Ethel Merman Quotes- Page 3

[logan0215]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 2:03pm

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/ethel_merman.html

found this site when searching for information about Patti in ALNM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 2:48am

The bitchy quotes are fun, but there was another side to Merman thet is less talked about: her quiet generosity.

In the early 30s she was close with Roger Edens. Edens was gay (Merman apparaently had no problem with gay people even way back then) and when she went to Hollywood he followed but because he couldn't join the union he couldn't work for several months. Ethel happily loaned him the cash he needed until he got on his feet.

IN an interview, Ethel told how touched she was that a fan from Scotland had sent her some heather for luck "and there was no return address, so I could never write and thank her. But isn't that nice?"

Her professionalism is sadly lacking with today's stars. She usually stayed with her shows to the closing. "I also gave the same performance closing night as I did opening. I cannot bear to have people led down on teh job. You have a contract. You should live up to it."


If you go on Youtube someone ha sposed the 1977 Merman/Martin interview promoting their concert. Ethel really dominates, but when Maryy mentiosn how nervous she Ethel says "We Know what we're doing, we Know our lyrics...if you forget something I'll say it and if I forget something you say it."

ONe story that STrich leaves out of her AT LIBERTY: She (Stritch) arrived in Hollywood with the tour of MADAM and was on her hotel terrace one afternoon vocalizing when she got a call from the front desk saying that she would have to check out because the woman next store was sensitive to noise. Stritch took it big and went to have a talk with her neighbour. When the door opened it was Ethel with a big grin "The picture version of MADAM was about to start and I wanted to say hi."

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 5:51am

This is one of my favorite threads ever! Gotta love the Merm.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 6:29am

Anybody hear or actualy see 'Rita McKenzie's Ethal Mermans Broaday'?
Its a terrific CD and worth hunting out if your a Merman fan. Originaly released in 1995 by Varese Sarabande. Happy Hunting!

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 11:40am

Way back in 1939 Merman was in a show called Stars In Your Eyes with Jimmy Durante, and also featuring Tamara Toumanova with choreography by Robert Alton and George Balanchine.

Merman watched the corps performing from the wings and was rumored to have said: "that little jewish boy over there dancing up a storm, what a talent. I'd like to work with him someday!"

Turned out it was Jerome Robbins!

When Merman was in Something for the Boys, the wonderful Betty Garrett had a featured role. Porter wrote a second act opener for her and it literally stopped the show. Garrett went offf and saw Merman approaching her, saying to herself, "well I guess I'll be fired." Merman turned her around, threw her on stage and said, "don't you dare come back until you've taken all your bows."

Miriam

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 12:46pm

Welcome back, Miriam. You have been sorely missed--and worried about!

You weren't IN Stars in Your Eyes in 1939, were you?!?

[Jon]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:03pm

Here's Ethel doing a detergent commercial - I wonder how Mr. Sondheim felt about these lyrics?
Ethel sells detergent

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:26pm

Sondheim would have had gotten paid and received approval over the lyrics.

He also wrote a lyric for Merman to sing during the campaign of John V. Lindsay for mayor of NYC called "Everything's Coming Up Lindsay for Me and for You!"

I have it on a cassette somewhere...

[jv92]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:29pm

He obviously did not write that soap commerical lyric. There's an imperfect rhyme in it.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:32pm

Miriam,
It's so great to have you back here!

Shalom a thousand times over!

[Julian2]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:35pm

Do they still sell Vel? I'm taking it from the Merm.

[Jon]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:39pm

Then there's always:

SOMETHING DELICIOUS, SOMETHING NUTRITIOUS
SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY - STOVETOP TONIGHT!

Mr. Sondheim aint above selling out!

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:44pm

Off-topic, but has anyone seen "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World" with the Merm in it? It is one of my alltime favorite movies. She is effing hillarious.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:47pm

I just put "Mad, Mad...World" on my netflix queue. Haven't seen it in ages.

Who do we see about finally getting a theater named after Miss Merman?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:48pm

I think they should rename the Broadway for her.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:49pm

This one was in Bob Thomas' book:

When Ethel married Robert Levitt, like any new bride she ordered monogrammed sheets and towels. When they arrived, Levitt was furious and refused to talk to her. Ethel complained to a frind. "What was on the sheets?" asked the friend. "Just my monogram: E M."

