Who's "The Greatest Star"?

Bugger!

Another weekend is over in the blink of an eye...

As we vainly attempt to wake ourselves up enough to haul the bloody laptop out of the cupboard once again, there's a glimmer of joy on the horizon. Tomorrow would have been the 90th birthday of the magnificent Miss Della Reese [see more here, here and here] and so, on this Tacky Music Monday...

...what better excuse do I need to revisit probably my favourite (and probably the campest) clip from an American TV show, EVER?!

Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Ann Miller, Della Reese - Love Boat Follies

Have a good week, dear reader.

No-so-dumb blonde

"I had a tremendous amount of gay friends, so my whole life was basically like that... I never noticed who was gay or who was straight."

Goldie Hawn and Ronnie Schell dancing (Good Morning World, 1967)

"Don't tell me I can't do that. Watch me. Don't tell me I can't direct this movie. Watch me."

Goldie Hawn - Star! (The Dean Martin Show)

"During the era when women were burning their bras - which, by the way, they never actually did - but when women were first becoming liberated, I was 23. And I met a woman who asked, 'Don't you feel bad because you're sort of acting like the stupid airhead blonde?' And I totally surprised myself. I said, 'Liberation can also come from the inside.'"

Goldie Hawn and Carol Channing Sing About Blondes (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In)

"It's nice for a woman to go out and have her own money and her own ability to do what she wants."

Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton - You Don't Own Me (First Wives' Club)

The magnificent, effervescent Miss Goldie Hawn is 75 years old today!

All hail.

Goldie Jeanne Hawn (born 21st November 1945)

I've gotta go and taste Saturday's high life

Happy Gay Xmas, dear reader!!

It's feathers, foof and faff from here on in...

Carol Channing - Before the Parade Passes By

Before the parade passes by
I've gotta go and taste Saturday's high life
Before the parade passes by
I've gotta get some life back into my life
I'm ready to move out in front
I've had enough of just passing by life
With the rest of them
With the best of them
I can hold my head up high
For I've got a goal again
I've got a drive again
I wanna feel my heart coming alive again
Before the parade passes by!

Indeed.

Call all you want but there's no one home

And so, farewell, then to our beloved Miss Carol Channing...

[see my tribute over at the Dolores Delargo Towers Museum of Camp]

She was lauded by a devoted audience in so many ways - awards galore, tribute shows (and most recently a whole biographical film documentary), and of course, impressions. Drag queens, comedians, voice-over artists, you name it, Carol's trademark drawl was always a favourite...

And, of course, who could forget her famous duet with "Liza-with-a-zee" on a GaGa and Beyoncé number?

Christine Pedi - Telephone

[Well... almost. :-)]

Facts:

• Miss Channing was the first celebrity to perform at a Super Bowl half-time show.
• One of her earliest parts, at age 19, was understudy for Miss Eve Arden (who was 13 years older than her).
• Her name was on Nixon's "enemies list"; to which she responded that it was her greatest honour of all.
• She made her television debut on The Red Skelton Show in 1957, and her last was a cameo on RuPaul's Drag Race in 2016.
• Surprisingly, she was not naturally blonde; every hairdo she sported was a wig because she had an allergy to hair bleach.
• At age 92, in the gay resort of Fire Island in 2013, she made probably her final singing appearance - later stage events, including with Justin Vivian Bond and with Tommy Tune were just "in conversation".

Gawd, we're going to miss her!

RIP, Carol Channing! There will never be another.

Reline yourself, resign yourself, you're through

Lost among the coverage in the papers recently of the passings of "national treasure" Likely Lad Rodney Bewes, and (of course) the death of the superstar David Cassidy, I didn't hear till today [thanks to the lovely Marc over at Deep Dish] that dear old Della Reese had also departed for Fabulon...

Emerging out of poverty and the melting-pot of gospel churches in the segregated US Mid-West, Miss Reese rose through musical success singing jazz, blues and pop to become a well-loved character on mainstream American television. Of course much of this small-screen output is a mystery to us Brits, and so it is for her music she is best known - despite never having had a hit record here.

