About
"Show business is my life, darling. Don't you understand?"
In her two-hour-plus interview, Mitzi Gaynor (1931-2024) talks about her early interest in dance and music. She recalls joining the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Company, getting signed by 20th Century Fox, and appearing in several hit films, including My Blue Heaven with Betty Grable, Anything Goes with Bing Crosby, and Les Girls with Gene Kelly. Gaynor also describes how she was cast as "Nellie Forbush" in the classic movie musical South Pacific. She recounts her memorable performances on several Academy Award show broadcasts, including singing "Georgy Girl" on the 1967 Academy Awards -- the most heralded performance on an Oscar broadcast. She then details her many television specials, commenting on choreographers Peter Gennaro and Tony Charmoli, costume designer Bob Mackie and her husband/producer Jack Bean. She talks of her Emmy-winning PBS special, Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years and speaks fondly of her managers, Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda. She describes her current projects, what it's like to still be on tour, and how show business and television have changed over the years. John Dalton conducted the interview on October 9, 2012 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Mitzi Gaynor on "South Pacific"
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the same night The Beatles were on
Mitzi Gaynor on singing "Georgy Girl" on the 1967 Academy Awards - the most heralded performance on an Oscar broadcast
Mitzi Gaynor on performing "I Can Cook, Too" on her television special Mitzi ... A Tribute to an American Housewife
Mitzi Gaynor on becoming a journalist for The Hollywood Reporter
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early years and influences; on her interest in dance and music; on joining the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Company
On getting signed by 20th Century Fox; on the film "My Blue Heaven" with Betty Grable
On her first time on television and her name change; on the 1954 Academy Awards; on co-starring with Ethel Merman and Marilyn Monroe in "There's No Business Like Show Business"
On her husband, Jack Bean; on working with Bing Crosby in "Anything Goes", with Gene Kelly in "Les Girls" and with Frank Sinatra on his variety show
On "South Pacific"; on appearing on The Jack Benny Hour; on singing "There's No Business Like Show Business" on the 1961 Academy Awards
On her show in Las Vegas; on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the same night The Beatles were on
On appearing on The Danny Thomas Show and meeting costume designers Bob Mackie and Ray Aghayan; on appearing on the 1967 Christmas episode of The Kraft Music Hall
On singing "Georgy Girl" on the 1967 Academy Awards - the most heralded performance on an Oscar broadcast
Chapter 2
On her first television special, Mitzi, in 1968; on her character, "The Kid" and working with directors, choreographers, and costume designer Bob Mackie
On not doing a television series, only specials; on her yearly television specials
On traveling for performances; on her fans' favorite sketches; on why her television specials ended
On appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; on appearing in the stage version of "Anything Goes"; on becoming a journalist for The Hollywood Reporter; on her Emmy-winning PBS special, Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years and her managers
Chapter 3
On her current projects and touring; on how show business and television have changed over the years
On celebrity, career highlights, advice to aspiring performers, and how she'd like to be remembered
Shows
Academy Awards, The
Mitzi Gaynor on performing with Donald O'Connor on the 1954 Academy Awards
Mitzi Gaynor on singing "There's No Business Like Show Business" on the 1961 Academy Awards
Mitzi Gaynor on singing "Georgy Girl" on the 1967 Academy Awards - the most heralded performance on an Oscar broadcast
Mitzi Gaynor on how appearing on the Academy Awards changed over the years
Bob Hope Specials
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on a Bob Hope special the night her own special aired
Danny Thomas Show, The aka Make Room for Daddy
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Danny Thomas Show and meeting Bob Mackie
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the same night The Beatles were on
Mitzi Gaynor on later appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show
Jack Benny Hour, The
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Jack Benny Hour
Kraft Music Hall, The
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on the 1967 Christmas episode of The Kraft Music Hall
Mitzi Gaynor Specials
Mitzi Gaynor on her first television special, Mitzi, in 1968
Mitzi Gaynor on singing the ballad "Blue" on her first television special
Mitzi Gaynor on her character, "The Kid"
Mitzi Gaynor on her persona on her television specials, selecting themes for her specials, and rehearsal
Mitzi Gaynor on producer/director Bob Henry
Mitzi Gaynor on her television special, Mitzi's 2nd Special
Mitzi Gaynor on her television special, Mitzi ... The First Time
Mitzi Gaynor on Mitzi ... A Tribute to an American Housewife with choreographer Tony Charmoli
Mitzi Gaynor on the audiences of her television specials
Mitzi Gaynor on her television special, Mitzi and a Hundred Guys
Mitzi Gaynor on her television special, Mitzi... Roarin' in the '20s
