Folks, let's not get hung up on Judy vs. Ethel--there's room enough for both of these mega talented ladies. Ethel was all superb technique--she wasn't that emotional--but her voice was like a laser beam--so you forgave the first because you were blown away by the second--hers was a force of nature. Judy was ALL heart. Two different type of performers, and BOTH valid in their own ways. Certainly more talent in their pinkies than the rafters of today's no talents paraded out before us.
Our Dorothy has come a long way since she followed the yellow brick road to seeing her 30 years later, still looking beautiful as ever in her 40s and having her own TV show! Wow! ❤️🙌
This was real show business mistakes and all and thats why it will last forever. It was about having fun and you can tell these ladies are having a ball.
When I watch at these two monsters of the seventh art and the theater singing together, I say myself in spite of any bad moment of the life, is worth the trouble to live it, when seeing these so spectacular and wonderful moments that this it offers us, where it wants that to be, Juday and Ethel to have existed thanks.
These gals have more talent in one finger then everyone else today combined. I remember a time when variety shows were on 7 nights a week and we could see talent like this for free. Gone are the days.
Every time I watch this great moment in TV history I am awed at these two incredible women. We are SO lucky that they got together on this magical night. I love it when Judy makes a mistake during You're Just In Love. The two of them keep the ball in the air and elevate the duet to an even higher level of spontaneity.
@waif55 Ethel Merman was the greatest star ever to appear on Broadway. She appeared in no fewer than fifteen hit shows in her career, a record that no one else comes even close to matching. She was never in anything but a hit, and that speaks for itself. Her record on Broadway was unique.
Compromised on key? Thats largely Ethel's department, but thats her style, and that bending of key phrasing fits just fine when she brings her momentary voice inflection down to key.
Everyone is eventually underrated, but Ethel Merman is still considered the greatest Broadway star --- Then the day will come when it's some rap singer. That's how time moves through us.
Discovering this made my day. I saw it was Judy and Ethel on the side, and I knew I would love it...then it turned out to be Cole Porter...can life be any more glorious?
I thought they were near about the same age, but there’s actually 14 years between them...they seem like the greatest of friends! I guess friendship has no age limit! Such great chemistry, I love them both so much! Their voices compliment each other really well! Bravo! 🤗🤩
AMAZING! They just don't make them like that anymore. Plus it's so great - they aren't half naked and humping a background dancer - just incredible talent!
First song is friendship, second is let's be buddies, third is you're the top, all from anything goes. The fourth is you're not sick you're just in love from call me madam. Next is Delovely from anything goes too. And then its together wherever we go from gypsy! SO many songs, they're just amazing, and I love this medley!!! Perfect blend of friendship songs, I wouldn't mind if they'd added bosom buddies from Mame :D
Looking at all the video from the 1960's, It is truly amazing at how varied JG's performances can be. Sometimes at the top of her game and many times sounding frail and old. A great voice that was ruined by hard living, but always loved by her fans. Ethel Merman was the voice that could be heard in the back row without amplification, cast in the right parts, she was amazing.
Ethel cannot even compete with JUDY GARLAND be cause Judy was/is peerless. Judy had the rarest of qualities when she preformed with a scene partner. When she was in the scene the audience only watches her. Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly when they danced the audience watched them only but when they worked with Judy it was Judy who had the audience's capitvated. Judy knew she had extreme gifts and she always made her guests know she was on their side. She was very giving in that way.
What a splendid combination! Dead as they are now, both Ethel Merman and Judy Garland remain great legends. And they symbolize the show business. If only Mary Martin had been in the studio at the time when this was aired.
@waif55 People are jealous of Mermen to this day. She WAS Broadway, they wrote songs FOR her. She is 100x better than ANY foamdome that dares to walk the B-way stage now, they are NOTHING in comparison to Merman--NOTHING!!!
The Tony award didn't exist till 1947. By that time Ethel had starred in 10 Broadway musicals that were all hits! She will always be the Queen of Musical Comedy!
Two troupers - each one of a kind. Totally professional with no gimmicks. Just talent & the best work ethic. And - what a legacy each left. Great clip.
