R.I.P.: Carol Channing ("Hello Dolly", etc.)

[erik]

The world of Broadway musicals has lost a giant this morning. Carol Channing, who is remembered tremendously for, among other things, Hello Dolly and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, passed away at the age of 97. More details here:

www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/carol-channing-legendary-broadway-actress-dies-97-n958721

[fabtastique]

there will never be another like her!

[rick]

Erik, thanks for posting this. Yes, she was a larger-than-life personality. I was living in the Palm Springs, CA, area and my Mom needed some beauty supplies so I drove her to a store and I waited in the car. As my Mom was picking up the items she needed/wanted, Carol Channing came up behind her and said, "Oh, those look good. I want some of those!" And then when it was time to check out, Carol kept asking the cashier, "Where do I sign?" My Mom gushed and gushed telling Carol Channing how much she loved her and how she had seen her on stage in "Hello, Dolly!" and in the play "Legends!" with Mary Martin.

Here is The New York Times' obit --


NYT obituary for Carol Channing

[Richard W]

Great story about your mom and Carol, Rick. I've been to Palm Springs twice (a friend lives there) and I always hoped I'd see her out somewhere. Everyone in Palm Springs who had met her out in public said how utterly nice and charming she was, that she never objected to being approached.

As Fabtastique said, there will never be another one like her.

But I have to say, I thought she was going to live forever!