Mitzi Gaynor on her television special, Mitzi Zings Into Spring
Mitzi Gaynor on censor concerns over her television special, Mitzi's 2nd Special
Mitzi Gaynor on her final television special, Mitzi... What's Hot, What's Not and dealing with censors
Mitzi Gaynor on how her specials evolved over the years and the atmosphere and production on her specials
Mitzi Gaynor on dance moves that work for television and favorite sketches from her specials
Mitzi Gaynor on why her television specials ended
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In the night her own special aired
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Mitzi Gaynor on her final television special, Mitzi... What's Hot, What's Not and dealing with censors
Fame and Celebrity
Mitzi Gaynor on how celebrity has affected her
Memorable Moments on Television
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the same night The Beatles were on
Mitzi Gaynor on singing "Georgy Girl" on the 1967 Academy Awards - the most heralded performance on an Oscar broadcast
Mitzi Gaynor on performing "I Can Cook, Too" on her television special Mitzi ... A Tribute to an American Housewife
Pop Culture
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the same night The Beatles were on
Rock 'n' Roll on TV (1950s & '60s)
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the same night The Beatles were on
Television Industry
Mitzi Gaynor on her final television special, Mitzi... What's Hot, What's Not and dealing with censors
Mitzi Gaynor on how show business and television have changed over the years
Mitzi Gaynor on how celebrity has affected her
Professions
Actress
Mitzi Gaynor on joining the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Company and her first show
Performer
Mitzi Gaynor on advice to aspiring television performers
Performers
Mitzi Gaynor on joining the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Company and her first show
Mitzi Gaynor on advice to aspiring television performers
Genres
Awards Shows
Mitzi Gaynor on performing with Donald O'Connor on the 1954 Academy Awards
Mitzi Gaynor on singing "There's No Business Like Show Business" on the 1961 Academy Awards
Mitzi Gaynor on singing "Georgy Girl" on the 1967 Academy Awards - the most heralded performance on an Oscar broadcast
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the same night The Beatles were on
Mitzi Gaynor on her television specials
People
George Abbott
Mitzi Gaynor on working with Bing Crosby in "Anything Goes"
Ray Aghayan
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Danny Thomas Show and meeting costume designers Bob Mackie and Ray Aghayan
Jack Benny
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Jack Benny Hour
Ken Berry
Mitzi Gaynor on working with Ken Berry on her television special Mitzi ... The First Time
Carol Burnett
Mitzi Gaynor on Bob Mackie's designs for Carol Burnett
Tony Charmoli
Mitzi Gaynor on Mitzi: A Tribute to an American Housewife with choreographer Tony Charmoli
Mitzi Gaynor on performing "I Can Cook, Too" on her television special Mitzi ... A Tribute to an American Housewife
Mitzi Gaynor on her television special, Mitzi and a Hundred Guys
Roy Clark
Mitzi Gaynor on her television special, Mitzi Zings Into Spring
Bing Crosby
Mitzi Gaynor on working with Bing Crosby in "Anything Goes"
Ernest Flatt
Mitzi Gaynor on Ernie Flatt replacing Tony Charmoli on Your Hit Parade
Peter Gennaro
Mitzi Gaynor on working with choreographer Peter Gennaro on her television specials
Mitzi Gaynor on working with choreographer Peter Gennaro on her television specials; on shooting her dance numbers
Phil Harris
Mitzi Gaynor on working with announcer Phil Harris on her first television special
Bob Henry
Mitzi Gaynor on producer/director Bob Henry, who directed her first television special
Bob Hope
Mitzi Gaynor on show business advice from Bob Hope
Mitzi Gaynor on Bob Hope hosting the 1967 Academy Awards ceremony on which she sang "Georgy Girl"
Mitzi Gaynor on dancing with Bob Hope on one of her television specials
Gene Kelly
Mitzi Gaynor on working with Gene Kelly in "Les Girls"
Bob Mackie
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Danny Thomas Show and meeting costume designers Bob Mackie and Ray Aghayan
Mitzi Gaynor on working with costume designer Bob Mackie on her television specials
Mitzi Gaynor on working with costume designer Bob Mackie on her television specials
Mitzi Gaynor on wearing a see-through Bob Mackie gown on Mitzi's 2nd Special
Mary Martin
Mitzi Gaynor on singing the songs for "South Pacific" in the same key as Mary Martin
Ross Martin
Mitzi Gaynor on working with Ross Martin on Mitzi's 2nd Special
Ethel Merman
Mitzi Gaynor on performing with Ethel Merman in "There's No Business Like Show Business"
Marilyn Monroe
Mitzi Gaynor on co-starring with Marilyn Monroe in "There's No Business Like Show Business"
Donald O'Connor
Mitzi Gaynor on performing with Donald O'Connor on the 1954 Academy Awards
Mitzi Gaynor on performing with Donald O'Connor on his television show
Carl Reiner
Mitzi Gaynor on dancing and doing comedy sketches with Carl Reiner on her television special, Mitzi... Roarin' in the '20s
Frank Sinatra
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on Frank Sinatra's variety show
Beatles, The
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the same night The Beatles were on
Darryl F. Zanuck
Mitzi Gaynor on Darryl Zanuck grooming her to become a star