60th Anniversary of Merman and Martin on Ford

This month marks of 60th Anniversary of the historic Ford 50th Anniversary Celebration where Merman and Martin gave the public 13 minutes of Broadway bliss:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psFzFh_EYV8

The two of them are brilliant here. I don't think either of them ever really translated well to film, or in most cases television, but this is a grand exception. It's just as exciting and thrilling as it was 60 years ago. That Seth Rudesky says belting was invented by Patti and Betty Buckley- he's obviously never seen this! I don't think anyone on Broadway today has what these two women had.

Another great moment from the special was Mary Martin doing a scene from Our Town. She's heartbreaking here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C45_O-qYWG8

Does anyone have the full recording of the 1977 Merman and Martin concert from the Broadway Theater? THAT I would like to hear/see!!

There has to be a better-quality copy of that on line. Even in the early days of VHS, I had a better copy than that.

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Unfortunately at this time that is the best version online. Whoever uploaded it made the screen squeezed. There is a non squeezed version, but it's only about three minutes of the performance.

I so wish there was a recording of the 1977 concert. How amazing would it have been to see Mary come out in her sailor suit and then Ethel emerge from the back dressed as Rose with Chowzie??

I was only 7 years old at the time and I should sue my parents for neglect for not taking me to that!!

Updated On: 6/1/13 at 05:39 PM