Her genre-defining "cha-cha-cha" musical era has been a particular favourite of ours here at Dolores Delargo Towers for many years - not least this one:

Della Reese - Whatever Lola Wants

But she had a mighty fine pair of tonsils, no matter the genre:

Della Reese - Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)

I often got her mixed-up with her even more revered predecessor Pearl Bailey - and indeed, given the cohort of her fellow stars in this sketch [possibly one of the most camp televisual moments in history!], I might hazard a guess that she may have been an acceptable substitution rather then the producers' first choice...

Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Ann Miller, Della Reese - Love Boat Follies

She held her own admirably, nonetheless!

So admired was Miss Reese that none other than Martha Reeves admitted that her entire act was a tribute - she named her group "The Vandellas" after Van Dyke Street in Detroit and Della Reese. Tribute indeed.

RIP Della Reese (born Delloreese Patricia Early, 6th July 1931 – 19th November 2017)

Read my previous tributes to Miss Reese here, here, and (especially) here.

You're still glowin', you're still crowin', you're still goin' strong

Sharing her birthday with Tallulah Bankhead, Franz Schubert, Mario Lanza, Jean Simmons, Johnny Rotten, Norman Mailer, Lloyd Cole, Anna Pavlova, Justin Timberlake, Derek Jarman, Minnie Driver, (the former) Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Philip Glass (80 today), it is - needless to say - our beloved Patron Saint Carol Channing who we choose to take centre stage today...

At 96 years old she is, remarkably, still the subject of rumours - the latest being that Bette Midler wants Miss Channing to do some matinees when the Divine Miss M brings her revival of Hello, Dolly! to Broadway this year. People pooh-pooh the idea, but stranger things have happened - after all, it is only four years since she was on stage with another "bombshell", Justin Vivian Bond!

And here, by way of an "audition" - or maybe just to show Miss Midler how it should be done - is the lady herself...

Carol Channing - Hello, Dolly!

Oh, hello Dolly, well, hello Dolly
It's so nice to have you back where you belong
You're lookin' swell, Dolly, I can tell, Dolly
You're still glowin', you're still crowin', you're still goin' strong

We feel the room swayin' while the band's playin'
One of your old favourite songs from way back when
So, take her wrap fellas, find her an empty lap, fellas
Dolly won't never ever go away again

Many happy returns, Carol Elaine Channing (born 31st January 1921)

I feel like peckin' and bunny huggin'

Yesterday was the 85th birthday of that immensely talented Great Man of Showbiz, Mr Jerry Herman! He has a special place in our hearts here at Dolores Delargo Towers, being the creator of such faboo musicals as Hello Dolly!, La Cage Aux Folles, Dear World, Mack and Mabel and Mame.

On this Tacky Music Monday, to brighten up the start to another no doubt godawful week in the stuffy office, here's a song from the latter. Usually known for the version by Angela Lansbury, here's not one, but two renditions of That's How Young I Feel - first an unexpected one from Miss Ginger Rogers and her "safety gays":

Ginger Rogers - That's How Young I Feel

...outdone and outshone (of course) by this bizarre version, featuring the combination of Miss Carol Channing and Mr Tommy Tune!

Carol Channing and Tommy Tune - That's How Young I Feel

I wonder if Mr Herman's singing this to himself?

Jerry Herman (born 10th July 1931)

First you push it up here, pull it down there

As the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) unclothes [see what I did there?] its new exhibition all about the history of underwear, so I thought that on this Tacky Music Monday I should seek out an appropriate song.

Here is, of course, the irrepressible Carol Channing (with Ginger Rogers) with their tribute to the garment:

Carol Channing and Ginger Rogers - A Corset Can Do A Lot For A Lady

However, as that clip is such poor quality, here's a corset-themed slideshow to accompany the same song, this time by Fran Warren...

