Ethel was a closet lesbian. I think that was probably the major factor in her four marriages not succeeding. The first marriage, in which she had children, was probably for publicity purposes. It was the same story with Helen Hayes.
To all the ignorant jerk people who wonder why she had certain behavior problem. She had a brain tumor which took her wonderful life away from us. Generation Y people could learn very much from people like her.
love the line about Klugman's singing: "Rose I love you, don't count your chickens." I thought the same when I first heard that recording 30 years ago. Jack 's one of our great dramatic actors, but even he would admit never was a singer. He does an admirable job for a non-singer but you know he had to be terrified to be out of his comfort zone having to perform in a musical alongside someone the stature of Merman singing heavyweights Styne and Sondheim material. He gets an "E" for effort.
Wow a virtual unknown on Broadway, gets a private concert listening to that woman sing her Broadway hits. It could have lasted two hours. That is an occasion to remember til you die.
She doesn't mention how she tried to sink Betty Hutton's career. Or how she delighted in berating Roz Russell's vocal ability for the movie version of "Gypsy."
Tony Randall is SO sycophantic, pompous and snobbish in this. He talks with disdain about any talents with drug problems - does he realise that most of them didn't get the help they needed because of the times? If Judy Garland was listening, she'd wallop him.
@AdArmand B ut what he says is true. You can't abuse drugs and have a LONG career. As he says, you can have a bright, short career but not a 50 plus career like Merman.
@AdArmand Right. The closest thing to help Judy Garland had was her stay at an outpatient treatment center in Boston for 3 weeks in 1968, which was the most up-to-date treatment available then. And before her death, she was consulting with a doctor about her sleeping pill dosage. He got her down to 2 per night. People did the best they could.
Ethel was a closet lesbian. I think that was probably the major factor in her four marriages not succeeding. The first marriage, in which she had children, was probably for publicity purposes. It was the same story with Helen Hayes.
xander7ful 2 months ago
Ask Betty Hutton about Merman's "professionalism." What a joke.
LazlosPlane 3 months ago
To all the ignorant jerk people who wonder why she had certain behavior problem. She had a brain tumor which took her wonderful life away from us. Generation Y people could learn very much from people like her.
BBQFanNo1 4 months ago
love the line about Klugman's singing: "Rose I love you, don't count your chickens." I thought the same when I first heard that recording 30 years ago. Jack 's one of our great dramatic actors, but even he would admit never was a singer. He does an admirable job for a non-singer but you know he had to be terrified to be out of his comfort zone having to perform in a musical alongside someone the stature of Merman singing heavyweights Styne and Sondheim material. He gets an "E" for effort.
DreamsCumTrue469 4 months ago
Wow a virtual unknown on Broadway, gets a private concert listening to that woman sing her Broadway hits. It could have lasted two hours. That is an occasion to remember til you die.
BTURNER1961 5 months ago
She doesn't mention how she tried to sink Betty Hutton's career. Or how she delighted in berating Roz Russell's vocal ability for the movie version of "Gypsy."
nycruise 6 months ago
She is a very lovely person............
rickhatch1 1 year ago
Tony Randall is SO sycophantic, pompous and snobbish in this. He talks with disdain about any talents with drug problems - does he realise that most of them didn't get the help they needed because of the times? If Judy Garland was listening, she'd wallop him.
AdArmand 2 years ago 5
@AdArmand B ut what he says is true. You can't abuse drugs and have a LONG career. As he says, you can have a bright, short career but not a 50 plus career like Merman.
filmmekker 2 years ago
@AdArmand Right. The closest thing to help Judy Garland had was her stay at an outpatient treatment center in Boston for 3 weeks in 1968, which was the most up-to-date treatment available then. And before her death, she was consulting with a doctor about her sleeping pill dosage. He got her down to 2 per night. People did the best they could.
xander7ful 2 months ago
she is kinda loopy in this interview .
SexyStudChris 2 years ago
Comment removed
Messylin 2 years ago 4
An Ethel Merman sandwich! Yummy.
Messylin 2 years ago 4
if you love merman try to find her autobiography - typically merman - superb!
J64th 2 years ago
GOD I love this lady. She never had a flop because she is what she was. I love Tony Randal all the more that he so obviously reveres Ethel.
Cramnella 2 years ago 3
Thank you, Miss, Merman
rickenba 3 years ago
tallullah bankhead only had two hits in her entire carreer, he says. but she didn't sing!, she says. brilliant
bowmister 4 years ago
she likes to get to the point, doesn't talk crap about anyone, builds people up. I love that about the old days.
fernie1981 4 years ago
Yes,
There was Mike and Merv and that's it. No one else compares:)
damone77 4 years ago
Great stuff . . . just love this. Thank you so much.
Montavanni 4 years ago
Sadly, All 3 legends are dead, but not forgotten. Love you guys, Ethel, Tony, and Mike.
cuttock 4 years ago 2
Great to see this - I saw this lady at the London Palladium in the id 1970's and she was a real star.
I noticed in variety recently that Mike douglas has just died recently.
Thanks for posting.
George
weekendin 4 years ago
she had the greatest laugh!
DrewArriola 4 years ago