I took this photo Carol Channing back in October at the West Hollywood Book Festival. I was so impressed with how funny she was in a conversation she had with Bruce Vilanch at the event were she told some great anecdotes from her many decades in showbiz.

One of the funniest ones was about Ethel Merman when she Channing and  and Ann Miller were signed to appear together on ABC’s The Love Boat.“My name was Sylvia in the script and she could never remember my name,” Carol recalled. “‘Hey! Shirley! Sadie! Then it’s really filfthy what she called me. I can’t say it.”

Vilanch: “Does it rhyme with Hunt?”

Channing: “Yes!”

“I loved her so and I couldn’t stop loving her,” Carol added. “She was brilliant and she’d say, ‘C’mere ya dumb cunt!”

A year ago, I attended Miss Channing’s Cabaret show at The Magic Castle in Hollywood and Lily Tomlin was among the guests who I talked to about the star of Hello Dolly and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

“She’s one of the funniest women that’s ever walked. I’ve known Carol for many years. The first time I laid eyes on her was in  Detroit when I was about 17 and I went to see her one-woman show. I went in the alley to the backstage door and she came out, there were a lot of young people hanging around adoring her and she was so generous. She did bits for us and she carried on. She had a great, big black trapeze dress on and a mop of blonde hair and red lips and I think she had red jewelry on and a great, big red purse. And she was just always so original and eccentric in her style. Special. Special. And funny. I’ve worked with her and seen her all these years. I was with her on Laugh-In, I’ve done lots of benefits with her. She’s ready at the call.”

Comments

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2 Remarks

1. February 1st, 2010 at 6:25 pm
   Monkeyphat says:

   Raspberries:-)

2. January 31st, 2011 at 2:17 pm
   Vicki Boston says:

   Today is Carol Channing’s 90th Birthday.
   Thanks for bring us Dolly Levi to life-AND still telling us DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND.
   And we STILL think that you ARE a RIGHTOUS BABE!
   Luv Ya. MANY HAPPY RETURN. May ALL your wishes come true.