The Merman Medley

In the early 1950s, Ethel Merman began singing a special arrangement of a dozen or so of the classic showtunes she introduced on Broadway. Roger Edens provided the "Lady with a Song" introductory verse. This 1960 performance is updated to include "Small World" from Merman's current show, "Gypsy."

For technical reasons, Merman was required to lip-synch the medley for TV instead of singing live. However, this ten-minute traversal of "Ethel's Greatest Hits" does offer a sense of the performer's legendary onstage electricity.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ethel
• merman
• medley
• roger
• edens
• gypsy
• hostessmostess

[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.

[jacobsimon]

The Queen of Broadway Belt

[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