When Ethel says "let's face it, we're the last of the big belters", I was aware that Judy reacted a bit, almost as if she (slightly typsily) half thought she (JUDY) mIght have continued, "and we can put down those belts with the best of them", like the old expression referring to drinks as "belts", etc. Just wondering out loud. (sort of) Judy had that kind of personality, I think. BOTH were talented far more than almost everyone else as singers, and thus deserved more, even, than the accolades they both GOT and still GET! Legendary icons gracefully performing right HERE for all of us!
I wonder how many performers today, in this day of retakes and splicing, would have been unruffled enough by a mistake to continue the way Judy Garland did here. I think most of them would have completely undone by a mistake, but professions like Garland and Merman could take it in stride.
This comes from the heart, its not just for the cameras. These ladies are having a friggin ball trying to top each other. I could have listened to them belt all night. Thank God these performances are preserved forever.
They're absolutely NOT trying top each other. They're great performers who are doing their thing. . . performing! Every damn American thinks every damn thing is a competition. Well, it isn't!
Ethel Merman, from what little I've read about her, and seen of her in interviews, seems to have been a very nice person (if a little on the brassy side), and she was certainly....um....dynamic onstage. She could carry a tune, I'll give her that. But her appeal has always escaped me. The singing voice was extremely harsh and nasal, and her take-no-prisoners style was WAY over the top. I guess it's just me, but how this woman ever became such a legendary singer is a mystery to me.
I think if you study a little bit about Al Jolson - read his Wikipedia and watch some videos here - you can get a better feel for the times, and begin to wrap your head around people like Jolson and Merman. Although Jolson was a bit earlier, their careers overlapped by several decades...
OMIGOD!!! I so wish they would have taped that show!!! I've read so much about it!! It was such a success that they wanted to do a tour and tv special of it. Ethel was up for it but Mary wasn't. She had developed really bad stage fright by that point.
Ethel has such a commanding voice, she dominates this duo but Judy is no slouch either...they're magic together! RIP you two wonderful ladies...I'm sure they're tearing down the house up in Heaven's Mass Choir!!
@waif55 I love Ethel. Quite honestly she reminds me of my grandmother. Classic. Different era I guess. More talent then most people theses days. Like Judy in the early days. Everyones life leads them down a different path. Some better than other. Either way, gald there is a Merman fan out there!!!
SNAP! It's Dorothy & Mombi (The Wicked Witch of the North) 🔮🧙♀️⬆️ Ethel played Mombi besides Liza Minnelli (Judy's daughter) in Journey Back 2 Oz 🌪🌈💚 Just wanted 2 put that out there 🌟😁🌟
Friendship, written by Cole Porter. Introduced by Ethel Merman & Bert Lahr from the musical, DuBarry Was A Lady 1939. Revived in a '55 musical, Three For The Money.
Actually I believe Friendship was written by Cole Porter, for the musical: Anything Goes (1934), introduced by Ethel Merman and Victor Moore. Ethel Merman and Bert Lahr sang the song for a filmed version of the show for a comedy hour special, or something like that. Not sure about where the wires were crossed with DuBarry Was A Lady and Three For The Money, but perhaps they had a similar sounding tune and lyrics. Who knows! But it was definitely written for Anything Goes. :)
I sure do miss the weekly variety shows. We haven’t had them since the 70s, and I sure wish they would bring them back. But wait, there’s no real talent anymore. Most of the great talent has died, what a shame!!
This is so interesting. Clearly Ethel is at her vocal prime, whereas Judy is towards the end of her life. But still there is something more interesting and vulnerable about Judy. Ethel seems to be just trying to sound great. Judy is better at connecting with the material here.
@Robert4770 She didn't want a theater named for her. She actually got angry at the one man who tried to make that happen. Traditionally theaters are only named for people who are alive to see the honor done to them.
Actually, I think the best entertainers who are also nice people always knew and know how to share the stage and allow their guests to shine or even take the center for a bit if it makes for a better show. Watching someone be snitty with a fellow performer is annoying.
![What's My Line? - Ethel Merman; Tony Randall [panel] (Jun 27, 1965)](/img/n.gif)
Folks, let's not get hung up on Judy vs. Ethel--there's room enough for both of these mega talented ladies. Ethel was all superb technique--she wasn't that emotional--but her voice was like a laser beam--so you forgave the first because you were blown away by the second--hers was a force of nature. Judy was ALL heart. Two different type of performers, and BOTH valid in their own ways. Certainly more talent in their pinkies than the rafters of today's no talents paraded out before us.
