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Born in the Astoria section of Queens, New York City, Ethel Merman surely is the pre-eminent star of 'Broadway' musical comedy. Though untrained in singing, she could belt out a song like quite no one else, and was sought after by major songwriters such as Irving Berlin and Cole Porter.
- Actress, Soundtrack
- February 15, 1984
- January 16, 1908
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Ethel Merman was an American actress and singer recognized as one of the best musical comedy performers of her era. Known for her uniquely powerful voice, she was called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage."
Ethel Agnes Zimmerman was born in the third floor bedroom of her grandmother's house at 359 4th Avenue in Astoria, Queens. Growing up near Famous Players-Lasky's Astoria Studios, young Ethel often watched the silent movie stars drive by in their massive cars, and she dreamed of joining their ranks one day.
Ethel Merman BIO. She has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage". Over her distinguished career in theater she became known for her performances in shows such...
- Early Life
- Career
- Personal Life
- Autobiographies
- Later Life and Death
- Work
- Further Reading
- External Links
Merman was born in her maternal grandmother's house at 359 4th Avenue (today 33rd Street just off 36th Avenue) in Astoria, Queens in New York City in 1908, but later insisted that the year was 1912.Her father, Edward Zimmermann (1879–1977), was an accountant with James H. Dunham & Company, a Manhattan wholesale dry-goods company, and her mother, Ag...
Early career
During a two-week engagement at a club in midtown Manhattan called Little Russia, Merman met agent Lou Irwin, who arranged for her to audition for Archie Mayo, a film director under contract at Warner Bros. He offered her an exclusive six-month contract, starting at $125 per week, and Merman quit her day job, only to find herself idle for weeks while waiting to be cast in a film. She finally urged Irwin to try to cancel her agreement with Mayo; instead, he negotiated her a better deal allowin...
Later career
Gypsy was based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee and starred Merman as her domineering stage mother Rose Hovick, possibly Merman's best-remembered performance. The musical opened on May 21, 1959, at The Broadway Theatre. In the New York Post, Richard Watts called Merman "a brilliant actress", and Brooks Atkinson of The New York Times wrote that "She gives an indomitable performance, both as actress and singer." Despite the acclaim, Merman lost the Tony Award to her close friend Mary Martin in...
Performance style
Merman was known for her powerful, belting mezzo-soprano voice and precise enunciation and pitch. Because stage singers performed without microphones when Merman began singing professionally, she had a great advantage, despite never taking singing lessons. Broadway lore holds that George Gershwin advised her never to take a singing lesson after she opened in his Girl Crazy. Caryl Flinn's 2007 biography includes many quotes from reviews of Merman's work, most of which were compliments to her....
Marriages and children
Merman was married and divorced four times. Her first marriage, in 1940, was to theatrical agent William Smith. They were divorced in 1941. Later that same year, Merman married newspaper executive Robert Levitt. The couple had two children: Ethel (born July 20, 1942) and Robert Jr. (born August 11, 1945). Merman and Levitt were divorced in 1952. In March 1953, Merman married Robert Six, the president of Continental Airlines.They separated in December 1959 and were divorced in 1960. Merman's f...
Profanity
Merman was notorious for her brash demeanor and for telling vulgar stories at public parties. For instance, she once shouted a dirty joke across the room at José Ferrer during a formal reception. While rehearsing a guest appearance on The Loretta Young Show,Merman exclaimed "Where the hell does this go?" Young, who was a devout Catholic, advanced towards Merman waving an empty coffee can, saying, "Come on, Ethel. You know my rules. That'll cost you a dollar."—to which Merman replied, "Tell me...
Politics
Merman, a lifelong Republican, was a frequent guest at the Eisenhower White House. Merman was also noted as saying, "Eisenhower was my war hero and the President I admire and respect most."On January 20, 1981, Merman performed at the inauguration of Ronald Reagan singing "Everything's Coming up Roses". She had previously sung the same song at an inaugural gala for John F. Kennedy which was never broadcast.
Merman co-wrote two memoirs. The first, Who Could Ask for Anything More? (1955), was published by Doubleday & Co. and written with the assistance of Pete Martin. The second, Merman(1978), was published by Simon & Schuster and written with George Eels.
Merman began to become forgetful with advancing age, and on occasion, had difficulty with her speech. At times her behavior was erratic, causing concern among her friends. On April 7, 1983, she was preparing to travel to Los Angeles to appear on the 55th Academy Awards telecast, when she collapsed in her apartment. Merman was taken to Roosevelt Hos...
Discography
Hit records 1. "How Deep Is the Ocean?" (1932)#14 US BillboardBest Sellers 2. "Eadie Was a Lady" (1933) US #8 3. "An Earful of Music" (1934) US #11 4. "You're the Top" (1934) US #4 5. "I Get a Kick Out of You" (1935) US #12 6. "Move It Over" (1943) US #14 7. "They Say It's Wonderful" (1946) US #20 (with Ray Middleton) 8. "Dearie" (1950) US #12 (with Ray Bolger) 9. "I Said My Pajamas (And Put On My Prayers)" (1950) US #20 (with Ray Bolger) 10. "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake" (1...
Thomas, Bob (November 1985). I Got Rhythm! The Ethel Merman Story (Hardcover). New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. pp. 239 pages. ISBN 0-399-13041-1. Search this book on
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Born in the Astoria section of Queens, New York City, Ethel Merman surely is the pre-eminent star of 'Broadway' musical comedy. Though untrained in singing, she could belt out a song like quite no one else, and was sought after by major songwriters such as Irving Berlin and Cole Porter.
Ethel Merman Biography. Born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann on January 16, 1909, in Astoria Long Island, NY, (died February 15, 1984, New York, NY); daughter of Edward (an accountant) and Agnes Gardner Merman, (homemaker and choir singer); married William B. Smith (a theatrical agent) November 15, 1940, (divorced 1941); married Robert D. Levitt ...
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