Ethel Merman's final performance in HELLO DOLLY

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 11:01pm

I just bumped into this on YouTube and I thought all of you would love this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbmtK28kab8

[SweetLips]

Posted: 6/2/17 at 4:50am

No one needs to complain about Bettes' voice again after hear that !

[EthelMae]

Posted: 6/2/17 at 11:54am

Thank you disneybroadwayfan22! Never saw this on YT.

I was lucky, as a kid, to see Ms. Merman 4 times in Dolly. I think she sounds pretty damn good here considering this was probably an archaic way of taping. I even have a cassette tape I made at the time with only part of the show and she blows you out of the theatre there too.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/2/17 at 12:17pm

I have a complete audio recording of what's supposed to be the final performance but I'm sure it's not: Gower Champion danced across the stage in "I Put My Hand In" and the recording lacks the swell of applause he received at that moment. Also, the fellow playing Cornelius on that recording sounds more youthful than Russell Nype. (For some odd reason the "Tutti frutti ice cream" reference was changed to " Neopolitan" at the performance which was taped)
I'm sure my recording was made by someone in the orchestra, with the mic located on the foot of the stage. Voices seem to fade when actors are on the ramp.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 6/2/17 at 2:00pm

Thanks so much for posting this!

I'm not old enough to have seen Merman or Mary Martin onstage, but I have seen a few legendary performers in iconic roles: Lansbury in Gypsy, Verdon in Chicago, Channing in the 1994 Dolly revival (yes, she was too old and probably too frail, but she still had her comedic chops 100% intact). Each of these ladies had a star quality and a special connection to the audience.

Sadly, I just don't think they make stars like that anymore.