Fran Warren - A Corset Can Do A Lot For A Lady

Now, a corset can do a lot for a lady
Especially when a lady's got a lot
And a lady can do a lot for that cor-set
By filling in the bottom and top.

First you push it up here
Pull it down there
Tighten up the middle
Till you're gasping for air

Oh, a corset can do a lot for a lady
'Cos it helps to show a man what she's got

Indeed.

Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear is on at the V&A until Sunday, 12th March 2017

We're back...

...but what did we miss while we were away? Another bus strike, some cold weather, the closure of yet another gay bar in Soho, Britain becoming ever classier with the news that Poundland is trying to take over its rival 99p Store chain, Putin and ISIS being bastards (no surprises there), and a slight setback for the Qatari royal family's plans to take over the whole of London...



We missed what would have been Elaine Stritch's 90th birthday, Natalie Cole and Morgan Fairchild's 65th birthdays, the 93rd birthdays of both Patrick McNee and Denis Norden, Zsa Zsa Gabor's 98th, and also that eternal survivor Carol Channing's 94th!



On a more sad note, we bade a fond farewell to the film noir stalwart Lizabeth Scott (read my blog about her on the occasion of her 90th birthday), and, in even more sad news, the fantabulosa Geraldine McEwan - the original television Emmeline "Lucia" Lucas in Mapp and Lucia - has died. "Au reservoir", indeed.

There was some good news for the West End - despite an excellent yet sad article by John Harris in The Guardian mourning the continued gentrification of the centre of our fine city - as it was announced (as had been rumoured for some time) that the Cyndi Lauper/Harvey Fierstein musical Kinky Boots is coming to London this summer. A rather fab addition to the "Season" calendar, methinks - a season of events that begins immediately, as February is LGBT History Month!

Oh! And Madonna's new single Living for Love is out. Here's a tribute from Charlie Hides TV. Of course.

Charlie Hides TV - Living for Gloves

It's strange being back. There's no beach...

Dame Commander

One of the greatest of our Patron Saints Dame Angela Lansbury - who we had the privilege of seeing for the first time on stage this year in Blithe Spirit - is 89 years old today!

All hail.

To celebrate, in a most suitable fashion, here she is - together with two other great ladies from our Pantheon, Miss Chita Rivera and Miss Carol Channing, and a cast of thousands - giving her own nod to a man who did so much for her Broadway career (at the 2010 Kennedy Honours Gala) Mr Jerry Herman...

The Best Of Times Is Now? If I had been in this audience, you bet!

Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera, Carol Channing, Christine Ebersole, Christine Baranski, Kelsey Grammer and company - I Don't Want to Know/The Best of Times is Now (Jerry Herman's Kennedy Center Honors tribute)

Many happy returns to a fantabulosa lady - and remember, I am Angela Lansbury!

Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury, DBE (born 16th October 1925)

We got elegance

And so, the season of Patron Saints' birthdays continues. Today it is the turn of showbiz living legend Carol Channing to blow out the (92!) candles.

We adore the woman so much! As an early present for his birthday this year (we're in Spain for the actual date), I even bought Madam Arcati a copy of a West End theatre programme signed by Miss Channing ("...with Her 10 Stout-Hearted Men").



By way of a tribute, here Miss Channing is teamed up with one of her favourite collaborators the unstoppable Miss Pearl Bailey:

Pearl Bailey and Carol Channing - When the Parade Passes By/Hello Just One More Time

When she finally leaves us (as dear Miss Bailey already has), there will never be another...

Carol Channing

A documentary of her life Carol Channing: Larger Than Life is now available on DVD. [Hint. Hint.]

Come Aboard. We're expecting you.

News of the death of Henry Colman at the age of 89 is sad. However, he deserves to be remembered by showbiz-loving queens everywhere.

Why? The man was (among his many other classic US shows such as I Love Lucy, Hawaii Five-O and The Beverly Hillbillies) the producer of one of the kitschiest television shows of all time, The Love Boat, of course.

