I was rather foolish when I was younger. Each time a production of Hello, Dolly! came through town – and that seemed fairly often – I thought, “Why would I want to see Carol Channing do that show after so many years?” It was the same with Yul Brynner and The King and I. In my mind they were so far past their prime that the idea of seeing them “walk through” a role they made famous wasn’t worth my time or money.
Boy was I wrong. I finally had the chance to see Channing perform when she did an intimate cabaret show at the Magic Castle. It was simply Channing, accompanied by a pianist, telling stories and singing songs. I was probably no more than ten or fifteen feet away from one of the most magical, entertaining, charming, eccentric and wonderful performers I had ever witnessed. And the show was, if memory serves, nearly two hours.
This was long after she stopped touring in the show that made her a household name. And it didn’t matter. What I realized that evening was how foolish I had been to let my youthful arrogance convince me that Channing had nothing to offer.
At the end of Act One of Hello, Dolly!, the title character comes downstage and sings “Before the Parade Passes By.”
At the Magic Castle, Channing sang this song and it was as if I had never heard it before. She imbued the song with such pathos; pathos that ultimately yielded to determination, that I doubt there was a dry eye in the place. Mine certainly weren’t.
If you don’t know who Carol Channing was, she was a Broadway legend who had appeared in seven shows on Broadway before originating the role of Dolly Levi in Jerry Herman’s musical. (A show that is touring now with Betty Buckley with upcoming stops at the Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa and at the Pantages Theatre.) Her best-known role prior to Dolly was that of Lorelei in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She introduced the song “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in that show.
That musical was written by Jule Styne. And there was a televised tribute to him that featured Channing. Before performing “Little Girl from Little Rock,” they briefly recount how Styne helped her career. You can see that excerpt below.
She spent more time on stage and television than she did in film. Though many fans adore her appearance in Thoroughly Modern Millie, it is this performance from a 1985 television movie of Alice in Wonderland that I adore.
But it will always be her Tony Award-winning role in Hello, Dolly! for which she will be forever remembered. I’m just grateful that before I allowed her glorious parade to pass me by, I had the chance to witness the wonder that was, and will forever be, Carol Channing.
All photos by Martha Swope/Courtesy of the New York Public Library