[DG]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 2:19pm

Just want to add another quick 'Hi, Miriam - so NICE to see you here again'!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 2:30pm

Welcome Back, Miriam! I always loved reading your posts. I'm glad you're back here posting again.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 3:11pm

Miriam, I am assuming that the only reason you have not been posting here is because you are working on that book! Is it coming out soon?
Missed you. Have you seen Margo Channing by any chance?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 3:13pm

Hooray for Miriam! So glad to see you back!

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 3:44pm

I saw Ethel Merman in her final public performance, at Carnegie Hall, appearing with the American Symphony Orchestra conducted by HER conductor Eric Knight, presented by the Friends of the Theatre Collection of the Museum of the City of New York. The one woman concert was fabulous and the crowd went wild in their appreciation of her. At the stage door she didn't sign autographs but got into a limo as the crowd applauded her.

Afterwards, I went to a posh hotel down the street from Carnegie Hall and went to the bar where I struck up a conversation with the bartender and learned that Merman was at a party at the hotel in her honor. I kept drinking and waiting for her to eventually leave the event. The bartender told me when she was about to leave, and I waited in the hotel lobby. First Jule Styne came down in the elevator and I got his autograph. Then Merman finally got off the elevator. I went up to her and asked for her autograph. She was very gracious to me and as she was signing her name I cited the final words from GYPSY: "Madam Rose...and her daughter, Gypsy!" She smiled and merely said,"1959 to 1961" And then she left. I treasure that night as one of the highlights of my life.

Incidentally, I did see Rita McKenzie in her one woman show titled "Ethel Merman's Broadway" off Broadway somewhere. She did a great job playing Merman. It was a very enjoyable show.

Updated On: 7/18/07 at 03:44 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 6:46pm

I think a theatre SHOULD be renamed for EThel Mermna, and it should happen nextm January on teh 100th anniversray of her birth.

Yes, The Broadway would be the ideal choice: It is where her final show GUPSY opened and it is right at the top of the Broadway theatre district.

Who do we petition about this?

[paradox_error]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 8:30pm

Welcome back, Miriam!

It's an absolute joy to see you posting, and to read of these things from someone who saw it first-hand...

[Demitri2]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 9:00pm

Didn't "Granny Get Your Gun" transfer to the Broadway after Lincoln Center?

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 7/19/07 at 11:45am

One of my close friends—one of America’s most famous dancers—lurks here all the time. For some reason she refuses to write and passes everything on to me. So here are some Merman quotes that she remembers—from a very long time ago.

1. Fanny Brice meets Ethel Merman on the street and says “we’ve got to do a show together. Merman replies, “yeah, we could call it my man is girl crazy.”

2. In the Scandals of 1931, Ethel Merman appeared with Rudy Vallee. Obviously, she did not like him. Vallee says to Merman: “Ethel, come out with me, I’ll show you a good time.” Merman replies: “yeah, all two inches of it.”

3. Merman was taken to see a performance of Jerome Kern’s Roberta, a poor show, but it did feature SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES as well as an extended fashion show sequence. After the performance someone asked Merman what she thought of the fashion show sequence. Said Merman: “it was ok but it would have been better if they put the girls in the suits and the men in the dresses.”

4. Lorenz Hart had lunch with Merman and told her that he wanted to write a musical for her based on the Aristophanes play LYSISTRATA. Said Merman: “I don’t play lesbians.”

5. During the run of ANYTHING GOES, Merman became friendly with dear, sweet Victor Moore. One night Moore ran as if his life depended on it. Merman stopped him and asked what was wrong. Moore said he just saw two men having sex in one of the backstage corridors. Said Merman: “well, where do you want them to do it.”

6. Merman was appearing on a radio show. Noel Coward preceded her and went on to be witty, oh so clever, and clip his vowels and swallow his words to such an extent that Merman finally said, “what the f*** has he been sucking on.”

7. When Cole Porter played the song KATE THE GREAT--which was going in ANYTHING GOES--Merman said she could not possibly sing that song since it was so filthy. Said Porter: "but Ethel, everything I write for you is filthy."

8. Merman was taken to see a performance of LADY IN THE DARK, the musical about psychoanalysis which starred Gertrude Lawrence who can't make up her mind, has a bad sex life, etc. When Merman was asked what she thought of the show she said: "I liked it but had all the men banged Liza in the first two minutes the curtain could have come down earlier."

Updated On: 7/19/07 at 11:45 AM