Another excuse to play one of my favourite clips in the history of camp, ever!

Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Ann Miller, Della Reese - Love Boat Follies

Miss Merman, Miss Channing, Miss Miller and Miss Reese in full battledress is simply perfect (and a scenario that could never be matched nowadays, or at any time)!

He also began an archive of American Television, which you can visit here.

RIP

Still glowin', still crowin', still going strong

Wow - that was a whirlwind-quick weekend! As always, I could do with at least one more day to get everything I planned to do done...

Hey ho, never mind. On this Tacky Music Monday, let's cheer ourselves up as we prepare for our sad trudge back to work - in the company of one of our fabulous patron saints Miss Carol Channing! Here's her rollocking 1979 Royal Variety Performance of Hello Dolly:

Carol Channing - Hello, Dolly! (1979)

Hope you have a good week!

Queen of Tap

In memory of Miss Ann Miller, who died eight years ago today, I have created her a brand new "exhibit" in the Dolores Delargo Towers - Museum of Camp.

Over here I feel like sharing some more of my favourite performances of hers...

Ann Miller - Shakin' the Blues Away (Easter Parade)

A magnificent 1989 performance of 42nd Street:

Ann Miller - 42nd Street

Her last stage appearance, aged 75, in Follies (1998):

Ann Miller - I'm Still Here

And finally - I really can't believe I have never featured this, possibly my favourite piece of kitsch TV EVER, the "Love Boat Follies" (in which she does diva battle with Ethel Merman, Della Reese and Carol Channing!)...

Love Boat Follies

Magnificently camp!

RIP, Miss Miller.

Before the parade passes by

How sad...

Harry Kullijian, the former childhood sweetheart of Carol Channing whom the veteran actress married in 2003, has died in Rancho Mirage, California.

The former land developer died on Monday on the eve of his 92nd birthday after suffering an aneurysm at home.

Kullijian and Channing were high school sweethearts in the 1930s before the latter's mother split them up.

Reunited decades later, they married in a matter of months when Channing was 82 and Kullijian 83.

Speaking in 2003, Channing said they had "picked up" their relationship from where they left it seven decades earlier.

"The years between disappeared, just disappeared," the Broadway actress told CNN broadcaster Larry King.

Following their marriage, Kullijian became his wife's manager and formed a charitable foundation with her to support arts education in schools.

Born in Turlock, California in 1919, he fought in World War II and Korea before going into walnut farming, real estate and local government.

Channing played the title role in the original 1964 production of Hello Dolly and was Oscar nominated four years later for her performance in Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Ironically, Harry's death also came just as a new film tribute to Carol Channing's life is released:

Carol Channing - Larger Than Life trailer

Carol Channing on Wikipedia

Jam...

It is the 90th birthday today of another of our pantheon of gods here at Dolores Delargo Towers - Miss Carol Channing!

I have blogged about this magnificent lady many times before - check my blog on the occasion of her birthday last year - but I make no apology, on this Tacky Music Monday, for paying another visit to this little work of genius.

Miss Channing - you are indeed a living legend!!

Carol Channing - Jam Tomorrow

Jerry Herman honoured in style

On Sunday 5th December, the 33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honours celebrated, among others the talents and contributions of one of our icons here at Dolores Delargo Towers, none other than composer and lyricist Jerry Herman, the genius behind Hello, Dolly!, La Cage Aux Folles, Mame and Mack and Mabel, among other camp classics.

Speaking of camp - the line-up of stars who turned out (or were wheeled out in some cases!) sounds tremendous!

Our divine mother Angela Lansbury introduced the tribute. Kelsey Grammer (as Zaza) led a chorus of dancing "girls" on We Are What We Are from La Cage.

The triumph of art over nature that is the wonderful Carol Channing then sang Hello, Jerry (Hello, Dolly) with lyrics especially adapted for the occasion.

