Carol Channing as Marlene Dietrich & Cecilia Sisson

Latrina Twalay presents Carol Channing as.... Oh, wait. Better not take any credit for this masterpiece: it wouldn't be fair or legal. Actually, judging from the length of this slightly edited clip, I think it's from a TV special starring San Francisco's beloved comic genius, Carol Channing. I'm betting one of our many (OK, several) viewers will fill in the background for this hilarious bit. Carol is definitely a national treasure. I edited out 1 of the 3 characters she played and saved just the 2 funniest ones.

[@hyramesshiramess1035]

This is OUT OF THIS WORLD! The lady was a comic GENIUS. I had no idea she could do impressions. This take off on Marlene is FABULOUS.

[@BadWebDiver]

I never knew Carol Channing was such a wicked impersonator!

[@delennamachoo]

@Jeff, the God of Biscuits There weren’t a lot of parts for women over a certain age, and the gimmick worked. She still kept doing Dolly, as well. I do think she lost some of her filter past a certain age, though.

[@classicalaid1]

I met Marlena Dietrich years ago before a stage performance and had an in-depth conversation with her. She was in her sixties and still breathtakingly beautiful. Her energy was huge. She was a seductive powerhouse. And Channing's version is incanningly accurate. Dietrich's grandson was in my year at Carnegie Mellon University. I recall he wasn't particularly enamoured with his famous grandmother. Deitrich was fairly tall, had beautiful legs, large hands and an immortal face, with the chiseled, Germanic features of a goddess. And she was elegantly dressed in a red Chanel afternon suit and later in the evening, a huge white fox coat and her famaous transparent, beaded gown and blonde tresses. An unforgettable experience. She was a totally convincing master of illusion.

[@Stevebaby123]

This shows Channing in such a different light. She was brilliant on stage and could have done so many other characters than Dolly. Though she gave the best Dolly, ever. This is so great!

[@vrrm6376]

It causes a nostalgic pang to to see how few people know about Channing or Dietrich and are equipped even to get the joke. Dietrich was apparently highly offended by Channing's number and swept out of the balcony under an audience spotlight while Channing was performing the routine in Vegas. But Channing, like Kahn a decade later, had immense respect for Dietrich, and their bitting satire was a tribute to the aesthetic effect dietrich's luminous cinamatic image had on popular American culture.

[@Charlottemadeleinec]

Vr Rm It bums me out that Dietrich didn't get this or Blazing Saddles. I love Marlene more than anyone and I totally think Channing is brilliant here.

[@janwintz8372]

I guess the "Kahn" you're referring to is Madeline Kahn? What a talent SHE was, too! So very sad she left us prematurely... loved her and sweet, adorable, funny, funny Carol!

[@marcosvalenca]

Well, everyone is entitled to dislike a spuff about himself and sensuality was a big part of Dietrich's persona. The Cecilia Sisson routine was hilarious.

[@Lee-xs9ee]

The Vegas story is true but how much was PR we'll never know.

[@mirsvima3]

Good comedy never fades away. The talent,the wit,the amount of work that went into this piece.

[@mmjhcb]

How we miss performers of this caliber! There just aren't any anymore. For those who are used to The Voice and AGT, THIS IS WHAT REAL TALENT LOOKS LIKE.

[@renettayorka6883]

I remember the Cecilia routine from long ago and found it to be hilarious and still find it's my favorite. Carol had so much talent as a comedian. Thanks for the memory.

[@Powerranger-le4up]

Rest In Peace Carol. I love your Cecilia Cisson.

[@davidlafond2165]

I always truly lose myself in laughter when she is on the ground and crawls back into the spotlight. What a brilliant star. The REAL DEAL

[@jaymesguy239]

Brilliant performer, a true living legend, the last of the great Broadway stars. You could tell from this clip why she was so celebrated as a musical comedy performer.

[@ricky5258]

RIP Carol, you are a genius with a big heart

[@mikeletaurus4728]

What a natural and effortless entertainer. Brilliant and unique performer.

[@cautiongasoline1339]

Marlene has definitely left the building, but this is great.

[@Biyou22]

How did she do that so perfectly with those S - sounds 😂😭

[@allancuseo7431]

I had the LP for years and saw her do this show 3 times-- incredible

[@albertstrickland2689]

I cant stop laughing this woman is fabulous.. I saw a documentary on her recently on her 93 rd b/day... a fan ran up to her and said congratulations Miss Channing on your 93rd b/day... Carol said .. words to the effect... "oh please don't congraulate me on that, I don't know how it happened, I had nothing to do with it ... I don't know where the hell all the years went, and quite frankly I don't like being old worth a damn... and just kept walking

[@Spiderman7Bob7]

This is truely priceless. After seenig this you realize how great an inpersonater. She has got Dietrich 'down' to perfection. I have always been fasinated by Marlene Dietrichand have all of her movies. Too bad Marlene was such a bad sport about Carol's inpersonation of her and walked out on Carol's performance.

[@LatrinaTwalay]

Thank you, Segamai. Not many people have viewed this, to Latrina's great disappointment. It's truly a classic and I'm rather proud to have preserved it. Thanks again!

[@lovethefields]

No thank you!

[@alexthrill1386]

Carol Channing has died at age 97 R.I.P 1921-2019

[@princeharming8963]

One of the funniest entertainers ... EVER! God bless Ms. Channing.

[@janwintz8372]

Oh, she is hilarious, adorable!!!

[@f2mel2]

Here because What's My Line? is still promoting plays and performers of the past! What a great show. What a great talent this woman is. The sketches and lines are thin, yet she fleshes out her performances like nobody's business.

