1 of 7

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 3

to start after reading her opening reviews for "Girl Crazy." Ethel Merman didn't sing a song; it somehow seemed to erupt from her mouth with a precision of tone and enunciation unlike anyone before her or since.

She went on to star in five Cole Porter musicals, including " Anything Goes" in 1934, where she introduced the title song, and "I Get a Kick Out of You" and to an adoring public. "Red, Hot and Blue" followed in which she costarred with Bob Hope and Jimmy Durante. It featured two songs, "It's Delovely" and "Down in the Depths." She became known for "signature duets" such as "You're the Top" and "Friendship," which she performed with Bert Lahr in "DuBarry Was A Lady." Irving Berlin also wrote duets to accompany her most unusual and very profitable voice. In "Annie Get Your Gun" particularly, there are two; "Anything You Can Do" and "You're Just in Love."

In 1951, Merman won the Tony Award for "Best Actress" for her portrayal of Sally Adams in "Call Me Madame." She also starred in the film version. Perhaps of all her roles, she is most revered for her performance in "Gypsy" as Gypsy Rose Lee's mother, Rose. "Everything's Coming Up Roses" became a memorable hallmark forever associated with her vibrant and powerful alto voice. She proved herself to be quite the sore loser, however, when she lost the film role to Rosalind Russell. She made some very nasty remarks about her rival and referred to her husband, Freddie Brisson, as "the Lizard of Roz." But she got even by taking the show on the road and trumping the motion picture as a result.

Merman retired from Broadway in 1970 where her last appearance was as Dolly Levi in "Hello, Dolly," which was written especially for her. Her preferred fare became television specials and movies. Over the years, she had developed a reputation for having a rather salty tongue; she even rewrote with ribald overtones some of the lyrics from the songs that had made her famous. But that was for private ears only, and over the years she expressed disgust for what she considered the lewd direction Broadway was taking as evidenced in productions like "Oh, Calcutta."

Her film career was not as distinguished as her stage roles. Stories differ as to the reason why; some say that that her oversized stage persona did not lend itself well to the screen. Others, however, claim that her behavior on the set of Twentieth Century Fox's "There's No Business Like Show Business" was a turn-off to mogul, Jack Warner, and that he refused thereafter

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Biography: Ethel Merman: A voice like no other?
We want to hear your view. Write now!