Mitzi Gaynor

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.