The Merman Medley

[BernardProfitendieu]

the fake clapping should be filtered out

[Dirkdebruyne]

good staging, refreshing after seeing her doing it with her never-change mannerisms she carried with her through all those concerts and tv appearances in the 60 's and 70's..and she's obviously in shape and looking great with her short hair..not the bloated Merman with the too big hair from her later years.

[Somepeople]

Wow! She must have introduced more popular songs than anyone but maybe Judy Garland - everything she sings is a standard, and there are many of her classics that didn't make it to the medley (Everything's coming up roses, Some people, Down in the depths, Blow Gabriel blow, etc, etc). The music just flows - that's what's so amazing, all that power just flowing out, like a natural wonder. Which she was.

[jetcityhawk]

Wonderful...Tv at it's most simple and effective! True entertainment. Truly the queen of Broadway in her era. I wish she could have repeated more of her stage roles on screen. Oh well...that's Hollywood.

[jetcityhawk]

Wonderful...Tv at it's most simple and effective! True entertainment. Truly the queen of Broadway in her era. I wish she could have repeated more of her stage roles on screen. Oh welll...that's Hollywood.

[hockeyham3]

Great piece!  Thanks!

[madamerotten]

В Советском Союзе, мы любим Mrs. Merman!

[Garbo630]

@ cavardossij, I believe the song you are talking about is a Cole Porter song from the 1933 musical Nymph Errant. Some of the lyrics are: Solomon, had a thousand wives And bein' mighty good He wanted all o' them To lead contented lives So he bought each mamma A platinum piana, a gold lined kimona And a diamond studded Hispano Solomon, had a thousand wives I hope this is the song you were talking about. Yesterday is NEVER gone, we carry it in our hearts!

[cavaradossij]

i remember at the start of WW2 in Glasgow i heard her singing a broadway song one paragraph sounded like " s-o-o-o-o o-o-o-olomon, he had a thousand wives" i was only six and never saw it in any of her work or memoirs that was 70 years ago ,and yet so much of it remaims with me, yet vyesterday is gone for ever

who can identify this song for me

[Zayrina]

Clearly I am alone in not having much appreciation for the quality of her voice and singing. She always wounded horribly flat or something to me.

[gf1001]

There will only ever be one Merman WHAT A PERFORMER brilliant Todays so called superstars here is a lesson on how to do it in one shot Bravo.

[waynebrasler]

She knew where to go for great material here, Roger Edens the man himself. The number is just amazing for all the reasons cited. She was above all focused and seldom made mistakes. Always graceful on stage and she said she never had stage fright. Her many famous understudies said she never got sick either.

[juanitoelchico]

Think Ms Merman was the character for Helen Lawson on Jackie Susann´s Valley of the dolls!

where do I get my prize! for guessing!!!

[ragtime1925]

She was because Jacki Susann was obsessed with Ethel Merman.

[thelotusphoenix]

And so many yrs later...still I smile.....

[me3775]

Almost as impressive as La Merman's great voice & stage presence, is the flawless technical production work for 1960 live tv! Notice that 98% of this 9 min. continuous segment is shot with just one camera, and no edits (live)! Only 2 or 3 times you can notice a 'take' to camera 2. With 25 - 30 sets, wind machines, props, lights & walking a live dog on a leash, this seamless production is incredible! The stage must have been enormous. A rare gem; a must-see for all students of tv production.

[SRMHAYES]

What is this from?!?!?! This may be the most briliantly directed 10 minutes in Variety Show history!!! The segues from song to song, the visuals (some of which evoke particular shows and others which merely create a new mood) are EXTRAORDINARY!!!

[ragtime1925]

This show is Called Ethel Merman on Broadway. The show was crowded but was very good!! Jule Styne/Buddy Bregman and Al Goodman were all part of this fabulous collection of songs. I can't remember who put the melody together but they did it well and she sang it for the rest of her life.

[zkthom]

"Small World" isn't the only song from GYPSY in this medley (as the description suggests). She also sings a snippet of "You'll Never Get Away from Me."

[JerseySurvivor]

Most of the stuff about Ethel's private life is pure bull%$#+. She was tough and vulnerable woman. She never let her true feelings out. If you were a friend, enemies had to watch out!

[JaneAusten90]

Isn't she just wonderful?

[silverspringsrr]

She was one of a kind...a legendary performer, and justly so. I HIGHLY recommend Brian Kellow's new biography ETHEL MERMAN: A LIFE.

[ragtime1925]

I second that! It was a good book!

[blf831]

What a GREAT treat - thank you SO much for uploading this. Ethel is "the top" in my book!

[Birondon]

It's wonderful. Thanks for uploading!!!!! I appreciate this video so much!!!!!!

[jpshuntny]

WOW this clip is amazing, going to get mermania vol 2 tomorrow.

[jacobsimon]

The Merm!!!!

[rockanoarkennels]

I think they had the wind on her a little to hard....But what a good group of melodys!!!!Will Always Love Ethel Merman!

[mustachelip]

I THINK ETHEL MERMAN IS A TRANNY

[rockanoarkennels]

no but she was bisexual

[ragtime1925]

Nope that is not true. She is not bisexuall. That was a scandalous lie from Jackie Susann who was obsessed with her. I should know I was friends with her for over 10 years.

[Dirkdebruyne]

excuse me, why is being called bisexual "scandalous" ? can you explain that particular bit of homophobia for me? I would suppose that a singer who thanks most of her succes and continued glorification to her vast gay fan base should not excessively hurt from such an "accusation"?

[aminmontrose]

Everytime I think we've made advances, society drags it's feet. We live in an imperfect world, with a lot of small minded people. It would seem the generation is getting less and less respectful too.

[DeanLotherington]

Absolutely Amazing! There's NO business like ETHEL Business.

[soulgrrl]

Brilliantly done! She truly is a legend in musical theatre.

[hairycatdaddy]

OMG! how brilliant! wish my life was like this...sets and all!

[Jesterswords]

wow

[cavaradossij]

Ethel we will always 'Get a kick out of you",we love you for all eternity'

[jacobsimon]

The Queen of Broadway Belt

[Montavanni]

Absolutely!

[tiernan87]

omg, i know.

[margotminnelli]

sei divina Ethel

[123dave3456]

is there a cd on this music? where?

[evans54]

most of it is on a Merman live in Las Vegas CD

[rockanoarkennels]

it is also on Mermania Vol.2 Her Private Recordings (The Concert In London)

[Gregg30]

Yes. The Vegas CD is to be avoided at all costs. Try to find Mermania Vol. 2!

[rockanoarkennels]

It is better too, Since she caught 'Vegas Throat', her voice sounded hoarse and there was no harmony in her vioce she sounded like Carol Channing almost! I highly recomend Mermania Vol. 2

[oscarwinnerboi]

What a dame...I miss her madly.

[ePhilosopher]

absent veil

[Gregg30]

Prime Merm!

[GeorgeWTush]

Brava, Ethel.  Brava!

[olbrych82]

ethel your the top and always will be.