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Ethel Merman Filmography
Source:
Theiapolis
Ethel Merman Resources
Ethel Merman (January 16, 1908 - February 15, 1984) was a star of stage and film musicals, well known for her strident voice and comic acting.
She was born
Ethel Agnes Zimmermann, in Astoria, Queens, New York, of a German Lutheran father and Scottish Presbyterian mother, although many people assumed she was Jewish.
Merman was married and divorced four times.*Bill Smith (Theatrical agent.)*Robert Levitt (Newspaper executive. The couple had two children. Divorced in 1952.)*Robert Six (Airline executive, 1953-1960)*
Ernest Borgnine (Actor, in 1964. Merman filed for divorced after 32 days.)
She was known for her powerful (belting) alto voice, exact enunciation, and accurate pitch. Because stage singers performed without microphones when she began singing professionally, she had great advantages in show business.
She began singing while working as a secretary. She eventually became a full time vaudeville performer, and played the pinnacle of vaudeville, the Palace Theater in New York City. She had already been engaged for
Girl Crazy, a musical with songs by George and Ira Gershwin. Her rendition of "I Got Rhythm" in the show was popular, and by the late 1930s she had become the first lady of the Broadway musical stage. Many consider her the leading Broadway musical performer of the twentieth century with her signature song being There's No Business Like Show Business.
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