My mom just hated this lady but I always irritated her by saying that she was a hell of a stage presence and I meant it then and NOW! Ethel Merman was marvelous !!
I SAW HER LIVE TWICE,,,ONCE IN GYPSY ABOUT 1957 AT THE BILTMORE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES...ANOTHER WAS MANY YEARS LATER AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL...I TOOK MY AUNTIE ON A DATE AFTER MY UNCLE PASSED AWAY...AND MY AUNTIE GOT SORT OF MUSHIE AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OF COMFORT TO THE GRANDEST LADY IN MY LIFE---AND ETHEL MERMAN WAS JUST FABULOUS...
She certainly was a lioness on the prowl. I was lucky enough to catch the 25th anniversary staging of Annie Get Your Gun at Lincoln Center, from the back of the top balcony where you could hear and understand every word she sang.
A totally unique voice and terrific talent, characters like this are desperately missing today. This video shows a very hard working lady loving her craft, perfect timing, perfect delivery and hypnotic personality, so many great attributes, what a dose of pure joy to watch, thank you for sharing.
I have seen Merman do this medley many times and always she is magnificent. When Merman was doing her established material, she always did it the same way right down to the final gesture and always with total commitment, energy, and passion. She always made it special - as if she was singing it for the first time. The theatre was so lucky to have her living in it.
she doesnt have a microphone , or any form of amplification , her style of singing is shes a " belter " , and she can blast out a song at such a volume , mics , ect. arnt needed , as here
Merman does not always translate well on a screen. She is a huge stage presence and the bigger the room, the better! There are better voices, better dancers, better actors, but none of them had her legacy. Merman never worked in a flop. In all those decades, she batted 1000 on Broadway. Every composer and lyricist of the musical stage wrote, hoping she would be the vehicle for their art. It was as close to a risk free proposition as there ever was, if Ethel said yes to your play. That kind of charisma just does not exist now.
John Dalton, to answer your question Ms. Merman was from the pre-microphone era and therefore had to be able to project her voice to the very back/top of the theater. I am not sure how they mic'ed her here but it could very well be the same microphone that is picking up the instruments. Shows on television, I believe, were not broadcasted in Stereo until the early-mid 80s so they also did not have to worry about microphone placement for the left and right speakers. Since this is in mono and she is from the pre-microphone era, the microphone could very well be placed far away from her mouth.
+Michael Mortimer I saw her sing Annie at Lincoln center in '69, and since I had some experience with theater sound I could tell that she didn't have a mic. And when she got too near someone with one they'd back it off.
As I remember, she worked with Roger Edens to piece this medley together. He was M-G-M Pictures' musical genius and a major mentor in Judy Garland's life. The Gershwin was absolutely true. George and Ira were well-know for the respect and warmth they offered young artists. Barbra Streisand later lived in the Gershwins' penthouse. She would very much like to do a new film version of "Gypsy" as her final film.
+CARLOS GARCÍA The first 'song' is a piece of special material written as the intro to this medley by Merman. The actual first song is Doin' What Comes Naturally from "Annie Get Your Gun".
The first lady of Broadway forever and ever, we will never see a talent like this again.
The wonderful Ethel Merman...perhaps that hardest working woman to ever appear on Broadway.
So miss people like her.
A legend indeed! She is no spring chicken here yet her voice is still as big as a house!
My mom just hated this lady but I always irritated her by saying that she was a hell of a stage presence and I meant it then and NOW! Ethel Merman was marvelous !!
Merman - the only voice you can hear from space! Wow, amazing -
Do you think Patti labelle could over sing her?
Labelle screams. Ethel Sings
ethel is more powerful in terms of volume
my name is
Ethel Merman WAS Broadway
Wow! Obviously her style seems somewhat alien today, but in her day she was the star of stars. She takes no prisoners!
+Dave Glo Songwriters seems to love her voice from Cole Porter to Irving Berlin.
I'd kill for a recording of her singing Rose's Turn.
I SAW HER LIVE TWICE,,,ONCE IN GYPSY ABOUT 1957 AT THE BILTMORE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES...ANOTHER WAS MANY YEARS LATER AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL...I TOOK MY AUNTIE ON A DATE AFTER MY UNCLE PASSED AWAY...AND MY AUNTIE GOT SORT OF MUSHIE AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OF COMFORT TO THE GRANDEST LADY IN MY LIFE---AND ETHEL MERMAN WAS JUST FABULOUS...
