Mitzi Gaynor

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/11/08 at 3:25pm

I did a nice article about Mitzi that is now up and running on BWW's Homepage. It was a pleasure to do because she's such a genuine lady. We had a ball chatting for over an hour. I just wish you could HEAR her impersonations of Ethel Merman, Lidia Brazzi and some of her early teachers. Mitzi's an incredible mimic!

I also had the opportunity to preview her special/documentary and it's absolutely marvelous! By all means, watch it on WLIW/Channel 21 tonight at 8 PM.

Enjoy!

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 12:25pm

That's a fabulous article, Dolly. I wish there were an audiotape link we could have clicked on!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 1:52pm

Oh, it would have been a blast if I could have done some sort of audio of Mitzi's imperonations of Merman, Lidia Brazzi and Marilyn Monroe. She's very, very good at them.

It was a pleasure to write the article and to be at WLIW last night for the broadcast of her documentary.

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 8:16pm

Many years ago, I saw Mitzi at Westbury Music Fair (when it was called that!) in concert. She sang, she danced and told some stories to the audience. I remember the fantastic costumes and being knocked out by her performance. Talk about a triple threat!

She is still very beautiful.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 9:06pm

Heck, I was at that same performance--or at least one performance during that particular run! Yes, it was called the Westbury Music Fair in those days!

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 10:08pm

Dollypop: Our age is showing. If only I could age as gracefully as Mitzi.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 10:52pm

I was with her last night at the WLIW "studio" (I couldn't believe it was little more than a shack with a corrugated tin roof!). Mitzi's an absolute doll and looks great. More importantly, she's got her brains and her spunk. I'm 61 and have trouble remembering what happened yesterday, but Mitzi's as sharp as a tack.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 10:57pm

Did Mitzi ever do Broadway?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/13/08 at 8:48am

Yes, she did. If you'd read the article I wrote, Mitzi explains that she did a 6 week run of THE FORTUNE TELLER on Bwy at the beginning of her career. It wasn't a box office bonanza.

She is currently preparing a show called BEHIND THE SEQUINS which will tour and ultimately play Broadway.

Yours truly is urging her to do a revival of HELLO, DOLLY! She'd never considered playing Dolly, but I'm convincing her that she'd be a perfect Dolly. Not only can she sing, dance and act, but she's funny and would look sensational in the costumes that I'm sure Bob Mackie would re-design for her.

Mitzi's an incredible mimic and would turn that restaurant scene into something hilarious.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/13/08 at 12:48pm

Was that the original Fortune Teller in 1898 or the 1929 revival?

[antonijan]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 4:13am

I just watched the special from kcsm.org and I enjoyed the Mitzi and the 100 men segment.

I can't belive she had a show in SF just in January.

I was clueless.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 7:22am

Don't forget, she toured in a scaled down version of the LCT "Anything Goes"

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 2:17pm

I saw her in the national tour of 'Anything Goes' in Miami in 1989.
She was, and still, is an amazing lady.
The DVD is just stunning. Pure entertainment.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 3:22pm

I totally agree. The DVD is one delicious gem.

I remembered watching those annual TV specials as a kid and adoring her so when this documentary was first announced, I was more than thrilled. When PBS started airing it I have to admit to watching it every single time -- mostly to see Mitzi doing her fabulous on-air tete-a-tete interviews/pledges. What a raconteur.

For all the obvious reasons, I purchased the DVD edition of this special... and the extras (which run longer than the actual documentary) are sheer perfection. I have to also admit to watching countless times that sensational "Let Go" number (from her 1968 2ND SPECIAL), choreographed by the legendary Peter Gennaro and featuring that mouth-watering 'nude' silver glittery Bob Mackie gown (his first 'nude' dress EVER!).

Unfortunately, Mitzi's legendary performance of the Best Song nominee "Georgy Girl" at the 1967 Oscars/Academy Awards wasn't included on this DVD. That show-stopping performance (performed with her dancers The Four Fellows and choreographed by Peter Gennaro) is what prompted interest in creating those annual TV specials on NBC. It also gave her career a second wind.

Here's Mitzi and THAT Bob Mackie 'nude' dress for the "Let Go" number:


Here's the "Let Go" number: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuJEK1xHc1k

Here's Mitzi & The Four Fellows performing "Georgy Girl" at the 1967 Oscars: https://brodyfosse.buzznet.com/user/video/3943121/mitzi-gaynor-four-fellows-perform/

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 4:15pm

Mitzi's coming to NYC at the end of the month and we're getting together for dinner!

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 7:23pm

I've only had the DVD a few weeks and i cannot recall the number of times it has been played. Top of my list at the moment and will most likely stay there some time.
A marvel!

[gogogreg]

Posted: 3/10/09 at 7:54pm

I was fortunate enough to be one of "Mitzi's Boys", singing and dancing with her on tour for around 6 months, in the 80's.
She is a consumate pro, and a hysterical woman. She would take us out to dinner, on every opening night, in every town we were in. She loved us like her family. Terrific memories, of a terrific woman.