Martha Raye and Frances Faye

Great, great number. Thanks for posting this, PJ!

I've always loved Raye in her films - what a funny lady and a very underrated singer - but my affection for her has recently been tempered by seeing clips from her 1950s variety show. To my surprise, I found them almost unwatchable. Even when she has a fabulous guest like Harold Arlen, Martha mugs so hard and so overbelts her songs. She makes late Dorothy Louden seem reserved.

I do love her raunchy adlibbing with Red Skelton: "If that wasn't yer knee, I'd marry you!"

---

Updated On: 8/6/07 at 12:11 PM