Well said. Two very talented ladies but different except the both could belt. Real talent that we unfortunately don't have today.
They are both phenomal.
I've never heard Ethel sing a slow, tender Ballad. Any recommendations??
It's hard to believe there was a time when these living legends, appeared on a weekly variety show ( I was born too late)
Why is it hard to believe? You can't imagine life without YOU in it? Ego projectioning!
Our Dorothy has come a long way since she followed the yellow brick road to seeing her 30 years later, still looking beautiful as ever in her 40s and having her own TV show! Wow! ❤️🙌
The two best belters!!!
Everytime I watch this, I find myself with a silly grin on my face by the time they're finished, it's so enjoyable.
This was real show business mistakes and all and thats why it will last forever. It was about having fun and you can tell these ladies are having a ball.
This segment was originally telecast on January 12, 1964.
Thank you
This is one fantastic video. A real slice of Americana with 2 legendary & superb entertainers! Judy and Ethel are BOTH just tremendous!
These two are the best in the business. I love both of these remarkable talents in America. Great stars both!
When I watch at these two monsters of the seventh art and the theater singing together, I say myself in spite of any bad moment of the life, is worth the trouble to live it, when seeing these so spectacular and wonderful moments that this it offers us, where it wants that to be, Juday and Ethel to have existed thanks.
No, YOU're the smile on the Mona Lisa!
These gals have more talent in one finger then everyone else today combined. I remember a time when variety shows were on 7 nights a week and we could see talent like this for free. Gone are the days.
That was absolutely awesome! Two of the most charismatic performers singing of all time together on stage. Thanks for this wonderful clip.
Judy really just has the time of her life performing with Ethel 🥹💕
Every time I watch this great moment in TV history I am awed at these two incredible women. We are SO lucky that they got together on this magical night. I love it when Judy makes a mistake during You're Just In Love. The two of them keep the ball in the air and elevate the duet to an even higher level of spontaneity.
Boy they don't make them like these GREAT dames any longer! I miss them tremendously!!
I adore Judy's singing on "You're just in love"! even though lyrics are mixed up
And we will never see talent like this again
No we wont Barbra Streisand is the last left. She’s retired.
@waif55 Ethel Merman was the greatest star ever to appear on Broadway. She appeared in no fewer than fifteen hit shows in her career, a record that no one else comes even close to matching. She was never in anything but a hit, and that speaks for itself. Her record on Broadway was unique.
unbelievable. wow the 2 powerhouses of the century, together!!! amazing!!!!!
They were both so beautiful inside and out. They are two talents that will never be able to be replaced :)
They may have compromised on key, but they blend just great. They are equals and you can hear each of them strongly. It is really a great combo.
Barbara Pedrick when they harmonize at the end who is singing the top note?
ETHEL on top
MrYonexguy63 thank u!
Compromised on key? Thats largely Ethel's department, but thats her style, and that bending of key phrasing fits just fine when she brings her momentary voice inflection down to key.
@@MrYonexguy63 EVERYONE who wants a #1 vs a #2 is an idiot, and has missed the point of living!
i love this melody, i think Ethel merman is underrated.
Probably true now,and very late in her career, but she certainly was appreciated by Broadway audiences.
Everyone is eventually underrated, but Ethel Merman is still considered the greatest Broadway star --- Then the day will come when it's some rap singer. That's how time moves through us.
Which melody? There are several.
Discovering this made my day. I saw it was Judy and Ethel on the side, and I knew I would love it...then it turned out to be Cole Porter...can life be any more glorious?
I thought they were near about the same age, but there’s actually 14 years between them...they seem like the greatest of friends! I guess friendship has no age limit! Such great chemistry, I love them both so much! Their voices compliment each other really well! Bravo! 🤗🤩
Great talent raw and vivacious!
Wow. Two giants. Today's talent is not worthy to shine their shoes.
AMAZING! They just don't make them like that anymore. Plus it's so great - they aren't half naked and humping a background dancer - just incredible talent!
Just breathtaking! Such class and talent having joyful fun singing great songs!
This was fun to watch --- I was born just a bit too late except to see them on film/tv and hear them on, ahem, vinyl. RIP, girls!