[@mackennie]

O... M... G... When she started doing Cecilia Sisson I dissolved into tears of laughter 😂😂😂😂🤣

[@MrSwifts31]

And the great Ms Channing is still with us (as of 2014) aged 93.

[@alexchristoph6004]

Second time I have come across carol. And iam loving this artist. As a Marlene fan, I can appreciate, laugh at this wonderful performance

[@MJaypie23]

Oh my goodness she is wonderful.

[@2Brian]

Channing is hilarious!

[@omargoodnesssake]

*I’d forgotten about the Cecilia Sisson skit!* 😂 *Thank you for uploading this!* ❤️

[@StevenTorrey]

Comedic genius!

[@udryx]

Thank you for posting this! I've often thought about this hilarious special. Never thought I'd see it again.

[@brunoantony3218]

Lucille Ball did a great impression of Carol.

[@Charlottemadeleinec]

She cracked herself up!

[@barbarabyevoliaolcom]

Sidney D That's the verry best to laugh at your own jokes!😂

[@remyparaskovia5499]

Genius, this is true comedy why don't have this anymore, comedy become something tacky and absurd In actuality

[@jasonpatten9159]

This is from a production Carol Channing did with her friend Pearl Bailey in 1969 the entire production is now available somewhere on KZbin as I have watched it...Enjoyed this excerpt though thanks for posting!

[@ulrichlehnhardt4293]

this was amazing... great parody, travestie, slapstick....chapeau Carol!

[@AkonDepolignac-jv4qg]

How nice,isent she crazy,channing as its best,look modern milly,jazz baby akon❤❤❤

[@segamai]

Omg. I was in TEARS

[@angeleyez2457]

i remember her on variety tv shows when i was 4 or 5...1970

[@5tpxyyrk]

Cccecccilia Ssssissson issss hilarioussssss! ... Priccccelesssss! ... The absssssolute bessssst! Many thankssssss for posssssssting thisssssssss!

[@janwintz8372]

Hilarious! Touche!!!

[@paulsimpson4155]

She is 93 now 92 here amazing !

[@bobinobaker]

not here

[@califdad4]

I just saw a picture of her taken in 2009, and this is not from the 90's, maybe 70's or very early 80's. She is now 95, her Christian Science faith, she was raised in , ( her father was a CS Practitioner) must have given her a very positive life outlook. Last I read, she was still living in Modesto Ca.

[@glknight1813]

Carol is my aunt & lives with my step mother in Rancho Mirage CA

[@califdad4]

GL Knight What a great place to live, I love Rancho Mirage , much better than Modesto!!

[@Ursaminor31]

I:suspect this is late 60”s. thoroughly modern Millie or just before

[@janwintz8372]

segamai Your reaction, "I was in TEARS!": the best, MOST ELOQUENT TRIBUTE of all....Those four words pack a punch. Carol would love it!!😊😊😊

[@Ursaminor31]

Brilliant

[@DrewWasMe]

Carol became her own worst cliche. We forget how talented, wickedly funny and physically beautiful she was before she decided ( or her manager/ex-husband decided) she should only be "Carol Channing" the caricature no matter what.

[@flapjackfae]

I think that's why she hated seeing herself in Thoroughly Modern Millie; she recognized that she'd become that one (divinely) silly character. She barely mentions the film in her autobiography. I wish she could have stuck to her character work.

[@thefilmmakersgallery]

Does anyone know what TV special this was from and what year it was filmed? Curious. :)

[@MediaLover194]

It's from her special with Pearl Bailey, who was playing Dolly on Broadway at the time, 1969.

[@OneRedKansan41]

too funny

[@stephaniecleveland8264]

The level of talent that used to be required to become a famous performer can be seen here. Times have changed. And imagine if an angry lesbian had seen her like this and said “if I can’t have you, no one can”.

[@sarahmanuel1829]

Oh my gosh. XD

[@angristchiropracticwellnes8182]

Who else was with her in the show..? It was carol and another singer.

[@thomasjohnson9211]

Angrist Chiropractic & Wellness Care pearl bailey

[@adamodeo9320]

great legs great talent

[@MarcusAndre85]

Could someone tell me what it means for her to blow after she says Sophia Loren's name? I'm from Brazil, it's not common here... lol

[@paulsimpson4155]

Yes she is younger I can't think why I put that unless I looked at the posted date sorry yes you are right of course she's definatly younger

[@TaylorWelt-d2l]

This

[@MrCrowebobby]

Dietrich was not amused, which is a bit disappointing. My cousin, who was an actress in her youth, went to see Marlene at the Fountainebleu because her husband was playing lead trumpet for the show and she thought she'd give the old girl some support. Needless to say, the moment Marlene hit the stage, my cousin realized "the old girl" didn't need any help from her or anyone else. I saw her at her lowest point, when she had the beginnings of a dowager's hump and was a bit stiff while moving around, but at one point she just leaned up again the side of the stage, her arm raised above her head, and her face was magically transformed into what it had been 40 years earlier. Real stars don't get there and stay there by way of the casting couch or just sheer luck.

[@yasmine5105]

I know something a little different about the wonderful women of comedy. I didn't know until to day that she had an African American Grand Dad.

[@GoddesII]

*Марлен была великой из величайших людей мира. А это жалкая паролия, не имеющая у оригиналу никакого отношения.*

[@patrickblack8869]

Male 📺✊ HOLLY WIERD MAGIC 👺🔥💨💨💨🏆👏👏