Ethel Merman: A Legendary Star of Broadway Musical Comedy
Born on Thursday, January 16th, 1908, in the Astoria section of Queens, New York City, Ethel Merman was the pre-eminent star of Broadway musical comedy, untrained in singing yet possessing a unique ability to belt out a song like no one else. She was sought after by major songwriters such as Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, and made her debut in 1930 in "Girl Crazy".
Merman went on to star in many great musicals, several of which were later adapted to the silver screen. She herself starred in "Anything Goes" (1936) and "Call Me Madam" (1953),while other actresses, including Betty Hutton, Lucille Ball, Ann Sothern, Vivian Blaine, and Rosalind Russell, took on Merman's roles in various film adaptations.
Merman's iconic performance in "Gypsy" (1962) is still widely remembered and revered, with Rosalind Russell never able to match Merman's rendition of Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne's "Everything's Coming Up Roses". Throughout her life, Merman was known for her daredevil spirit and her ability to command the stage and screen.
Ethel Merman's lifetime was marked by her birth on Thursday, January 16th, 1908, and her passing on Wednesday, February 15th, 1984. Over the course of her life, she lived for 27,789 days, equivalent to 3,969 weeks and 6 days. Despite her passing, Merman's legacy continues to inspire and entertain audiences to this day.