The sexy Matthew Morrison of Glee (who is apparently not gay - as these pictures prove) performed It's Today from Mame, and two of our favourite showgirls, none other than Christine Baranski and Christine Ebersole, teamed up for Bosom Buddies.

A host of Broadway stars did their turn - Laura Benanti sang the beautiful Time Heals Everything from Mack and Mabel, and returning to Hello Dolly!, Sutton Foster performed Before the Parade Passes By, and Kelli O'Hara and Matthew Bomer duetted on It Only Takes a Moment.

Leading the finale, living legend Chita Rivera sang and danced to I Don't Want to Know (from Dear World) and the tribute concluded with two of Mr Herman's greatest songs, I Am What I Am and The Best of Times.

Now if that isn't a celebration, then I don't know what is!!

The show is not going to be televised in the US until December 28th so there is no footage of this glittering gala available yet - and somehow I doubt it will even get a mention on telly here in the UK. But I'll be looking out for it!

PS Apparently also honoured on the night were Sir Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Merle Haggard and choreographer and director Bill T. Jones.

Kennedy Center Honours 2010

---

STOP PRESS

Here it is!

Kennedy Centre Honours 2010 - Jerry Herman

Nothing like an old dame...

Heavens above, Carol Channing is still going at the venerable age of 89! I may have blogged about my love for this remarkable diva before, but why not? She has more talent in her ancient fingers even now than most of the weedy, whiny, talentless trollops of today - Lady Ga-bloody-Ga, Cheryl-fucking-Cole, Mariah-sodding-Carey are you listening?

Carol Channing - Before the Parade Passes By

Carol Channing - Jazz Baby

And our theme tune...

Carol Channing - Razzle Dazzle

Carol Channing website

Somehow, by some bizarre twist of fate it appears that not one but two of our most adored ladies share the same birthday. The late, great, and unsurpassed Tallulah Bankhead was also born on this date 108 years ago. Here are the grand dames sharing some evidently evil gossip with Gloria Swanson...



Happy Sunday!

Raaaspberries!

Amazing news! The 87-year-old Carol Channing will appear in concert again this September. The event in San Francisco - with special guests Carole Cook and Rita Moreno - is being held to celebrate the opening of a new exhibition about Miss Channing's life and long career in showbiz.

The exhibition will include original costumes ranging from her original 1964 Hello Dolly! dress to one-of-a-kind outfits created by Bob Mackie, rare photographs, video and audio clips, original drawings by Al Hirschfeld, her Tony and Golden Globe Awards, and other items. How camp... I'd love to go, but I think it might be a bit far.

A true showbiz legend and all-round eccentric, Carol's biggest theatrical break was as the original "Lorelei Lee" in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (later played by Marilyn Monroe in the film), and she progressed from Broadway to the big screen (despite losing the title role in the film of Hello Dolly! to MegaBabs) via numerous classic television appearances with stars such as George Burns, Dean Martin, Red Skelton, Spike Jones, Dinah Shore, Andy Williams and Carol Burnett, and on her own shows.

It was as "Muzzy" in Thoroughly Modern Mille that many film-goers best remember her - and she hammed the part up beautifully, stealing every scene, even from Julie Andrews! But always the theatrical legend, Carol also appeared in some milestone stage performances - notably with Pearl Bailey, and at various Tony and Oscar award ceremonies and Royal Variety performances over the years.

We love Carol Channing!!

Carol Channing - Raspberries!

Carol Channing Is Better Than You

Carol Channing on IMDB

A tiger is a tiger not a lamb

Apparently on TV tonight was a programme where John Barrowman agreed to subject himself to all sorts of humiliating "investigations" in an attempt to find out if there is a reason why he is gay. I refused to watch it.

I do, however, have some thoughts on the matter - what makes me who I am..?

101 Must See Movies for Gay Men

Liza Minnelli - Mein Herr

Alison Jiear - I Just Wanna Fucking Dance

Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Ann Miller, Della Reese - Love Boat Follies

Donna Summer - I Feel Love

Read about the BBC programme "The Making Of Me"