Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Gene Shalit--1977 TV Interview

Ethel Merman and Mary Martin sat down with Gene Shalit for this rare interview in 1977, to promote their upcoming joint benefit concert.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Ethel Merman and Mary Martin were great ladies of the theater. Both of them are legends.

[@kathleenharris3403]

What confidence...she was born to perform for audiences..Love Ethel ❤

[@allancuseo7431]

Makes me sad now to think of both of them gone. What legends!

[@wotan10950]

Wonderful interview. They don't make stars like that anymore.

[@poetcomic1]

Ethel Merman had NO stage fright, no butterflies, nothing but non stop explosive self assurance from day one.

[@tenisfin]

I've read that she would say to nervous performers, "If they could do it, they'd be onstage and you'd be in the audience!"

[@gregoryphillips3969]

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.

[@MaryLee-h6v]

Great Ladies and wonderful singing voices.

[@carloshugogeib7961]

Two Ladies of the theatre. A kind of Ladies that don't exist anymore.

[@hebneh]

It's always strange to see Ethel calm and speaking softly if you've watched "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" repeatedly.

[@amydorsey5996]

That movie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@robertfishman3742]

Amy Dorsey I love that movie!

[@briankooker2627]

@@robertfishman3742 These things happen because when these things happen all people say is "These things happen"

[@robertfishman3742]

@@briankooker2627 The movie had a truly all-star cast!

[@PRLambert63]

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.

[@mariemarchesani1595]

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!!!!

[@stephenstephen1505]

Two greats

[@piustwelfth]

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!

[@jamesmcinnis208]

"actually"

[@dddddadadad1796]

Love Ethel Merman! Mary Martin too❤

[@Twentythousandlps]

When I saw Ethel do Annie in 1966, she walked through the first act, and woke up for the second.

[@karlymoore6187]

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.

[@micdom43]

Was a fabulous night to I was 16

[@michaeljj43]

gene how bout addressing a question to mary martin.

[@okjoe5561]

Really. He was quite rude.

[@filmmekker]

It was edited. They might have thought Ethels responses were more entertaining.

[@darreylhenderson8979]

Mary reminds me soo much of Barbara Billiingsley

[@markwhitman9029]

I was thinking the same thing. Mary and Barbara both pretty

[@65wiseman]

Miss Martin looks like June Cleavor.

[@kennethdesmondmosley1075]

Wow did Mary Martin answer any questions

[@randysills4418]

Merman was really sixty-nine...born in January of 1908...

[@mmjhcb]

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.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

The "urban clown" look never caught on despite Mr. Shalit's most valiant efforts.

[@59PianoMom]

Mary didn’t get a chance to get a word in.

[@garryrenshaw774]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@johnboys4697]

Mary martin doesn't say much

[@mariemarchesani1595]

T

[@therealwobblychair0483]

Snooty

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

Now I get what I kind of suspected: Ethel was a fraud; Mary Martin was the real thing.

[@randysills4418]

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!!!

[@SymphonyBrahms]

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.

[@bmbutler2]

Your jealousy is showing. Time to get some help

[@bmbutler2]

Sounds like you didn’t get the notice of Ethel Merman. Jealousy is an ugly thing.

[@markwhitman9029]

Ethel was a charismatic star but full of herself privately