Hello, Dolly was written by Jerry Herman for Ethel Merman, but as she had just come off Gypsy, she didn't want to do the show. Ethel played the role of Dolly for the last 6 months of the original Broadway run. Does anyone know if there are any videos of her performance?
shareYes on yourtube! It's an audio of her last hello dolly!
shareif they were to make another hello dolly today, and i wish they would, i think edward herman from gilmore girls should play horis vandergelder. i dont have a clue who should play dolly. everyone i can think of is too old today to play dolly.
shareBoth Tyne Dailey and Bette Midler would be excellent choices. Ms. Dailer did a revival of "Call Me Madam" and Midler has played "Rose" from GYPSY. Though no great vocal skill are needed a certain amount of brass is. Both have it.
shareI believe some videos or audios of Merman in DOLLY make the rounds on eBay from time to time.
I saw her in DOLLY - that was The Merm that was!!!
"I don't use a pen: I write with a goose quill dipped in venom!"---W. Lydecker
"tyne Dailey" also did a revival of gypsy as well.
shareBette Midler would be perfect for Dolly.
share"Bette Midler would be perfect for Dolly."
Yes I 100% agree with you.
I just got the "Collector's Edition" of the Original Broadway Cast Album of HELLO DOLLY - among the extras are Merman's two songs, "Love, Look in My Window" and "World, Take Me Back!" - the latter is a perfect bouncy Merman number, and she performs it with great sincerity. It's unfortunate that she didn't add it to her concert repertoire in the 1970s, or re-record it with a full orchestral arrangement.
"I don't use a pen: I write with a goose quill dipped in venom!"---W. Lydecker
I can picture Bette Midler doing a remake. Barbara seemed to be impersonating Mae West in this. But I reckon Bette could do that type of impression better.
shareWe get our wish. Bette Midler to star on Broadway in Hello Dolly. Thinking can I justify a trip across the pond to see it?
shareIt will be a terrific experience if you do decide to go. It's a good job that Bette is finally doing it next year.
shareBette Midler, Patti LuPone, Queen Latifah or Kathy Bates would all be delightful.
Bette Midler, Patti LuPone, Queen Latifah or Kathy Bates would all be delightful. Jason Alexander or John C. Reilley would be cute Vandergelders.
shareI would like to see a TV movie with an all black cast which they did TWICE on Broadway with first time Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway (1967 I was in the army that year), second time with Pearl and Billy Daniels which we saw, only this time some white actors were in minor roles.
My choice for for Dolly would be Whoopi Goldberg shes the right age.
I would have loved to see Sidney Poitier as Horice but the man is over 80 now and doesn't do much anymore. Bless Him
Lastly they stopped doing network movie musicals after the very bad "South Pacific" with the just a bit too old Glen Close and the very out of place Rade Serbedzija as Emile de Becque
See some stars here
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I was privileged to see the all black version starring Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway (who was no hack.) it also was the Broadway debut of a young actor named Morgan Freeman. (He was in the Michael Crawford role.) The two stars came out for a curtain call where they entertained the audience for a full half hour. I even got to hear Cab's great "Minnie The Moocher" live. If only THAT production were on film for all to see.
shareThat sounds terrifically. I can't wait to see a live musical performance someday; it must be so exciting.
Actually, "Chicago" is being put on by a theater near where I live, and I'm jumping with anticipation to see it. :D
"What did we do to deserve this? Were we those guys who killed Jesus in a past life?"
My mother loved Hello, Dolly! and took me as a kid to see it multiple times, with Channing, Merman and 3 times with Bailey/Calloway. Merman wasn't as charming or funny as the others -- as I recall she just glided through the role.
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