ETHEL MERMAN

January 16, 1908

Ethel Merman was born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann in Astoria, Queens. Known primarily for her distinctive, powerful voice and leading roles in musical theatre, she has been called “the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage”. 

Merman began by appearing in nightclubs, first hired by Jimmy Durante’s partner Lou Clayton. At this time, she decided the name Ethel Zimmermann was too long for a theater marquee and shortened it to Ethel Merman.  

While performing on the prestigious Keith Circuit, Merman was signed to replace Ruth Etting in the Paramount film Follow the Leader (1930), starring Ed Wynn and Ginger Rogers. This was her feature film debut. 

That same year, Merman made her Broadway debut in Girl Crazy. When the LP was released, Mary Martin sang Merman’s role. When the film was released, Judy Garland replaced Merman. This began a history of Merman being thought too “big and theatrical” for motion pictures. 

Except for Call Me Madam, Merman was replaced with other performers when her stage hits were made into feature films. Lucille Ball replaced Merman in Du Barry Was A Lady (1943) and Rosalind Russell replaced her in Gypsy (1962). 

In 1934, Vivian Vance understudied Merman in Broadway’s Anything Goes and was also seen with her in 1936′s Red Hot & Blue.  Many believe Vance’s character of Ethel Mertz was named in honor of Merman. 

While on Broadway with Vance, Merman was on screen with Lucy, in Kid Millions starring Eddie Cantor, one of Ball’s first films.

Merman’s first appearance on television was in 1954, recreating “Anything Goes” on “The Colgate Comedy Hour” with Frank Sinatra. 

In 1956, both Lucy and Ethel were among the many celebrities who appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Eighth Anniversary Show.” 

In 1963, Merman filmed a TV pilot for Desilu titled “Maggie Brown”. Merman played a widow running a nightclub near a Marine base, while raising a daughter (Susan Watson). The pilot did not sell, and Lucy felt indebted to Merman so created a guest-starring appearance for her on “The Lucy Show.” 

“Lucy Teaches Ethel Merman To Sing” (TLS S2;E18) had Merman temporarily relocating to Danfield under an assumed name. It isn’t long until she is being compared to Merman and the truth comes out when Lucy dares to teach her how to sing! 

Originally, this was intended to be one episode, but the material seemed rushed and the stars were enjoying the work so it was extended into a second episode. The final scene of this episode was rewritten to lead into Part Two. However, it wasn’t filmed until they shot the second episode a month later. 

By then, Lucille had begun wearing a different wig, Vivian had taken a holiday and was tanned, and Merman had changed the color of her hair from dark brown to auburn.

“Ethel Merman and the Boy Scout Show” (TLS S2;E19) was centered on performances, with Merman singing her iconic “There’s No Business Like Show Business” from Annie Get Your Gun.

After the filming was complete, Merman recalled that she and Vance went to Lucille Ball’s house for some girl talk and Lucille styled their hair – to disastrous results. 

These two Ethel Merman episodes were re-run on CBS on May 24 and June 1, 1964.

Ball also threw Merman a bridal shower (above) before her month-long marriage to Ernest Borgnine in 1964.   

“Not to pat myself on the back, but when I do a show, the whole show revolves around me. And if I don’t show up, they can just forget it!” ~ Ethel Merman

On June 24, 1982, near the end of their careers, Merman, Ball, and Ginger Rogers appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show.” 

Merman’s final screen appearance was in a two-part episode of “The Love Boat” in 1982. It also featured Lucy colleagues and friends Ann Miller and Van Johnson (Too Many Girls). 

In addition to her two-month marriage to actor Ernest Borgnine in 1964, Merman married and divorced:

• William B. Smith (1940-1941)
• Robert Daniels Levitt (1941-1952)
• Robert Logan Forman Six (1953-1960)

Merman won a Tony Award in 1951, and was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Tony in 1972. She won a Grammy in 1960 and a Golden Globe in 1953. 

Merman died on February 15, 1984. She was 76 years old.