Dark Monday • Carol Channing as Lorelei Lee

I am not sure why, but I was thinking a lot about Carol Channing recently, so I decided to go with it. Channing made a name for herself being equal parts talent, personality, and camp. Carol is at her best when she is being big and bold, a version of the Al Hirschfeld drawings amplified. She started working as an actress in New York City in the early 1940s, and quickly moved from off-Broadway to Broadway. In 1949, she opened at the Ziegfeld Theatre, the first to play Lorelei Lee in the great musical, 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'. The show had music by the great Jule Styne, lyrics by Leo Robin, with a book by Joseph Fields and Anita Loos, based on the original story by Loos. While most are more familiar with Marilyn Monroe's star turn in the film version of the show a few years later. I happened across a clip of Carol doing a couple of songs from the show on NBC's 'The Buick Berle Show' from 1953. This is Channing performing her take on "I'm Just A Little Girl From Little Rock" and "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend".

Channing became best known for her time as Dolly Levi in the original production of 'Hello Dolly!', although like 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', when Hollywood filmed the show, she lost out to a younger starlet. Dolly earned her the first of three Tony Awards. And because of her highly stylized and energetic performance style, Channing has been a steady presence on the drag circuit across the country. It had been reported in 1973, during the Watergate hearings, that Channing was on a master list of Nixon's political opponents, informally known as Nixon's "enemies list". She has subsequently said that her appearance on this list was the highest honor in her career. Put all that together, and you understand why I love her so!

Dark Monday • Carol Channing is a Jazzz Baby!

In 1967, there was a delightful movie musical with three ladies leading the way, all of whom were pretty damn impressive in their own right. Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, and Carol Channing stole the movie with their bubbling personalities, so effervescent, you might think you are watching the musical through a glass of champagne. The soundtrack features new tunes by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, mixed in between classic songs from the 1910s and 1920s.

In the story, Carol Channing plays Muzzy, the recently widowed step-mother of Dorothy Brown, played by Mary Tyler Moore. She is the epitome of the flapper, loving parties, dancing, and Jazz music. She really loves life, and doesn't mind sharing with others. For me, my favorite number by Channing in the movie is "Jazz Baby", a song written by M.K. Jerome and Blanche Merrill in 1919. The song was originally recorded on March 14, 1919 by Lieut. Jim Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry ("Hell Fighters") Band, with vocals by C. Creighton Thompson. But I am not sure there is a version that can top Channing's, whose big and bold personae is perfect for the song. This is vintage Channing, so please enjoy Miss Channing singing "Jazz Baby".

Julie Andrews plays the role of Millie Dillmount, who fancies herself a thoroughly modern you woman, for she left behind life in the Midwest to move to New York City to make her name. She plans on marrying well, seeking a wealthy man, with no intention of falling in love. Needless to say, along the way, Millie does fall in love, and and he falls for her. And just as expected, hilarity ensues. In the midst of all that, there are songs to be sung. When Millie first meets Trevor Graydon, played by James Fox, she is charmed by him, and while trying to interview to be his secretary. Dhe is distracted by his "Baby Face", and sings the song written by Harry Akst and Benny Davis in 1926. It was a huge hit for Jan Garber. Al Jolson and The Revelers also had success with the song. But here, we get to hear Julie Andrews sing "Baby Face".

These songs are delightful, and the movie is so very charming. While these ladies are fantastic, Beatrice Lille almost steals the show. She plays Mrs. Meers, the kindly widow who runs the Hotel that many of the young girls stay. When some of the girls go missing, more fun follows. The fashions worn by the ladies are great fun, and earned Jean Louis an Academy Ward nomination. Channing also earned a nomination as Best Supporting Actress. You can find both these songs on the 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' Soundtrack album. You can find it on iTunes and Amazon. You can also find the DVD on Amazon.