First song is friendship, second is let's be buddies, third is you're the top, all from anything goes. The fourth is you're not sick you're just in love from call me madam. Next is Delovely from anything goes too. And then its together wherever we go from gypsy! SO many songs, they're just amazing, and I love this medley!!! Perfect blend of friendship songs, I wouldn't mind if they'd added bosom buddies from Mame :D
Looking at all the video from the 1960's, It is truly amazing at how varied JG's performances can be. Sometimes at the top of her game and many times sounding frail and old. A great voice that was ruined by hard living, but always loved by her fans. Ethel Merman was the voice that could be heard in the back row without amplification, cast in the right parts, she was amazing.
simply incredibly talented women
I love them both for different reasons.
Ethel cannot even compete with JUDY GARLAND be cause Judy was/is peerless. Judy had the rarest of qualities when she preformed with a scene partner. When she was in the scene the audience only watches her. Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly when they danced the audience watched them only but when they worked with Judy it was Judy who had the audience's capitvated. Judy knew she had extreme gifts and she always made her guests know she was on their side. She was very giving in that way.
What a splendid combination! Dead as they are now, both Ethel Merman and Judy Garland remain great legends. And they symbolize the show business. If only Mary Martin had been in the studio at the time when this was aired.
Nothing like Anything Goes and Call Me Madam!
@waif55
People are jealous of Mermen to this day. She WAS Broadway, they wrote songs FOR her.
She is 100x better than ANY foamdome that dares to walk the B-way stage now, they are NOTHING in comparison to Merman--NOTHING!!!
A statement enshrouded in self imagery, but not quite nuanceed to accuracy for anything else.
judys such an amazinggggggggggg singer luv her
I needed this today -- simply de-lovely!
What a great como, Merman and Garland. Both are LARGER than life.
The Tony award didn't exist till 1947. By that time Ethel had starred in 10 Broadway musicals that were all hits! She will always be the Queen of Musical Comedy!
Ethel Merman fantastic and spectacular with her old hit songs. Great support from the spunky Judy Garland!
Nothing like Anything Goes, Call Me Madam, Gypsy, etc! It's delightful
Two troupers - each one of a kind. Totally professional
with no gimmicks. Just talent & the best work ethic. And -
what a legacy each left. Great clip.
Two giants of entertainment together!
Judy is wonderful and funny!
They were both great singers.
I love them both so much!
Judy addresses Ethel and tries to interact with her. Ethel plays straight to the front. Well, why share the spotlight if you don't want to?
When Ethel says "let's face it, we're the last of the big belters", I was aware that Judy reacted a bit, almost as if she (slightly typsily) half thought she (JUDY) mIght have continued, "and we can put down those belts with the best of them", like the old expression referring to drinks as "belts", etc. Just wondering out loud. (sort of) Judy had that kind of personality, I think. BOTH were talented far more than almost everyone else as singers, and thus deserved more, even, than the accolades they both GOT and still GET! Legendary icons gracefully performing right HERE for all of us!
Got to love great talent!
I wonder how many performers today, in this day of retakes and splicing, would have been unruffled enough by a mistake to continue the way Judy Garland did here. I think most of them would have completely undone by a mistake, but professions like Garland and Merman could take it in stride.
I love this video. Two amazing stars, and the song is love :Dxxx
I LOVE them BOTH in this Nurse- they were FANTASTIC, more than I could say for 'entertainers' now.
@karlakor It sickens me there is no Broadway Theatre named for her. Merman was the greatest musical comedy star of all time, the queen of Broadway.
I know Cole Porter wrote a lot of song just for her.
love it. i wish had some kind of show like this on tv. nothing too thought.
They didn’t have head set mics back then, singers had to project really loud in order to be heard. These two are brilliant
God i love watching this video. So much fun and pizazz
Ethel was capable of singing pure without that extra vibrato she usually added and she sounds amazing
I especially love the duet from Call me Madam. In all the duets I've seen from the tv series, she seems the happiest in this one..
Wonderful
Five duets from old Merman shows.
Yeah, but Ethel never needed a microphone.
YESSS!! I don't know who you are, but my friends and I have picked out that exact moment! We imitate it ALL the time!
This comes from the heart, its not just for the cameras. These ladies are having a friggin ball trying to top each other. I could have listened to them belt all night. Thank God these performances are preserved forever.
