Quotes By Ethel Merman

I have plenty of invitations to go places, lots to do. If I'm not working, I go to have my hair taken care of and work at needlepoint.

If I feel in need of sleep, I just open a book or turn on the television. Both are better than any sleeping pill.

At a flea market I always head for the junk jewelry table first.

I Got Rhythm really put me on the map.

Once I had all the attention, all I had to do was deliver.

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.

I have been ambitious to be a somebody from the time I was 5 years old.

I wasn't straining at the bit to become a movie star any more than I had plotted to get out of vaudeville and into Broadway musicals.

Any audience that gets a laugh out of me gets it while I'm facing them.

I've never cooked. I can't do much more in the kitchen than make a cup of tea and some toast.

I don't like to read. The only things I read are gossip columns. If someone gives me a book, it had better have lots of pictures.

Christmas carols always brought tears to my eyes. I also cry at weddings. I should have cried at a couple of my own.

You gotta have a gimmick.

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

Cole Porter had a worldwide reputation as a sophisticate and hedonist.

I attend surprisingly few shows. The type of theater that is popular today just doesn't appeal to me.

I'll pat myself on the back and admit I have talent. Beyond that, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Everything's coming up roses - for me.

I preferred delivering my performance in person. I liked to be in control. You couldn't be in films.

Music, in the past few years... anything singable or understandable is square.