Mitzi Gaynor
Performer
About This Interview
In her two-hour-plus Archive interview, performer Mitzi Gaynor talks about her early interest in dance and music. She recalls joining the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Company, getting signed by 20th Century Fox, and appearing in several hit films, including "My Blue Heaven" with Betty Grable, "Anything Goes" with Bing Crosby, and "Les Girls" with Gene Kelly. Gaynor also describes how she was cast as "Nellie Forbush" in the classic movie musical, "South Pacific." She recounts her memorable performances on several Academy Award broadcasts, including singing "Georgy Girl" on The 1967 Academy Awards - the most heralded performance on an Oscar broadcast. She then details her many television specials, commenting on choreographers Peter Gennaro and Tony Charmoli, costume designer Bob Mackie, and her husband/producer Jack Bean. She talks of her recent Emmy-winning PBS special, Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years, and speaks fondly of her current managers, Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda. She describes her current projects, what it's like to still be on tour, and how show business and television have changed over the years. John Dalton conducted the interview on October 9, 2012 in Beverly Hills, CA.
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Video: Watch Mitzi Gaynor sing "Georgy Girl" on the 1967 Academy Awards:
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Highlights
Mitzi Gaynor on "South Pacific"
Clip begins at: 29:16, Duration: 04m 00s- Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the same night The Beatles were on
Clip begins at: 39:32, Duration: 05m 47s - Mitzi Gaynor on singing "Georgy Girl" on The 1967 Academy Awards - the most heralded performance on an Oscar broadcast
Clip begins at: 52:38, Duration: 05m 26s 
Mitzi Gaynor on performing "I Can Cook, Too" on her television special Mitzi ... A Tribute to an American Housewife
Clip begins at: 27:34, Duration: 02m 26s- Mitzi Gaynor on becoming a journalist for The Hollywood Reporter
Clip begins at: 51:02, Duration: 01m 22s
Interview
- Part 1
- On her early years and influences; on her interest in dance and music; on joining the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Company
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On getting signed by 20th Century Fox; on the film "My Blue Heaven" with Betty Grable
Clip begins at: 10:42 - On her first time on television and her name change; on the 1954 Academy Awards; on co-starring with Ethel Merman and Marilyn Monroe in "There's No Business Like Show Business"
Clip begins at: 15:48 - On her husband, Jack Bean; on working with Bing Crosby in "Anything Goes", with Gene Kelly in "Les Girls" and with Frank Sinatra on his variety show
Clip begins at: 22:40 - On "South Pacific"; on appearing on The Jack Benny Hour; on singing "There's No Business Like Show Business" on the 1961 Academy Awards
Clip begins at: 29:16 - On her show in Las Vegas; on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the same night The Beatles were on
Clip begins at: 36:15 - On appearing on The Danny Thomas Show and meeting costume designers Bob Mackie and Ray Aghayan; on appearing on the 1967 Christmas episode of The Kraft Music Hall
Clip begins at: 48:47 - On singing "Georgy Girl" on The 1967 Academy Awards - the most heralded performance on an Oscar broadcast
Clip begins at: 52:38 - Part 2
- On her first television special, Mitzi, in 1968; on her character, "The Kid" and working with directors, choreographers, and costume designer Bob Mackie
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On not doing a television series, only specials; on her yearly television specials
Clip begins at: 20:15 - On traveling for performances; on her fans' favorite sketches; on why her television specials ended
Clip begins at: 45:05 - On appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; on appearing in the stage version of "Anything Goes"; on becoming a journalist for The Hollywood Reporter; on her Emmy-winning PBS special, Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years and her managers
Clip begins at: 48:32 - Part 3
- On her current projects and touring; on how show business and television have changed over the years
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On celebrity, career highlights, advice to aspiring performers, and how she'd like to be remembered
Clip begins at: 04:03
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She already said her mother's name!
Gig Young :)
I just love her in For Love or Money with Kirk Douglas and Gig yound she is awesome :)
just saw There's No Business like Show Business on TCM and she looks exacxtly the same as when she was in that movie in the fifties a very entertaining lady
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