Merman lost the Tony for best performance in a musical (for GYPSY) to Mary Martin(for THE SOUND OF MUSIC). Actually, what Ethel Merman DID say was, "How can you buck a nun?" Merman and Mary Martin were friends, having done the famous Ford 50th Anniversary duet of a great many famous songs. They also appeared together at the Broadway in a benefit concert for the Theatre Collection of the Museum of the City of New York in the 1970's. Somewhere in my cluttered collection of CD's is the recording of that concert. Cyril Ritchard was the host. Mary Martin was nervous while Merman was her usual calm self without a hint of stage fright--one of her trademarks.
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
Updated On: 5/25/10 at 10:25 AM