Great observation. I have always thought that Ethel Merman and Frank Sinatra were the 2 most confident performers l have seen. Both unshakeable and just literally in command of every moment.
At 5:23 when Merman claims to be 65, Martin just sort of looks at her and says " well you just use what you want to use and to heck with em !" Mermans reaction is edited out.
She was right about how Broadway has changed on the stage and in the audience back in 1977 becuase it's even worse now. People don't dress or act respectfule but also the shows are mostly stage performances based on a singer's career not actual musicals like back in their days. There aren't any good composers anymore.
He actually asks their ages! Mary Martin tells the truth while Ethel Merman says: "I really should use 65!". She was actually 69 at the time. Hilarious!
I cannot imagine singing on Broadway, as the lead yet, and thinking of what you had to do later, including shopping lists. If it happened once or twice for whatever reason, okay, but Merman makes it sound as if it was ongoing and she was proud of it. To me, it is disrespectful of your job, your art, your commitment to the audience, even IF you really could have your concentration divided like that with no negative consequences. I think Mary Martin was also taken aback, but was too much a lady to pursue it.
I was there. What a great night! It was Merman's show..she had the songs and the personality! Anna produced a classic, to bad Mary said NO to video tape it. Our loss!!!!
Mary was the real thing! I met her at a book signing and she spent ten minutes talking to me! Her business manager was trying to move things along but she wanted to talk to talk to me some more and that was that!!!
Ethel Merman was not a fraud. You show your prejudice and ignorance by saying that. Ask 100 people who the greatest Broadway star of all time was, and 99 of them will say that it was Ethel Merman.
