Happy birthday, Ethel Merman

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 5:47pm

Happy birthday to the hostess with the mostess on the ball who's still the top because she did what came naturally.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 6:05pm

So in honor of her birthday, here's a little concert:


First, Judy introducing Ethel singing "Gee, But It's Good to Be Here" and "I Get a Kick Out of You":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNheHmATOG8


Ethel singing what was known as "The Merman Medley":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELLUuSsN0tE


Perry Como teaching Ethel how to sing softly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTfgtgWK3ZE


Ethel and Susan Watson singing "Mutual Admiration Society":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbdSnVOc9ew


What It Might Have Been Like to See Ethel in Gypsy--"Rose's Turn" with Ethel's vocal dubbed over Roz Russell's video:

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


Ethel, in one of her final appearances, singing "Everything's Coming Up Roses":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s62MrU8mHx4


And, for an encore, Ethel and the Muppets singing a surprisingly touching "There's No Business Like Show Business":

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

Updated On: 1/16/11 at 06:05 PM

[Almira]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 6:30pm

Happy Birthday to the one and ONLY Empress of American Musical Theatre.

All bow.

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 6:41pm

...and Lin-Manuel Miranda too!! He turns 30 today!

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 6:57pm

Thanks, PalJoey for a great tribute. Happy Birthday, Ethel! The Queen of Broadway forever.
Updated On: 1/16/11 at 06:57 PM

[Joey.]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 7:25pm

Ethel Merman plows on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCpwdVKZDzs Updated On: 1/16/11 at 07:25 PM

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 7:35pm

You assembled a lovely tribute, PalJoey. Great job! And Happy 103rd Birthday to Ethel! If Ethel was still with us, she would certainly have the lung power to blow out all 103 candles on her cake. Long live the Queen of Broadway!

[NGeorgiaBwayFan]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 9:21pm

Happy Birthday, Ethel!
You'll always truly be one of a kind!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 9:29pm

I also love:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbjvsFHwtzE

And this one from SCTV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ_LcBNe2a4

[whyohwhyoh]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 10:00pm

Thanks so MUCH! the first show I ever saw on broadway was Happy Hunting. These youtube links were fantastic! Great tribute to the one and only Merm! People forget how she could galvanize and audience. I saw Gypsy, HH and Hello Dolly and the AGYG revival. No one like here. NO ONE! Thanks again for this. Made my week and after all the Spiderman silliness- she just needed a bare stage!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 10:05pm

2 more memorable Merman moments...

1. Ethel from the 1966 revival of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M24q80ZYaWU&feature=related

2. Ethel's Show Business anthem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtxeKw1u1Vk

Could someone ask Tony Cointreau if Ethel's Ashes could be put in a display case in the lower lobby of the Neil Simon (formerly Alvin) theatre where Ethel made her debut in 1930 in GIRL CRAZY?

(or would that weird too many people out?)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 12:51am

Thank you Joey and Front Row for the additional clips--and thank you Husky for the SCTV Andrea Martin "Wake Up and Love Me" clip. I hadn't see that in years!

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 2:22am

What a legend. Happy birthday Ethel!

[AnythingGoes2]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 9:11am

to quote Elaine Stritch "Its a sin they haven't named a theatre after her"

Amen

[justafan2]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 12:17pm

I agree with Elaine Stritch---Ethel Merman deserves a theater named after her. Happy Birthday! I never saw her live, but saw every musical film she ever made!
Updated On: 1/17/11 at 12:17 PM

[jv92]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 12:45pm

It's time to name a theatre after the First Lady of American Musical Comedy. Happy Birthday Ethel!

[zamedy]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 9:53pm

Thank you for the links! ABSOLUTELY MESMERIZING!

AMEN again to Ms. Stritch's call to name a theatre after this woman. "The Merman." It's a crime this hasn't happened yet.

So much silliness and reliance on special effects to dazzle today's audiences. The Merm was the Merm because of the pure talent that flowed thru her veins. I wish for one minute.. for one day.. all the Broadway stars of today could meet her.. from LuPone to the chorus girls and boys just getting their equity cards. The Queen of Broadway would humble all of them, while simultaneously reminding them why they got into this business in the first place.

God Bless you, Ms. Merman.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 10:47pm

For Gypsy fans, the Merman Medley in my first post a segments from "You'll Never Get Away from Me" (not "Small World," as it says on the link).

And here she is on a 1979 tribute to Jule Styne on the Merv Griffin Show, singing "Some People," with the little-heard introductory verse and a strange little mash-up with "People" and then some additional sung material to "Poppa" at the end:

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

(It's like a precursor to Liza's over-the-top "Some People.")

Updated On: 1/17/11 at 10:47 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 10:55pm

And here is Ethel in a particularly frightening 1976 performance, singing "There's No Business Like Show Business" louder than the entire Boston Pops and wearing what appears to be...a chenille bedspread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_Ic4aQssc

[PalJoey]

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

Merman and Herman:

Jerry Herman plays "Before the Parade Passes By" and Ethel sings the hell out of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypiHEnvF2VE

[esparza 333]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 11:10pm

Gotta love Ethel!!! I once found a rare clip of her singing You Can't Get a Man with A Gun on Ed Sullivan I believe but can't find it.

[PalJoey]

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

And maybe the greatest piece of television ever broadcast: Mary Martin and Ethel Merman in a 13-minute medley, including their greatest hits and a medley of "I" songs that builds and builds and builds, with the two of them playing off each other like rivals and best friends.

The medley was staged by Jerome Robbins, who wisely chose NOT to stage it, except for two stools and a small number of moves. It was part of the Ford 50th Anniversary broadcast on June 15, 1953, which was aired, live, on CBS and NBC simultaneously.

Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MjKFmK-FNs

Part Two (The "I" Songs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf5xlKF2l88

[goldenboy]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 3:42pm

I love Ethel Merman. Happy Birthday Oh Patron Saint!

The patron Saint of Rising Action Theatre in Fort Lauderale
has been and will always be Ethel Merman.

We even have an Ethel Merman Theatre Club!!!! A dedicated group of theater enthusiasts that support the theatre on a yearly basis.

Our first show.. The 11 O Clock number was a play where Ethel Came back to life from musical comedy to heaven to grant this
fledging Broadway Composer his every birthday wish which included
a show on Broadway starring Ethel Merman---back from the beyond!

Yes this is a shameless promotion for Rising Action Theatre
who is doing Grey Gardens opening Feb 24!


www.risingactiontheatre.com