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 many 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 tought 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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