Bisexual?
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Harold_Robbins — 18 years ago(August 13, 2007 10:59 AM)
There have been rumors about Mary Martin for years, though not in conjunction with Merman. Garland and Merman were pals, nothing more. Jacqueline Susann reportedly had an obsessive crush on Merman, and when it wasn't reciprocated got her revenge by using Merman as the basis for the crude Broadway star Helen Lawson in VALLEY OF THE DOLLS.
"I don't use a pen: I write with a goose quill dipped in venom!"
W. Lydecker -
Harold_Robbins — 18 years ago(August 31, 2007 08:02 AM)
"Legend has it the honeymoon got off to a rocky start when they woke up, turned and looked at each other and screamed."
Hopefully the two forthcoming Merman biographies will shed some light on this - both participants remained remarkably close-mouthed about it - Merman's been dead over 23 years, and Borgnine, at 90, has remained ever the gentleman and not uttered a peep. But will a possible Borgnine autobiography include a chapter titled "My Marriage To Ethel Merman" followed by a blank page?
"I don't use a pen: I write with a goose quill dipped in venom!"
W. Lydecker -
MyMovieTVRomance — 13 years ago(September 11, 2012 01:59 AM)
Sounds to me like it's a pretty safe bet that Merman was not Bi., the way she abruptly ditched Jackie like that. But, I am a little confused as to what ever caused the rumors about Mary Martin. I posted the following on her board toom but perhaps you may have some info on the matter:
I have read in several places (including here) that Mary was rumored to be bisexual. Well, I'm just wondering if there was any real basis to those rumors? I mean, for most of her professional life, she was a married woman. So, could someone shed some light on when, why, and what started these rumors and whether or not they were likely to be true?
Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize! -
metalman091 — 12 years ago(August 09, 2013 12:04 AM)
There have been rumors about Mary Martin and Jean Arthur, but nothing that points to Ethel Merman. I may have heard wrong but I thought Merman and Martin hated each other.
I've never heard any romantic link between Judy and Ethel. They were close friends and had been since 1938 or 1939.
I don't know, but no account has ever verified the rumors about Ethel Merman. -
MyMovieTVRomance — 10 years ago(July 18, 2015 01:48 AM)
There have been rumors about Mary Martin and Jean Arthur, but nothing that points to Ethel Merman. I may have heard wrong but I thought Merman and Martin2000 hated each other.
If so, they must have made-up by this point:
Granted, they are sitting far, far apart from each-other. But, if I remember, they addressed those rumors in an interview (maybe this one) and said that they do like each-other.
Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize! -
gia_smith — 17 years ago(May 04, 2008 06:43 PM)
I just finished "Ethel Merman, A Life" by Brian Kellow. (I bought it from BOMC2.com for $9.95.
It was very interesting but a bit dry at times. Lots of info in long paragraphs.
He wrote that the Ethel & Susann gay rumors were rubbish. Susann had a crush on Ethel but Ethel dropped her when it was obvious Susann's feelings were more than that of a friend.
I didn't realize how beautiful Merman was in her youth until seeing the pics in the book - I knew her mostly from movies 2000such as "There's No Business Like Show Business" and "Airplane!"
As for the Ernest Borgnine marriage, Kellow wrote that Ethel found out his young housekeeper was also his mistress. The marriage really only lasted a matter of days - she found out about the other woman either while on her honeymoon or right after. They separated and waited awhile before filing for divorce - 32 days after their marriage. -
SimplemindedSociety — 15 years ago(January 16, 2011 04:44 PM)
'He wrote that the Ethel & Susann gay rumors were rubbish'
You know, some people are completely homosexual.
I realize it's less comfortable for fans to believe that..you know, because it seems less "disturbing" and less like 'rubbish' to them.