They're absolutely NOT trying top each other. They're great performers who are doing their thing. . . performing! Every damn American thinks every damn thing is a competition. Well, it isn't!
Love both these wonderful women!
Ethel Merman, from what little I've read about her, and seen of her in interviews, seems to have been a very nice person (if a little on the brassy side), and she was certainly....um....dynamic onstage. She could carry a tune, I'll give her that. But her appeal has always escaped me. The singing voice was extremely harsh and nasal, and her take-no-prisoners style was WAY over the top. I guess it's just me, but how this woman ever became such a legendary singer is a mystery to me.
I think if you study a little bit about Al Jolson - read his Wikipedia and watch some videos here - you can get a better feel for the times, and begin to wrap your head around people like Jolson and Merman. Although Jolson was a bit earlier, their careers overlapped by several decades...
Judy Garland aged very well, I must say.
edit: love it. i wish had some kind of show like this on tv. nothing too thought out.
Love Merman!!
OMIGOD!!! I so wish they would have taped that show!!! I've read so much about it!! It was such a success that they wanted to do a tour and tv special of it. Ethel was up for it but Mary wasn't. She had developed really bad stage fright by that point.
Ethel has such a commanding voice, she dominates this duo but Judy is no slouch either...they're magic together! RIP you two wonderful ladies...I'm sure they're tearing down the house up in Heaven's Mass Choir!!
No, Ethel's just louder.
I first saw this in a hotel last month, and it reminded me of the friendship between Anna and me.
@waif55 I love Ethel. Quite honestly she reminds me of my grandmother. Classic. Different era I guess. More talent then most people theses days. Like Judy in the early days. Everyones life leads them down a different path. Some better than other. Either way, gald there is a Merman fan out there!!!
SNAP! It's Dorothy & Mombi (The Wicked Witch of the North) 🔮🧙♀️⬆️
Ethel played Mombi besides Liza Minnelli (Judy's daughter) in Journey Back 2 Oz 🌪🌈💚
Just wanted 2 put that out there 🌟😁🌟
So perfects
@JudygarlandRulez15... and speaking about breaking glass...check out Perry Como and Ethel Merman singing together.
Class act totally!
2 great broads of screen and stage
Friendship, written by Cole Porter. Introduced by Ethel Merman & Bert Lahr from the musical, DuBarry Was A Lady 1939. Revived in a '55 musical, Three For The Money.
Actually I believe Friendship was written by Cole Porter, for the musical: Anything Goes (1934), introduced by Ethel Merman and Victor Moore. Ethel Merman and Bert Lahr sang the song for a filmed version of the show for a comedy hour special, or something like that. Not sure about where the wires were crossed with DuBarry Was A Lady and Three For The Money, but perhaps they had a similar sounding tune and lyrics. Who knows! But it was definitely written for Anything Goes. :)
I'm in heaven 😍
this vid is awsomeness
I sure do miss the weekly variety shows. We haven’t had them since the 70s, and I sure wish they would bring them back. But wait, there’s no real talent anymore. Most of the great talent has died, what a shame!!
yes, I am SURE that she really cared what you think OR anyone else for that matter- she was on BROADWAY for SIXTY years. 60.
Dorothy meets Mombi!
This is so interesting. Clearly Ethel is at her vocal prime, whereas Judy is towards the end of her life. But still there is something more interesting and vulnerable about Judy. Ethel seems to be just trying to sound great. Judy is better at connecting with the material here.
aww
3:11 ❤❤❤❤❤
AMEN Peter!
And to think we lost Judy at only 47.
*** Two corrections to my comments... it would BE beyond Heaven... and undisbuted = undisputed.
@Robert4770 She didn't want a theater named for her. She actually got angry at the one man who tried to make that happen. Traditionally theaters are only named for people who are alive to see the honor done to them.
What is the name to this lovely song?
Actually, I think the best entertainers who are also nice people always knew and know how to share the stage and allow their guests to shine or even take the center for a bit if it makes for a better show. Watching someone be snitty with a fellow performer is annoying.
@waif55 I agree with you
there are not man people who have voices like what judy and ethel had... if people do it a rare gift
@waif55 THANK YOU!
Also, Ethel had to adapt to Judy's key for this duet. It's a little low for her.
It's a shame "Bosom Buddies" had not yet been written. Damn you, Jerry Herman!
1964