Born today 118 years ago … The always LOUD Ethel Merman!
She holds her own on screen with some of the biggest names in comedy in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. On Broadway she starred in Hello Dolly, Anything Goes, Gypsy, and Annie Get Your Gun. She has been called “the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage.”
Fun fact: Her real last name was Zimmerman. Her stage name came about by trimming off the “Zim” at the beginning.
It was Ethel who introduced the world to some of the greatest songs. Those included: There’s No Business Like Show Business, Friendship, and You’re the Top.
She appeared in movies like Happy Landing and Alexander’s Ragtime Band. On television she popped on the variety shows of Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Red Skelton, Carol Burnett, and Perry Como. She also appeared in the shows, Match Game, The Lucy Show, That Girl, The Muppet Show, The Love Boat, and Batman.
She wrote two autobiographies. The first, Who Could Ask For Anything More in 1955 and the second in 1978 entitled Merman.
Her last on screen appearance was the fantastic cameo in 1980’a Airplane! It is one of my favorite gags in the film.
Happy Ethel Merman Day! Make it swell! Make it great! Have the whole world on a plate!!
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 
What a gal! Loved her work.
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Great reminder Keith. She really was a sensation. As you said she introduced a number of songs that became very popular. I did a post awhile back on the most covered women performers of all time she is #3 in the list. Only Billie Holiday and Judy Garland ahead of her.
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That’s wild! I guess when you look at the tubes she did, I guess she would be up that high on the list
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It was actually her stage performances and songs like “I Got Rhythm”, “Anything Goes” and “I Get a Kick out of You “.
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