Ethel Merman

The slapdash way producers used to assemble a show seems a little unbelievable when we talk about them now. ”

Who's happy these days? ”

Broadway has been very good to me. But then, I've been very good to broadway. ”

Of my four marriages, the one to Bob Levitt is the only one I don't regret. ”

I've made a wonderful living playing that theatrical character - the professional brassy dame. ”

Mom and Pop were proud of my popularity, but from their point of view, show business was no way to make a living. ”

When I'm asked how to succeed in show business, I always say I haven't the foggiest. ”

I wouldn't trust any man as far as you can throw a piano. ”

My father taught me to read music and play the piano-but not well, even though people have said that I'm a natural musician. ”

At one time I smoked, but in 1959 I couldn't think of anything else to give up for Lent so I stopped - and I haven't had a cigarette since. ”