About
"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."
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.
Highlights
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard
Rose Marie on a joke she loves to tell
Rose Marie on her association with mobsters, including Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel, during her career
Rose Marie on her weekly NBC radio show as "Baby Rose Marie," and on touring RKO Theaters skirting child labor laws
Rose Marie on being convinced to stay on The Dick Van Dyke Show after the death of her husband
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
Full Interview
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
Rose Marie on being convinced to stay on The Dick Van Dyke Show after the death of her husband
Rose Marie on being cast by Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard to play "Sally Rogers" on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard
Doris Day Show, The
Rose Marie on playing "Myrna Gibbons" on The Doris Day Show
Topics
Classic TV Series Episodes
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")
Comedy
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")
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
First Big Break
Rose Marie on her weekly NBC radio show as baby Rose Marie, and on touring RKO Theaters skirting child labor laws
Overcoming Adversity
Rose Marie on being convinced to stay on The Dick Van Dyke Show after the death of her husband
Pivotal Career Moments
Rose Marie on being convinced to stay on The Dick Van Dyke Show after the death of her husband
Rose Marie on her weekly NBC radio show as baby Rose Marie, and on touring RKO Theaters skirting child labor laws
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
Pop Culture
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")
Television Industry
Rose Marie on dealing with the business part of show business
Professions
Comedian
Rose Marie on whether comedy can be learned
Rose Marie on dealing with the business part of show business
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
Rose Marie on how she knows what's funny
Performers
Rose Marie on whether comedy can be learned
Rose Marie on dealing with the business part of show business
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
Rose Marie on how she knows what's funny
Genres
Comedy Series
Rose Marie on being convinced to stay on The Dick Van Dyke Show after the death of her husband
Rose Marie on being cast by Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard to play "Sally Rogers" on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Rose Marie on playing "Myrna Gibbons" on The Doris Day Show
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard
People
Milton Berle
Rose Marie on working with Milton Berle, and on his importance to her career
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
Rosemary Clooney
Rose Marie on appearing in the stage show "4 Girls 4" with Rosemary Clooney, Margaret Whiting, and Helen O'Connell
Doris Day
Rose Marie on playing "Myrna Gibbons" on The Doris Day Show
Jimmy Durante
Rose Marie on her Jimmy Durante imitation
Rose Marie on playing Las Vegas with Jimmy Durante
Kay Kyser
Rose Marie on meeting her husband, Bobby Guy, a trumpet player in Kay Kyser's band
Sheldon Leonard
Rose Marie on being cast by Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard to play "Sally Rogers" on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard
Carl Reiner
Rose Marie on being cast by Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard to play "Sally Rogers" on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Phil Silvers
Rose Marie on what she learned from the great performers, including Milton Berle and Phil Silvers
Dick Van Dyke
Rose Marie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, and on working for producer Sheldon Leonard