| CAROL CHANNING |
CAROL CHANNING IS A THEATRICAL INSTITUTION SHE OPENED IN HELLO DOLLY IN 1955 TO SOME OF THE BEST REVIEWS BROADWAY HAD EVER SEEN AND STILL CAROL IS TOURING WITH HELLO DOLLY.WELL IF IT AINT BROKE........ IS THERE A SINGLE PERSON LEFT WHO HASNT SEEN HER AS DOLLY LEVI. SHE IS DOLLY AND DOLLY IS HER. THOUGH MANY OTHERS HAVE PLAYED THE PART INCLUDING ETHEL MERMAN AND PEARL BAILEY IT IS CAROL WHO WILL BE FOREVER DOLLY IN THE PUBLIC'S EYE. SO MUCH SO ITS A WONDER THE TITLE WASNT CHANGED TO HELLO CAROL YEARS AGO. UNBELEIVABLE AS IT MAY SEEM MISS CHANNING HAD A CAREER BOTH BEFORE AND DURING DOLLY. A GRADUATE OF BENNINGTON SHE MADE HER NAME IN GENTLEMAN PREFER BLONDES ON BROADWAY PLAYING ANITA LOOS HEROINE LORELEI. LIKE DOLLY, WHICH WENT TO BARBRA STREISAND,THE MOVIE ROLE WOULD GO TO ANOTHER ACTRESS, MARILYN MONROE. SHE HERSELF HAD A GO AT THE MOVIES AND HER MOVIES INCLUDE THE FIRST TRAVELLING SALESLADY AND THE MUSICAL THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, IN WHICH SHE COMPLETELY STOLE THE FILM FROM JULIE ANDREWS. HER DISTINCTIVE VOICE HAS MADE HER FIRST CHOICE FOR CARTOONS FOR MANY YEARS AND IF THE WORK DRIES UP SHE JUST UPS AND TAKES DOLLY ON THE ROAD AGAIN. NOW IN HER 80'S SHE IS ALMOST UNCHANGED SINCE HER HEYDAY AND ONE IS REMINDED OF THE LINE FROM ALL ABOUT EVE "MISS CHANNING IS AGELESS" NEVER A CONVENTIONAL BEAUTY EVEN IN HER PRIME. SHE IS CERTAINLY MEMORABLE. WEARING HER TRADEMARK BLONDE WIGS, THAT GIVE NYLON A BAD NAME. HER LARGE COW EYES ARE TOPPED OFF WITH FALSE EYELASHES SO LARGE THAT LOVE SCENES REQUIRE HER CO-STARS TO DUCK UNDER THEM IF THEY ARE GOING TO ATTEMPT A KISS. NOT THAT THEY COULD MISS CHANNINGS MOUTH WHICH IS SURELY CAPABLE OF PLAYING A TRUMPET FROM BOTH ENDS. ALL THIS COUPLED WITH A VOICE THAT COULD GIVE A CORNCRAKE A BAD NAME. MAKE HER A CARRICATURIST AND IMPERSONATERS DREAM. IF ONLY FOR HELLO DOLLY! AND SERVICES TO THE NYLON INDUSTRY CAROL YOU HAVE CERTAINLY EARNED YOUR PLACE AT THE QUEENS OF CAMP! |