Ethel Merman and the Star System of Pre 1950's theatre

[lifeisacabaret]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 6:36am

A rather long-winded title I know...but does anyone have any relevant info pertaining to this subject? Or perhaps some weblinks?

Any and all help would be much appreciated!

Cheers guys.

X

[JBSinger]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 8:55am

I highly recommend reading the books by Ethan Mordden on 30's, 40's, 50's Bway. they are fascinating and will shed some light on your query. They are a quick read, opinionated, and just a little dishy. They are also very comprehensive and wonderful summaries of those periods in Bway musicals.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 8:57am

I was about to say the exact same thing. I might add that if you don't feel like reading those three books (though you will want to, anyway), you can read his overview of musical theater "Broadway Babies".

[allofmylife]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 10:23am

People got to know the time of day Merman would be delivering her songs. A small crowd would gather outside the theater in the spring and summer to listen and she could be heard clearly through the open doors of the pre-air-conditioning theatres.

There were all sorts of stars in the 1930's and 40's. And there was Merman, who was pretty much in her own system.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 2:17pm

I love your entry, allofmylife.
I just finished writing a lengthy response to this topic and then, through a glitch, it was lost forever through cyberspace, so I will just make a brief entry.

Ethel Merman was "discovered" by producer Vinton Freedley while singing between movie showings at the Brooklyn Paramount in 1930. He got her an audition with George Gershwin who was casting his musical GIRL CRAZY. She got the part and knocked them in the aisle on opening night singing "I Got Rhythm", with the audience demanding several encores. A star was born! Afterwards, Gershwin told her to never go near a singing teacher and she followed his advice. Between 1930 and 1950, Merman starred in 11 shows written by the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Arthur Schwartz, and Irving Berlin--the cream of the crop. Her success was due to her voice and her remarkable stage presence, along with a strong work ethic which allowed her to stay with a show for its entire run, including the 1147 performance run of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN(1946). It would be GYPSY(1959) that would allow her to demonstrate her fine acting ability. She was known as the First Lady of the American Musical Theatre.

Updated On: 11/13/06 at 02:17 PM