Ethel Merman

This new book contains the most comprehensive bibliography of Ethel Merman's work and materials written on this great American entertainer. She dominated the American musical stage as no other performer has, yet she appeared in only fifteen Broadway productions between 1930 and 1970. The book details the 55-year career encompassing cabaret, vaudeville, recordings, radio, televisions, films and the concert stage.

This reference book presents the facts and some observations about Merman's life and career in an easily accessible format. The first section consists of a narrative biographical essay. A chronology of the major episodes of the Merman story precedes sections devoted to her work in films, the stage, radio and television, and recordings. The largest components of the book, however, is the annotated bibliography which represents the most extensive list of materials on Merman yet published. An index completes the volume.

GEORGE B. BRYAN is a Professor in the Department of Theatre at the University of Vermont and is Director of the Center for Research on Vermont. He is the author of An Ibsen Companion: A Dictionary-Guide to the Life, Works, and Critical Reception of Henrik Ibsen (Greenwood, 1984) and he compiled Stage Lives: A Bibliography and Index to Theatrical Biographies in English (Greenwood, 1985) and Stage Deaths 1850 to 1990: A Guide to International Theatrical Obituaries (2 volumes, Greenwood, 1991). Bryan has published articles in Shakespeare Quarterly, Theatre Studies, Theatre Arts, and Vermont History.