Dark Monday • Before The Parade Passes By

In 1964, the original Broadway production of Hello Dolly! premiered on January 16, at the St. James Theater. The show was based on Thorton Wilder's 1938 play The Merchant of Yonkers, itself a failure. In 1955, Wilder was adapted the play and renamed it The Matchmaker, which was successful both on the stage and screen, starring Ruth Gordon and Shirley Booth, respectively. In the early 60s, Jerry Herman was working on musical remake of the show, and wrote the lead role of Dolly Levi for the great Ethel Merman. It was then offered to Mary Martin, who also turned it down. After many auditions of some of the top Broadway stars of the day, Carol Channing was cast in the lead, and will be forever remembered for this iconic role. Here she is singing the song that closes the first act with a huge exclamation point. This is Carol singing Before The Parade Passes By.



Interestingly enough, Before The Parade Passes By was not in the original tryout version of the show. The Producers and Herman thought the show needed a better end to Act 1, and the song was added. In 1967, an all-black version of the show was on Broadway, featuring the gifted Pearl Bailey as Dolly Levi. Here the two Dollys, Carol and Pearl, singing a few of the songs from the show. This was a clip from the 1969 television special Carol Channing & Pearl Bailey: On Broadway.



To purchase the soundtrack, you can find Carol's original Broadway cast recording on Amazon and on iTunes. You can find Pearl's on Amazon and iTunes. Interestingly enough, Mary Martin played the role in the London production, and Merman took the role in a replacement cast. But none were the choice for the movie version, as the studio cast Barbra Streisand, who was just 27 years old, much younger than the role was played before.

Happy Birthday, Jerry Herman

Pictured: Jerry Herman, Angela Lansbury, Bea Arthur, John Barrowman, Michael Feinstein, and Carol Channing.

Jerry Herman was born on July 10, 1931, so he is celebrating his 80th today. He made his career writing some amazing songs through the years, as well as some iconic roles for some of the greatest leading ladies musical theater has known. He is at least in part responsible for the magical creations of Dolly Levi, Mame Dennis, and Zaza, who offstage was known as Albin. He wrote about love in every form, be it the love of an aunt for a nephew, two best friends, a widow and a widower, or two men who run a drag bar.

But he also made sure all of his leads were strong. They didn't bend to the winds blowing from the society at large, as you can tell when Zaza stands up to tell everyone, I Am What I Am from the 1983 show, La Cage Aux Folles. This is John Barrowman performing it when he starred in a recent London revival of the show.



Sure, Vera might have had a tendency to drink a bit more than most and Mame might have marched to the beat of a different drummer, but when push came to shove, the ladies were inseparable. Here Angela Lansbury & Bea Arthur sing Bosom Buddies from Mame.



Mame celebrated her unconventional nature, something her nephew Patrick loved when he was young, and seemed to be uncomfortable, and even embarrassed about later. But when Patrick was having a tough time because of the passing of his parents, she was right there, singing We Need A Little Christmas from Mame. This is a clip of Angela Lansbury singing it for a Christmas special.



In 1974, Herman wrote a special show called Mack & Mabel. The story revolved around Hollywood legend Mack Sennett and his rocky relationship with Mabel Normand, who went on to be a big star in the movies. The original production was not a big success, closing after 8 weeks. But it grew in cult status, and subsequent revivals garnered some great reviews. Here is Michael Feinstein singing I Won't Send Roses from the show.



Everyone knows the story behind Hello Dolly!, which first opened on Broadway in 1964. Countless woman have played the role, from Carol Channing to Ginger Rogers to Martha Raye to Betty Grable to Pearl Bailey. Here is the original Dolly Levi, Carol Channing, singing the number that closed the first act, Before The Parade Passes By.



Of course, if you mention Hello Dolly!, you can't ignore the title song, can you? Especially if it is sung in the movies by a young Barbra Streisand and the great Louis Armstrong. Here they are, singing Hello Dolly.



Happy Birthday, Jerry! May you celebrate many more!