---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the history of show business, there…"
description: "\"“In the history of show business, there probably never was a straighter straight man than banana-yellow Bert, the paper clip collector and pigeon fanci..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc2/michael-davis-35675_business_in-the-history-of-show-business-there-pr_2928364.jpg"
---

#  In the history of show business, there probably never was…

![“In the history of show business, there probably never was a straighter straight man than banana-yellow Bert, the paper clip collector and pigeon fancier.” quote by Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc2/michael-davis-35675_business_in-the-history-of-show-business-there-pr_2928364.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc2/michael-davis-35675_business_in-the-history-of-show-business-there-pr_2928364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc2/michael-davis-35675_business_in-the-history-of-show-business-there-pr_2928364.jpg)

> ““In the history of show business, there probably never was a straighter straight man than banana-yellow Bert, the paper clip collector and pigeon fancier.””

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote humorously highlights an exceptionally literal and quirky character, emphasizing his odd hobbies and straight‑forward nature.

**In simple terms:** A very literal, odd character is described.

Key Takeaway

Embrace uniqueness, but stay grounded.

Themes

humor quirkiness literalness

Mood

playful lighthearted

Type

anecdotal observational

When to use this quote

- casting decisions
- writing comedy
- character development
- team dynamics

Key Concepts

character analysis comedy eccentricity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does literalness affect collaboration?
- What value do quirky traits bring?

A Different Perspective

May overlook deeper traits beyond the surface.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Man Banana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-banana-297863/) [Show business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show-business/) [Straight Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/straight-man/) [Straighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/straighter-911292/) [Straighter Straight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/straighter-straight-4303078/) [True to life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-to-life/) [Yellow Bert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yellow-bert-4303077/)

## Related quotes

> [“I could carve a better man out of a banana.’” One”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/i-could-carve-a-better-man-out-of-a-banana-one/)

[Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/)

> [“I could carve a better man out of a banana.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-could-carve-a-better-man-out-of-a-banana/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [Where I've arrived now is the product of mixing the very straight with the very exploratory; there's a fine line between the two, although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-partridge/where-i-ve-arrived-now-is-the-product-of-mixing-the-very-straight/)

[Andy Partridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-partridge/)

> [“When it comes to spinning stories, no one can do it with a straighter face than a cop. “I’m on my way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/when-it-comes-to-spinning-stories-no-one-can-do-it-with-a-straighter/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [If you feel good, you stand up a bit straighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/if-you-feel-good-you-stand-up-a-bit-straighter/)

[Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/)

> [The more you build your life on principle and less on personality - yours or others - the straighter will be your course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/the-more-you-build-your-life-on-principle-and-less-on-personality/)

[Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/)

> [My money straighter than a motherfucking perm bitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/my-money-straighter-than-a-motherfucking-perm-bitch/)

[Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/)

> [The shoulders of a borrower are always a little straighter than those of a beggar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-shoulders-of-a-borrower-are-always-a-little-straighter-than-those/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Now do that with your thoughts as well, pluck out the needless vanities and worries, and you’ll find you grow the straighter for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kearsley/now-do-that-with-your-thoughts-as-well-pluck-out-the-needless/)

[Susanna Kearsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kearsley/)

> [When I put something on, and I stand up much straighter, that's when I love to wear clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-wright/when-i-put-something-on-and-i-stand-up-much-straighter-that-s-when-i/)

[Bonnie Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-wright/)

> [Of course, bring a straight man, it is intimidating to kiss another man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/of-course-bring-a-straight-man-it-is-intimidating-to-kiss-another-man/)

[Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/)

> [The last time a straight man worked in the fashion industry, we got a fanny pack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/the-last-time-a-straight-man-worked-in-the-fashion-industry-we-got-a/)

[Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/)

> [Drag shows are one of my favorite things in the world. As a straight man I love going to gay bars. People at gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kazee/drag-shows-are-one-of-my-favorite-things-in-the-world-as-a-straight/)

[Steve Kazee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kazee/)

> [Religion theme aside, most of the time I'm in some sort of comedy and I'm a straight man and it's really just, let's wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hanks/religion-theme-aside-most-of-the-time-i-m-in-some-sort-of-comedy-and/)

[Colin Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hanks/)

> [It's hard not to be the straight man when Zach Galifianakis is there. He's such a delightfully bizarre creature. Everything he does is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mckinnon/it-s-hard-not-to-be-the-straight-man-when-zach-galifianakis-is-there/)

[Kate McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mckinnon/)

## More by Michael Davis

> [I went over to say hi to Rob and he introduced me to Wayne and Fred. I had made a radical purchase of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/i-went-over-to-say-hi-to-rob-and-he-introduced-me-to-wayne-and-fred-i/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

> [We had all these things to deal with - houses full of people and John going to jail, guys from New York saying 'don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/we-had-all-these-things-to-deal-with-houses-full-of-people-and-john/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

> [Nothing ever sounds quite the way it does when you're standing right in the middle of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/nothing-ever-sounds-quite-the-way-it-does-when-you-re-standing-right/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

> [I had just broken up with my wife so I was searching for another way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/i-had-just-broken-up-with-my-wife-so-i-was-searching-for-another-way/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

> [“Disney walked away from the deal, but they started showcasing the Muppets in Disney World, anyway without paying any fees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/disney-walked-away-from-the-deal-but-they-started-showcasing-the/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

> [We had all this kind of freedom and 'get out of your head' kind of stuff and at the same time, we were trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/we-had-all-this-kind-of-freedom-and-get-out-of-your-head-kind-of/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

> [When I joined the band, being that I was going to take this up as a profession, I realized that there were no two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/when-i-joined-the-band-being-that-i-was-going-to-take-this-up-as-a/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

> [“Never fight for a place in people's life. When they value you they, they will always keep a spot free for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/never-fight-for-a-place-in-people-s-life-when-they-value-you-they/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

> [I started out with nothing. I still have most of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/i-started-out-with-nothing-i-still-have-most-of-it/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

> [The New Orleans I knew ain't no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/the-new-orleans-i-knew-ain-t-no-more/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

> [“Clash found Maria sexy and attractive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/clash-found-maria-sexy-and-attractive/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

> [“Here we are sitting at the Waldorf in a conference room... and in comes someone with long hair and wearing an outfit dripping leather.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/here-we-are-sitting-at-the-waldorf-in-a-conference-room-and-in-comes/)

[Michael Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

[Explore all 13 Michael Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/)

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/)

[Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/)

> [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

[Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“In the history of show business, there probably never was a straighter straight man than banana-yellow Bert, the paper clip collector and pigeon fancier.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Davis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/in-the-history-of-show-business-there-probably-never-was-a-straighter/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/in-the-history-of-show-business-there-probably-never-was-a-straighter/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc2/michael-davis-35675_business_in-the-history-of-show-business-there-pr_2928364.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc2/michael-davis-35675_business_in-the-history-of-show-business-there-pr_2928364.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc2/michael-davis-35675_business_in-the-history-of-show-business-there-pr_2928364.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In the history of show business, there probably never was a straighter straight man than banana-yellow Bert…” — Michael Davis",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Michael Davis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-davis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“In the history of show business,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/in-the-history-of-show-business-there-probably-never-was-a-straighter/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davis/in-the-history-of-show-business-there-probably-never-was-a-straighter/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
