From Then and Now: A Memoir, by Barbara Cook
MERMAN IN A TURBAN
One of her closest friends was Benay Venuta, who corroborated the following story. When Benay was Merman's understudy or standby, they would often have dinner between shows. One day when Benay came to fetch her, Merman was putting on a turban and she was very carefully pulling out little curls all around the edge of the turban. Benay took one look and said, 'Jesus Christ, Ethal, what's with the curls? Don't you know the whole point of wearing a turban is to get that sleek look?' Ethal replied, 'Fuck you, Benay. It gives me softness.'"
From Chapter 9, The Music Man
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