WOW you saw her in Gypsy. What I would have given :)
She certainly was a lioness on the prowl. I was lucky enough to catch the 25th anniversary staging of Annie Get Your Gun at Lincoln Center, from the back of the top balcony where you could hear and understand every word she sang.
They don't make them like her anymore. Miss Ethel RIP
What a fantastic legend not to be replaced ever.God Bless Ethel.
Damn that lady had a voice!!!
A totally unique voice and terrific talent, characters like this are desperately missing today. This video shows a very hard working lady loving her craft, perfect timing, perfect delivery and hypnotic personality, so many great attributes, what a dose of pure joy to watch, thank you for sharing.
Ethel was, is and always will be the greatest!!
I have seen Merman do this medley many times and always she is magnificent. When Merman was doing her established material, she always did it the same way right down to the final gesture and always with total commitment, energy, and passion. She always made it special - as if she was singing it for the first time. The theatre was so lucky to have her living in it.
Only Ethel, could sing such a song like that
What an entertainer she was. So much energy.
she doesnt have a microphone , or any form of amplification , her style of singing is shes a " belter " , and she can blast out a song at such a volume , mics , ect. arnt needed , as here
I only have one word but FABULOUS!!!!!
Oh, man, the Mighty Merm. Sanfrantastic!
I remember watching this on PBS as a kid! Thanks for posting!
THAT WAS GREAT ….. THANK YOU FOR THE POST
Fantastic musical performance !
Merman does not always translate well on a screen. She is a huge stage presence and the bigger the room, the better! There are better voices, better dancers, better actors, but none of them had her legacy. Merman never worked in a flop. In all those decades, she batted 1000 on Broadway. Every composer and lyricist of the musical stage wrote, hoping she would be the vehicle for their art. It was as close to a risk free proposition as there ever was, if Ethel said yes to your play. That kind of charisma just does not exist now.
Absolutely extraordinary
Wow, that was incredible. "BRAVA"!!! Her style reminds me so much of Patti Labelle. Big beautiful voices, and unmatched stage presence. You go girl!!!
John Dalton, to answer your question Ms. Merman was from the pre-microphone era and therefore had to be able to project her voice to the very back/top of the theater. I am not sure how they mic'ed her here but it could very well be the same microphone that is picking up the instruments. Shows on television, I believe, were not broadcasted in Stereo until the early-mid 80s so they also did not have to worry about microphone placement for the left and right speakers. Since this is in mono and she is from the pre-microphone era, the microphone could very well be placed far away from her mouth.
+Michael Mortimer I saw her sing Annie at Lincoln center in '69, and since I had some experience with theater sound I could tell that she didn't have a mic. And when she got too near someone with one they'd back it off.
So wonderfully fun!!! Thanks!!
Staggering, and I was a complete mess when she very slightly teared up at the memory of George Gershwin offering to change his songs if she liked.
Bravi Ethel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wow!
As I remember, she worked with Roger Edens to piece this medley together. He was M-G-M Pictures' musical genius and a major mentor in Judy Garland's life. The Gershwin was absolutely true. George and Ira were well-know for the respect and warmth they offered young artists. Barbra Streisand later lived in the Gershwins' penthouse. She would very much like to do a new film version of "Gypsy" as her final film.
Would love to see the TV special The Gershwin Years with Ethel. Do you have it? If so could you upload it. Thanks
no mic one and only Merman
them brows...
5 was there a great nght
I wonder who wrote the opening passage.... "The parts I've played upon the stage..."
Anyone know??
+Richard Sabellico The great Roger Edens composed that for her
Is this 1977?
+VideosTimes2 What is the name of the first song?
+CARLOS GARCÍA The first 'song' is a piece of special material written as the intro to this medley by Merman. The actual first song is Doin' What Comes Naturally from "Annie Get Your Gun".
+VideosTimes2 What is the name of the SOCOND song?
"Doin' What Comes Naturally" from Irving Berlin's "Annie Get Your Gun"