Rose Marie with Emerson College

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In her one-hour interview for the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, Rose Marie (1923-2017) talks about entering show business at age three, and soon after becoming a smash hit as “Baby Rose Marie,” selling out the Capital Theater in New York, and with her own NBC radio show. She describes her long friendship and professional association with Milton Berle, as well as her husband Buddy Guy, a trumpet player in Kay Kyser’s band. She recounts playing Las Vegas, and her professional and personal association with mobsters like Bugsy Siegel and Al Capone. She discusses playing “Sally Rogers” on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and working with Van Dyke, the cast, and producer Sheldon Leonard. She speaks of playing “Myrna Gibbons” for five years on The Doris Day Show, and her subsequent stage show “4 Girls 4” with Helen O’Connell, Rosemary Clooney, and Margaret Whiting. She details having dealt with the business end of show business, and concludes with a summary of her career. Bill Dana and Jenni Matz conducted the interview on January 24, 2006 in Van Nuys, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I love to see funny things. I love a funny person. I love somebody who has a great sense of humor. I love somebody who can top me when I say something, because then I have more respect for them. It's just the way I am."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard
03:14
Rose Marie on a joke she loves to tell
01:32
Rose Marie on her association with mobsters, including Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel, during her career
07:22
Rose Marie on her weekly NBC radio show as "Baby Rose Marie," and on touring RKO Theaters skirting child labor laws
05:42
Rose Marie on being convinced to stay on The Dick Van Dyke Show after the death of her husband
02:54
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
03:56
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On entering show business at age three; on her weekly NBC radio show as "Baby Rose Marie," and on touring RKO Theaters skirting child labor laws; on coming to California and then touring clubs
On working with Milton Berle, and on his importance to her career; on playing the Capital Theatre in New York City, and being a smash hit; on her Jimmy Durante imitation
On being convinced to stay on The Dick Van Dyke Show after the death of her husband; on playing Las Vegas with Jimmy Durante; on her early business association with mobsters, including Bugsy Siegel and Al Capone
On being cast by Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard to play "Sally Rogers" on The Dick Van Dyke Show; on playing "Myrna Gibbons" on The Doris Day Show; on whether comedy can be learned
On The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard; on dealing with the business part of show business; on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
On how she knows what's funny; on summing up her career, and on her daughter; on a joke she loves to tell
Shows

Dick Van Dyke Show, The

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Rose Marie on being convinced to stay on The Dick Van Dyke Show after the death of her husband
02:54
Rose Marie on being cast by Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard to play "Sally Rogers" on The Dick Van Dyke Show
01:55
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard
03:14

Doris Day Show, The

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Rose Marie on playing "Myrna Gibbons" on The Doris Day Show
00:23
Topics

Classic TV series episodes

View Topic
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard (she discusses the classic episode "It May Look Like a Walnut")
03:14

Comedy

View Topic
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard (she discusses the classic episode "It May Look Like a Walnut")
03:14

Creative Influences and Inspiration

View Topic
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
03:55

First Big Break

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Rose Marie on her weekly NBC radio show as baby Rose Marie, and on touring RKO Theaters skirting child labor laws
05:42

Overcoming Adversity

View Topic
Rose Marie on being convinced to stay on The Dick Van Dyke Show after the death of her husband
02:54

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Rose Marie on being convinced to stay on The Dick Van Dyke Show after the death of her husband
02:54
Rose Marie on her weekly NBC radio show as baby Rose Marie, and on touring RKO Theaters skirting child labor laws
05:42
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
03:55

Pop Culture

View Topic
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard (she discusses the classic episode "It May Look Like a Walnut")
03:14

Television Industry

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Rose Marie on dealing with the business part of show business
02:20
Professions

Comedian

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Rose Marie on whether comedy can be learned
04:15
Rose Marie on dealing with the business part of show business
02:20
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
03:56
Rose Marie on how she knows what's funny
02:13

Performers

View Profession
Rose Marie on whether comedy can be learned
04:15
Rose Marie on dealing with the business part of show business
02:20
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
03:56
Rose Marie on how she knows what's funny
02:13
Genres

Comedy Series

View Genre
Rose Marie on being convinced to stay on The Dick Van Dyke Show after the death of her husband
02:54
Rose Marie on being cast by Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard to play "Sally Rogers" on The Dick Van Dyke Show
01:54
Rose Marie on playing "Myrna Gibbons" on The Doris Day Show
00:23
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard
03:14
People

Milton Berle

View Interview Page
Rose Marie on working with Milton Berle, and on his importance to her career
03:52
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
03:55

Rosemary Clooney

View Person Page
Rose Marie on appearing in the stage show "4 Girls 4" with Rosemary Clooney, Margaret Whiting, and Helen O'Connell
01:23

Doris Day

View Person Page
Rose Marie on playing "Myrna Gibbons" on The Doris Day Show
00:23

Jimmy Durante

View Person Page
Rose Marie on her Jimmy Durante imitation
02:09
Rose Marie on playing Las Vegas with Jimmy Durante
08:03

Dick Van Dyke

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Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard
03:14

Kay Kyser

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Rose Marie on meeting her husband, Bobby Guy, a trumpet player in Kay Kyser's band
02:23

Sheldon Leonard

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Rose Marie on being cast by Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard to play "Sally Rogers" on The Dick Van Dyke Show
01:55
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard
03:14

Carl Reiner

View Interview Page
Rose Marie on being cast by Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard to play "Sally Rogers" on The Dick Van Dyke Show
01:55

Phil Silvers

View Person Page
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
03:55

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