Ethel Merman101
Films and Television
compiled by John Kenrick

Merman in her early Hollywood days -- when the studios were at a loss as to how to showcase her talents.

Broadway's ultimate musical comedy star made more than her share of appearances on the big and small screens. Here's a list of some of Merman's most notable film and video moments. Where no role is listed, Merman appeared as herself.

Films

• Follow the Leader, aka "Manhattan Mary" (1930) - Helen King
• Cave Club, The (1930) - Short subject
• Devil Sea, The (1931) - Short subject
• Roaming (1931) - Short subject
• Let Me Call You Sweetheart (1932) - Short subject
• You Try Somebody Else (1932) - Short subject
• Time on My Hands (1932) - Short subject
• Old Man Blues (1932) - Short subject - Helen
• Song Shopping (1933) - Short subject
• Be Like Me (1933) - Short subject
• We're Not Dressing (1934) - Edith
• Kid Millions (1934) - Dot Clark
• Strike Me Pink (1936) - Joyce Lennox
• Anything Goes, aka "Tops Is the Limit" (1936) - Reno Sweeney
• Big Broadcast of 1936, The (1936)
• Happy Landing (1938) - Flo Kelly
• Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) - Jerry Allen
• Straight, Place and Show (1938) - Linda
• Stage Door Canteen (1943)
• Call Me Madam (1953) - Sally Adams
• There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) - Molly Donahue
• It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) - Mrs. Marcus
• Art of Love, The (1965) - Madame Coco
• Around the World of Mike Todd (1968) - Documentary
• Journey Back to Oz (1971 - animated) - voice of Mombi
• Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) - Hedda Parsons
• Airplane! (1980) - Lieutenant Hurwitz

Noteworthy TV Appearances
(Please Note: This list covers Merman's musical and dramatic performances -- it does not include her numerous appearances on talk shows, news programs, award shows, and frequent guest spots on The Ed Sullivan Show.)

• Inside U.S.A. with Chevrolet (1949)
• United States Steel Hour, The (1956)
• Ford 50th Anniversary Show, The (1953) - duet with Mary Martin
• Anything Goes (1954) - Reno Sweeney
• Panama Hattie (1958) - Hattie Maloney
• Startime (1960)
• Merman on Broadway (1961)
• Judy Garland Show, The (1963)
• Judy Garland Show, The (CBS Jan. 12, 1964)
• The Bell Telephone Hour (NBC - Jan. 28, 1964) - Cole Porter tribute, with Merman singing several of her standards
• Lucille Ball Show, The (CBS - June 1, 1964) "Lucy Teaches Ethel Merman to Sing"
• Lucille Ball Show, The (1964) "Ethel Merman and the Boy Scout"
• The Hollywood Palace (ABC - 1965) - Merman teaches host Fred Astaire to sing loudly
• Evening with Ethel Merman, An (1965)
• Front Page Challenge (1967)
• That Girl (ABC - 1967) - "Pass the Potatoes, Ethel Merman"
• Batman (ABC - Oct. 5, 1967) - "The Sport of Penguins," with Merman as the evil Lola Lasagne
• Annie Get Your Gun (NBC - March 16, 1967) - Annie Oakley
• Tarzan and the Mountains of the Moon (1967)
• Carol Burnett Show, The (CBS - 1969)
• This Is Your Life (Syndicated - 1971) - Ralph Edwards took Merman on a nostalgia binge
• 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin (NBC - 1972) - Merman sang "I Got Rhythm"
• Boston Pops, The (1975)
• Muppet Show, The (1976)
• You're Gonna Love it Here (CBS - 1977) - unsuccessful sitcom pilot; Merman played Dolly Rogers, a touring musical comedy star.
• Salute to American Imagination, A (1978)
• Ford 75th Anniversary Show (1978) - Merman sang "Before the Parade Passes By"
• Special Sesame Street Christmas, A (1978)
• Musical Comedy Tonight (PBS - Oct. 1979)
• Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979) - voice of Lilly Loraine
• Love Boat, The (1979) - Roz Smith (Gopher's Mother)
• Live From Lincoln Center: Beverly Sills Farewell Performance (PBS - Oct. 1980)
• Love Boat, The (1980) - Roz Smith
• Ronald Reagan's Inaugural Celebration (ABC - Jan. 19, 1981) - Merman sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses"
• Showstoppers (HBO - 1981) - Merman sang "Kick" and "No Business"
• Love Boat, The (1981) - Roz Smith
• Something a Little Less Serious (1981) - Mrs. Marcus
• Love Boat, The - The Musical (ABC 1982) - Roz Smith
• Over Easy (PBS 1982) - a reunion with Mary Martin
• Royal Command Performance (BBC - 1982) - sang "No Business Like Show Business" during the finale
• Broadway: A Special Salute (PBS - 1985) - taped years earlier, this was not broadcast until after Merman's death

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