Breakfast at the Bookstore with Brad and Nick #82

Daily Dose

From Then and Now: A Memoir, by Barbara Cook

MORE MERMAN

"And then there's this one: a friend of mine played piano in the pit for one of her shows, and during the run, the cast and all the musicians were invited to a party at the very swanky apartment of one of the wealthy Park Avenue - type ladies.  Ethel and my friend happened to be leaving together when he said to her, 'How kind of Mrs. So-and So to have a party for us.'  Whereupon Miss Merman said, 'That cunt, she's so cold you could tap dance on her tits!'"

From Chapter 9, The Music Man

Daily Dose

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

Daily Dose

From Then and Now: A Memoir, by Barbara Cook

THE MUSIC MAN ON FILM

"The problem with the movie was that there was no dirt -- it was too clean.  Put bluntly, the horses never shit in those streets.  The movie wasn't bad  -- it was just... too clean.  I think The Music Man is an earthy show, and that really didn't come across on screen."

From Chapter 9, The Music Man