189-.332 1.355-.053.218-.173.265-.4.159-1.492-.694-2.424-2.875-2.424-4.627 0-3.769 2.737-7.229 7.892-7.229 4.144 0 7.365 2.953 7.365 6.899 0 4.117-2.595 7.431-6.199 7.431-1.211 0-2.348-.63-2.738-1.373 0 0-.599 2.282-.744 2.84-.282 1.084-1.064 2.456-1.549 3.235C9.584 23.815 10.77 24 12 24c6.627 0 12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0 0 5.373 0 12"></path></svg> </a> </div> <br/> <div class="container"> <ul class="list-unstyled legal-links"> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">About Us & Legal Info</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/termsofuse.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Diversity</a></li> </ul> <div class="mt-20">©2025 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</div> </div> </div> </footer> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"StandaloneVideo","templateName":null,"pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":null,"pageLength":null,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":true} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/standalone-video-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"StandaloneVideo","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":null,"gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

How Did Sammy Davis, Jr., Become the World's Greatest Entertainer? | Britannica