"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World" ETHEL MERMAN 1963 Personal Christmas Greeting Card

Description: This is a rare custom designed Christmas greeting card sent by the legendary ETHEL MERMAN in 1963, the year she starred in the blockbuster comedy film It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World alongside Spencer Tracy, Sid Caesar, Jonathan Winters, Phil Silvers, Buddy Hackett and Mickey Rooney. The inside of the card reads, "Have a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Christmas" - Ethel Merman ..... Biography: Born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann in the Astoria section of Queens, New York City, ETHEL MERMAN (January 16th, 1908 – February 15th, 1984) was an American actress and singer. Known for her distinctive, powerful voice, and her leading roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage". Though untrained in singing, she could belt out a song like no one else, and was sought after by major songwriters such as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. Having debuted in 1930 in "Girl Crazy," she followed with "George White's Scandals" (1931), "Take a Chance" (1932), "Anything Goes" (1934), "Red, Hot and Blue" (1936), "Stars In Your Eyes" (1939), "Du Barry Was a Lady" (1939), "Panama Hattie" (1940), "Something For the Boys" (1943), "Annie Get Your Gun" (1946), "Call Me Madam" (1950), "Happy Hunting" (1956) and "Gypsy" (1959). Merman finished her Broadway career starring as "Dolly Gallagher Levi" in "Hello, Dolly!" (1970), the role she declined to accept when it was offered to her by Jerry Herman in the early 1960's. She is also known for her film roles in Anything Goes (1936), Call Me Madam (1953), There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). In 1979, she recorded The Ethel Merman Disco Album, with many of her signature songs set to a disco beat. She was a guest host on an episode in the first season of The Muppet Show. Her last screen role was a self-parody in the 1980 comedy film Airplane!, in which she portrayed Lieutenant Hurwitz, a shell-shocked soldier who thinks he is Ethel Merman. In the cameo appearance, Merman leaps out of bed singing "Everything's Coming Up Roses" as orderlies sedate her. She appeared in several episodes of The Love Boat (playing Gopher's mother), guest-starred on a CBS tribute to George Gershwin, did a summer concert tour with Carroll O'Connor, played a two-week engagement at the London Palladium, performed with Mary Martin in a concert benefiting the theater and museum collection of the Museum of the City of New York, and frequently appeared as a soloist with symphony orchestras. Merman, a lifelong Republican, was a frequent guest of Dwight D. Eisenhower at the White House. She was noted as saying, "Eisenhower was my war hero and the President I admire and respect most." On January 20th, 1981, she performed "Everything's Coming up Roses" at the inauguration of Ronald Reagan. She had previously sung the same song at an inaugural gala for John F. Kennedy, but it was never broadcast. Among many accolades, she received the Tony Award for "Best Actress in a Musical" for her performance in Call Me Madam, a Grammy Award for Gypsy, and a Drama Desk Award for Hello, Dolly! On February 15th, 1984, ten months after she was diagnosed with brain cancer, Merman died at her home at the age of 76. On the evening of Merman's death, all 36 theaters on Broadway dimmed their lights at 9 pm in her honor. (Wikipedia) ..... DETAILS: The personal Christmas card measures 4 5/8" X 6 1/4" inches and includes a rendering of a scene from the film on the front ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a Park Avenue address written in pencil on the backside, this rare Christmas card is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or classic film historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.

Price: 99.99 USD

Location: Cannon Beach, Oregon

End Time: 2024-12-07T21:46:48.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.95 USD