Theater Talk: The Private Life of Ethel Merman

We welcome author Tony Cointreau and philanthropist Jim Russo, who were, for a quarter of a century, the best friends of Ethel Merman.
The duo recalls fun times they spent with Merman, ranging from dinners at Sardi's to trips to the flea market. They also share memories of being with her during tragic times, including the aftermath of the heartbreaking untimely death of her daughter, Ethel Jr., the sad breakup of Merman's marriage, and finally, the battle with brain cancer that killed her in 1984.
Cointreau and Russo also show us some of the mementos and treasures that Merman left them, including her amazing personal notebook, filled with day to day observations about her life and career, as well as her favorite recipes.
Taped: 1-27-12
Theater Talk is a series devoted to the world of the stage. It began on New York television in 1993 and is co-hosted by Michael Riedel (Broadway columnist for the New York Post) and series producer Susan Haskins.
The program is one of the few independent productions on PBS and now airs weekly on Thirteen/WNET in New York and WGBH in Boston. Now, CUNY TV offers New York City viewers additional opportunities to catch each week's show. (Of course, Theater Talk is no stranger to CUNY TV, since the show is taped here each week before its first airing on Thirteen/WNET.)
The series is produced by Theater Talk Productions, a not-for-profit corporation and is funded by contributions from private foundations and individuals, as well as The New York State Council on the Arts.
Watch more Theater Talk at www.tv.cuny.edu...

[@zzzut]

Ethel Merman is one of the performers I wish I had seen on stage. Simply being in her presence would almost have been a spiritual experience for me.

[@2cruse]

Amazing story. She had great strength and resilience and carried on forward as an absolute trooper in the truest sense. Loved her showmanship and as a person. She brought joy to me.

[@user-ke7yx6ze2d]

So sad Ethel lost her daughter. Ethel Merman sounded like a sweetheart. It must have been hard. Sounded like a softhearted woman. But could have the courage to go on the stage, when sad times happen. ❤

[@MissPerriwinkle]

awesome interview.....

[@rw9692]

When you get off the elevator on the 5th floor of Milford Plaza you see a plaque with her name on the door of her suite. What a thrill. Sweet lady.

[@SummeryWarm]

People who manage to remain "excited about things" and unjaded are usually the most interesting people to be around. Trying to imagine how Ms. Merman must have felt being unable to express herself with her voice, I feel claustrophobic, and it becomes difficult to breathe.... Sheer and unadulterated hell.

[@michaelneel4828]

What A Grand Lady !!! RIP Ethel ...

[@LAUGHINGBUDDHAVORTEX]

I love these guys..

[@SummeryWarm]

The "theater magic" moment related by Mr. Cointreau recalls Ms. Merman's lyric, "...there's no people like show people -- they smile when they are low..." Clearly, at one of her lowest points in her life on earth, she felt an innate-to-her-core responsibility to effervesce. Wow.... Talk about being the "real thing...."

[@Glinkaism1]

This was wonderful! Such knowledgeable people sharing. I think the lady is really cute!

[@mrjerry28714]

Such a beautiful, talented lady. She is stunning in that blue dress.

[@sandrashevey8252]

I love fans who got an autograph and/or were stalkers when they were 8 or 9 years old. Age 29 I interviewed Ethel in Hollywood at the Hollywood Women`s Press Club. My mother had gone to school with her..Bryant High School in Astoria Queens. She was then Ethel Zimmerman.

[@mediterraneanworld]

According to Garland’s daughter, after Judy’s emotional performance she looked into the camera and said, “This is for you, Jack.” But CBS had it edited out citing it as being too political.

[@stuartlee6622]

That Tony Cointreau was the penintulate gigalo.

[@sirjedisentinel]

Is this a local show? I've never seen it in Nevada. I would love a show like this though.

[@joshuadrayton7207]

What a bizarre interview. Ethel Merman and Mother Teresa literally discussed in the same sentence, and a portrait of Ethel as a shy, quiet, delicate thing. It hardly accords with the more usual portrait of a woman who was loud, brash and vulgar. I mean, her Wikipedia entry has a section devoted to "Profanity", given how famous she was for off-colour remarks.

[@georgestrum3478]

Who is in Ethel Merman's bracket today? I can only think of Bernadette Peters and maybe Patti Lupone.

[@robertramsay5963]

Are Tony and Jim married to each other? Their wedding rings appear to be identical. At first I thought it strange that Jim didn't get a chance to say much, but couples are often like that - one's the talker; the other not so much.

[@davetv7533]

No

[@justshowmehow]

@@davetv7533 I thought the very same.

[@frankprovasek5394]

They are married to each other and have been together 57 years

[@gregfeil2941]

I just did a little research on Tony Cointreau and he’s no slouch in the pedigree department himself. Cointreau? Ring any bells?

[@justshowmehow]

The drink?

[@jmeekselectric]

The couple seems pretentious and condescending. I don’t think I would like these people if I met them in real life.

[@tonygilder7912]

Jimmy I disagree completely. THESE are the kind of gay men, that gay men USED to be. They had class and they knew how to move in circles that required discretion. They were not politically gay. They did not contemplate being "born gay" nor did they feel any need to be "proud" of being gay. Showbiz involves gays; but not everybody is gay in the theater. There is a class that comes from RESPECT. We KNOW Liberace is gay, but we don't need to know as if it is our business. He plays PIANO. These were not men who craved nor demanded to be loved by the world merely because they are gay.

[@gregfeil2941]

A terrific response, Tony. For many many years the closest a gay man could get to being untouchable was by his manners, bearing, and associations. Who one knew and how one behaved was the difference between being the guest of honor and an untouchable. And women were the Holy Grail for gay men. If her husband liked you and you occupied her time and kept her happy and out of his hair...well, that was it. Think Babe Paley and Truman Capote. Certainly, we gay men are known for being imperious and critical and pretentious. It’s true and it’s a knee jerk form of survival that’s, thankfully, not as necessary today as it was when these men were coming of age. The downside is that we are known for being catty and hateful, but fiercely loyal too. Shit! I’d better call my therapist.

[@syedkhan2652]

Jimmy Meeks this 2 people come to my store where I Work everyday. In New York

[@stephenwilliams1269]

@@gregfeil2941 Quick wit, good manners, loyalty and discretion are key factors.

[@justshowmehow]

@@tonygilder7912 Thank you so much for that answer. It speaks to a class of gay men dying out. A class which as not defined by their abs or their tinsel-terrific 'lifestyle'. These men are story-tellers, connoisseurs of talent and purveyors of time-honoured traditions. They are not the BRAVO gays or the ACTIVITIST gays and they deserve respect.

[@08CARIB]

He looks so strange...

[@justshowmehow]

No profile pic, I see.

[@peterkirgan6850]

She was definitely talented! But a man hater as well!!! She's had more divorces than I've had roast dinners!!! Lol

[@dddddadadad1796]

The level of queendom in this “interview” … is cringey at best

[@JSOMERSETJSOMERSET]

Ethel merman's lesbian affairs with Jacqueline Suzanne and Judy garland so many hot files in the FBI

[@psychokarloff]

Untrue. Sleazy gossip.