Merman, Ethel (1908-1984), was a popular star of Broadway musicals known for her exuberant personality and powerful singing voice. She also made several motion pictures, most of them musicals of the 1930’s.
Merman was born in the Queens section of New York City. Her real name was Ethel Zimmerman. Merman appeared in some of the greatest musical comedies in theater history. She made her Broadway debut in the George and Ira Gershwin musical Girl Crazy (1930). She became a star for her show-stopping renditions of “Rise ‘n’ Shine” and “Eadie Was a Lady” in Take a Chance (1932). She enhanced her reputation as an exciting singer in Anything Goes (1934), in which she belted out “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top,” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” all composed by Cole Porter.
Merman won acclaim as Annie Oakley in the hit Irving Berlin musical Annie, Get Your Gun (1946). The show featured Merman’s delivery of “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” She played a socialite American ambassador to a tiny fictional country in Call Me Madam (1950). Perhaps Merman’s greatest role was the ruthless and ambitious mother in Gypsy (1959), in which she sang the hit “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”
Merman made her motion-picture debut in Follow the Leader (1930). She starred in the movie versions of Anything Goes (1936) and Call Me Madam (1953). Her other films include Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938), Stage Door Canteen (1943), and There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954). She also wrote two autobiographies, Who Could Ask for Anything More? (1955) and Merman (1978).
