Danny Thomas: Funny. Charitable. And Scary?

By the time he died in 1991, Danny Thomas may have been better known for his astounding devotion to raising funds for St. Judes Children's Research Hospital than for his lifetime's work as a comedian and actor. When he was born on January 6, 1912 in Deerfield, Michigan, he was lovingly named Muzyad Yahkoob. Developing a strong sense of humor early on was in his own best interest.

Happy Birthday, Danny Thomas!

Danny Thomas was beloved for his funny portrayals on radio, television and film. He made it big in the booming world of 1950s and 1960s television with Make Room for Daddy and the Danny Thomas Show. He fathered three kids who built their own stellar careers in the entertainment world -- most recognizably That Girl Marlo Thomas.

So with all the publicity shots and all the goodwill this kind man has generated, why would The Museum of Broadcast Communications choose to memorialize Danny Thomas with a totally creepy photo of him smacking the backside of a little boy with a hairbrush?

Surely good folks at the museum don't mean to imply that Danny Thomas was a pervert, right? With today's sensitivities, it's just not a great idea to portray an actor with a little kid sprawled butt-side-up across his lap. Wielding an old-fashioned tool of discipline over the kid's rear-end isn't particularly attractive, either. Neither characters' facial expressions help the cause.

This is a man who, after all, did enough good work in his lifetime to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. To this day his work lives on and can be supported at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. If you know a child in need of the hospital's services, make contact through the same website.

Birthday Gift for Danny Thomas?

Inspired by the scary hairbrush -- which was no doubt functional for its intended purpose -- an ideal gift for the philanthropic-trend-setting Danny Thomas would be a gracious toiletry bag to house his grooming accessories.

Suitable for carrying a hairbrush, shaving gear and all manner of nice-smelling aftershaves, shampoos, conditioners and soap, Tommy Bahama Men's Hanging Travel Kit,Brown,One Size suits Mr. Thomas' style and panache. The palm tree logo embossed on the handle is a keen little reminder of the comedian/actor's years in Hollywood where the practiced the craft that brought joy to millions.

Surely there's a way to get museums and other disrespectful institutions to reconsider their memorials. Somewhere in Chicagoland where the museum directors lurk, a there has to be at least one public relations wonk who can see the absurdity of the organization's tribute to Danny Thomas.