Ethel Merman and Gordon MacRae (1981)

From a two-hour salute to the recording industry, on NBC-TV's Sunday Big Event, Ethel Merman and Gordon MacRae sing a medley of Broadway show tunes. July 19, 1981.

[@rnhealer6044]

There was no one who could rival Ethel Merman's bold, brassy voice. She was an amazingly talented lady. Gordon MacRae, I enjoyed their performing together

[@leojbramble]

Wow, I'd never seen footage of MacRae at this age before; didn't realize he still had so much of a voice at that age. Nice!

[@aarontakesbroadway]

Ethel Merman! I really love her voice, I don’t know how people can dislike her, she’s just so exciting and elegant! Bravo! 👏🤩

[@leojbramble]

I can clearly see why that bold brassy tone isn't everyone's cup of tea - it's not really mine, not to take anything away from her.

[@aarontakesbroadway]

@@leojbramble it’s understandable, most Broadway artists, especially Merman, can be an acquired taste:

[@richardgribble8438]

Lord have mercy first Miss Merman then Gordon Macrae, just amazing made me so happy

[@showtunestarpower]

I love the new routining of the classic Merman medley for this broadcast. The musical direction is superb. I love those brassy hits. Gordon MacRae is in magnificent voice and full of joy. Merman is her incredible electrifying best. Together, they are a great team. My only complaint is that it didn't go on for another ten minutes. THANK YOU!!!!

[@TJ1920]

You don’t find performances like this anywhere today

[@christopherbush9027]

This just made me smile!

[@namj8145]

Frankly, an old woman here...but how does her voice (especially THAT voice) survive and sound exactly the same as decades earlier? Older voices are bound to have some wear, that's fine. But she belts it out again like a thirty year old on opening night. Other than recording techniques, arrangements, etc. you could never place what year she was singing a song in, just based on how her voice sounds. Remarkable.

[@randysills4418]

The songs are transposed to keys a little lower, but the wobble that she had in her later years is not bad at all here. Sometimes it was really pronounced...

[@micdom43]

Pretty sure there were some plans to symphony orchestra together but Ethel was stricken with a brain tumor before they materialized

[@nondescript2892]

in her later years there were good days and lesser days..but this was a very good day..and Gordon is especially fine here..relaxed, sober and energetic...a good day among many lesser days

[@filmmekker]

She had great technique. That’s why her voice held out.

[@user-ke7yx6ze2d]

What a fantastic singer.

[@suzannequinson8439]

I have had a crush on Gordon MacRae pretty much all my life and I don't think I'll ever stop. :)

[@donnablankenhorn5905]

Me too!!

[@johnflynn9619]

Merman was the Greatest. First Lady of Broadway. RIP

[@fayhenderson1747]

Thankyou for putting on this clip i love them both..Ethel was magnificent , Gordon was such an amazing guy and even though he was older his voice was brilliant and he seemed to be very relaxed and having a great time in this clip. Loved it!!!!

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

Love Them Both. Gordon was such an exceptionally beautiful voice in his prime..and here.

[@nondescript2892]

both in remarkably good voice here..and very well presented...

[@melclo3641]

Gordon MacRae, marvellous

[@micdom43]

Gordon actually adored ethel.

[@graceevangelista7152]

Great music video by two great performers of our tines.

[@KSfan4ever]

Wow, just wow!

[@filmmekker]

She always delivered!

[@nmuphelps1]

BRILLIANT!!!

[@deerhoda7574]

Gordon ❤❤❤

[@kayedeedid]

that voice never wavered a bit until her death.

[@clairelarkin6013]

Love this, thank you!!

[@carolynkeiser7082]

Thank ♥️ you 😁

[@TJ1920]

Broadway’s very best Ethel Merman

[@juliarank3903]

It’s hard to out-volume Gordon MacRae but Ethel manages it! He’s in good voice here and looks so relaxed.

[@GeorgeWTush]

Who would dare show up not in good voice when singing with Ethel Merman?

[@DDumbrille]

@@GeorgeWTush Perhaps Ethel herself? :)

[@GeorgeWTush]

@@DDumbrille Blasphemer!

[@DDumbrille]

@@GeorgeWTush Haha.

[@kayedeedid]

I wanna know who all they called first to go up against the Merm? Not too many men still had the power MacRae had--and oh isn't he a delight--to stand next to that powerhouse of Broadway

[@95KIPPIE]

She’s always going to be the best!!!!

[@rexlex1736]

I never found out why Al Jolson refused to perform with Merman. Maybe Merman's voice was more powerful than his.

[@saxongirl2054]

Hi there ! I was wondering what happened to your channel... I love Gordon and the Bob Hope and Ethel clips Do you still have the footage of Oklahoma and Gene Nelson in Follies? Also i would like to ask if you have any clip of Rex Harrison in the original production of MFL.

[@micdom43]

Sure get a kick of😊

[@dja1353]

In case no one has mentioned she was great in It’s A Mad Mad World.

[@TJ1920]

Maybe an elderly woman JG what a voice of the likes we will never see again