I am so glad these clips of Mary Martin exist - I was hooked from the time i first saw Peter Pan on TV in 1955 - finally saw her on stage many years later in I Do I Do and also had the privilege of meeting her - she was as delightful off stage as on
I had the great pleasure of meeting her at a book signing and she was sincerity and graciousness personified. I was a young music major in college and she spent a large amount of time talking with me about my life and hers. What a great lady! I will never forget that day!
Randy Sills I know what you mean. I have cards from her and I met her once. Not one iota of ego. She never knew how truly great she was. She simply loved to perform and embrace all those millions who loved her.
What a giving person she was! I read that even just a few weeks before she died, she was out seeing people; still talking with admirers. When talking with her, her business manager was trying to rush our conversation along. She said, "Ben, I know that I have to see these other people, but I really want to spend some more time speaking with this nice young man!" What a great lady!
Randy Sills So true! One of the notes I have from her indicates the doctors thought they'd gotten all the cancer and she was very hopeful. Too sad for me to read now. She didn't even want Larry Hagman sitting for hours at her hospital bed. She told him to go and do what he had to do. Unselfish on top of everything else. No one like her today -- only mediocrity pretending to be great.
We have such wonderful musical memories of the great Mary Martin, thanks to her recordings. Thank goodness there are a few pieces of like this available to remind us all what a brilliant clown she was. Then, when you see her in a play such as THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH, you see that she was also an excellent dramatic actress. Did I mention that she could dance, too?
Gosh this is funny!!!! Genius. Marvelous. Gigantic talent. I didn't realize what a terrific comedienne she was on in addition to everything else. Thanks.
Proof that Mary Martin didn't have to sing to be charming. Who knew that she was such a natural comedienne? Not those of us who associate her with the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, first and foremost. This clip is a revelation. Thanks for posting it.
This was a classic pantomime. As brilliant today as it when it first appeared in the 1950's. Mary Martin's incomparable versatility as a performer is highlighted. She was a brilliant performer.
She was absolutely magical. I feel sorry for anyone who wasn't able to see her live onstage...she was so wonderful she was almost other worldly. And, from all reports, she was every bit as lovely off stage.
You are correct on both points. Her talent and stage presence were phenomenal and she was so gracious. I have notes from her which I treasure and I met her once. One of my few idols.
This is magnificent! She was magnificent. My what a loss! Whenever I watch this I think what a tour de force! This is so difficult. One slight error, one mental lapse, one hesitation could cost the entire performance. Btw, whoever wrote this deserves equal credit.
Tremendous talent. Her Sound of Music performances were also incredible - even done when she was in her 40s. Way before my time, but greatly appreciated by any generation.
