Carol Channing Deserves the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors!

When you try to talk about yourself, you don't know who you are, or what your like, or what your like
Episode 423 of The Muppet Show with guest star Carol Channing
to other people. And the moment you do it's a formula for yourself, and then you're imitating yourself, and then nobody likes you and they don't know why.
― Carol Channing

Carol Channing is a living legend and deserves to be recognized for her body of work.

Anyone who knows me knows of my love for Carol Channing.
I have been campaigning year after year for
her to achieve the Kennedy Center Honors. I feel that her chances this year are better than ever. Earlier this month, the Kennedy Center announced revisions to the Kennedy Center Honors selection process.

The revisions include the addition of an advisory committee comprised of artists, former Honorees, and Kennedy Center board members as well as expanded solicitation of recommendations from the general public.

You can now submit a recommendation for the Kennedy Center Honors.
As one blog I came across wrote, "
If Carol Channing didn't exist, nobody would have made her up. This singing, dancing, large-mouthed dynamo is one of America's biggest stars Her face and voice are instantly recognized from Maine to Alaska.
Her biggest triumphs have been on the Broadway stage."

I hope this blog will convince you why it should be Carol Channing if you are not already convinced.
 It seems as if my life has been devoted to keeping Carol's name in the spotlight. Lee Roy Reams, who was in Lorelei with Carol as well as the 1977 tour of Hello, Dolly AND directed Carol in her last run as Dolly in 1994 (he also was her last Cornelius Hackl) has this to say about Carol: "Carol Channing's dedication and performance quality has entertained us through many decades. She is a comic genius and deserves this award!!"


And author Carolyn Quinn wrote, "Can you imagine a world without her Dolly from Hello, Dolly, or Muzzy
Van Hossmere from Thoroughly Modern Millie, or Lorelei from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes? I can't, either!
I bet you're smiling just thinking about those Carol Channing roles!"
Since her beloved Harry passed away a year and a half ago, she has maintained a very low profile. And recently her beloved cousin, Richard "Dickie" Long passed away.
The longtime Palm Springs resident was the actress’ cousin. He lived with her and her family while she was growing up.
Long lived with Channing and her parents George and Adelaide (his mother’s sister) in Seattle and San Francisco as a youngster. He was 7 when Channing was born in 1921.
Carol is an only child.

An actress and singer with a style and appearance that are difficult to define, she has been described as “a blonde, wide-eyed, long-legged, husky voiced, scatty personality” — among other things. The daughter of a Christian Science teacher, Channing moved with her family to San Francisco at an early age, and later attended Bennington College in Vermont, where she majored in drama and dance. In 1941 she appeared in Marc Blitzstein’s labor opera No for an Answer, but only for three Sunday nights. In the same year she served as Eve Arden's understudy in Let’s Face It! on Broadway, and had a small part in Proof Through the Night (1942). After playing nightclubs around New York, she returned to San Francisco in 1946 and won a part in the Hollywood revue Lend an Ear.
She became well-known after starring in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1931. The performer, known for her smile and raspy voice, won a Tony Award for Hello, Dolly!
She attended high school in San Francisco and later worked as a model in Los Angeles. She attended prestigious Bennington College in Vermont and majored in drama and dance and supplemented her work by taking parts in nearby Pocono Resort area.

Hello Dolly won ten Tony awards in 1964, including Channing's for best actress in a comedy. Jacqueline Kennedy and her two children made their first public appearance after President John F. Kennedy's death by seeing her perform in Dolly and later visited her backstage. She appeared in the film Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967). Her son is a Pulitizer Prize-nominated finalist cartoonist and she continues to practice her Christian Science religion.
Even Johnny Depp desires to play Carol Channing!

Carol ain't down yet. Thanks to Daniel Nardico, Carol will be appearing at The Ice Palace on August 24th with Justin Bond to reminisce about her life and career. I, for one, can't wait.  I have my tickets. In addition to Carol, Chita Rivera, Lorna Luft and Bridget Everett will also perform on Fire Island this summer as part of the "Icon Series" at the Ice Palace.

Carol's talent is historic.
She MUST be recognized. Certainly she is overdue for this honor! Not many people know that she has also put in place an educational foundation for young people in the arts. There is, in my opinion, no more deserving recipient of this fabulous award than the legendary CAROL CHANNING!

Also her tireless work to keep the arts alive in our public schools should be mentioned.I can think of no one more deserving of this honor. She is a true STAR, unique, intelligent and created the iconic DOLLY.
 Carol Channing has brought joy, laughter and happiness to thousands of people in the world. She is one of the few beloved personalities from the past that is still significant and vital. Simply adorable and certainly a Valuable Golden Thread that's part of the Tapestry of American Musical Theater History ..... a truly unique, original and integral talent!

The Honors are bestowed upon living individuals who have achieved excellence in an artistic discipline — dance, music, theater, opera, television or film. Here is how YOU can help:
Suggest and say WHY you think Carol Channing deserves the Kennedy Center Honor, and please pay it forward! http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/?confirm=1

Also LIKE my page on Facebook with your comments IF you’re on Facebook




https://www.facebook.com CarolChanningDeservesThe2013KennedyCenterHonor


Then sign the petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/the-kennedy-center-honors-give-carol-channing-a-2013-kennedy-center-honor


Don’t forget to forward this to as many people as you know!
Please call me with any questions and/or suggestions!
If you have already signed the petition, please pay this forward…
Richard Skipper 845-365-0720

The story of legendary performer Carol Channing's life is as colorful as the lipstick on her big, bright smile. In CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE, director Dori Berinstein (ShowBusiness, Gotta Dance), with co-writer Adam Zucker, captures the magic and vivacity of the 90-year-old icon – both onstage and off...past and present.
 A pleasant, affectionate tribute to a unique star, Carol Channing: Larger Than Life would seem to have little to recommend it to anyone but die-hard Broadway fans. But there's more than stage talk in Dori Berinstein's documentary: Hiding within it is a remarkable, moving love story.
-The Seattle Times

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My hope is that ALL of you who see this blog will not just read it but will act upon it! Follow through and pay it forward...
Thank you Carol Channing for the gifts you have given to the world and continue to give!

With grateful XOXOXs ,

 


Check out my site celebrating my forthcoming book on Hello, Dolly!
I want this to be a definitive account of Hello, Dolly!  If any of you reading this have appeared in any production of Dolly, I'm interested in speaking with YOU!



If you have anything to add or share, please contact me at Richard@RichardSkipper.com.


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.  FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!





When it comes to the history of Jerry Herman’s brilliant production, beyond the 5000+ performances of my own, even I turn to Richard Skipper when I have questions about the remarkable ladies who followed me in the role that the world fell in love with over 50 years ago.”-Carol Channing

               

Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!


  
Please check out my blog tomorrow night celebrating an event that I am doing at Emmet's Castle in Pearl River, NY: Keeping The Arts in The Lives of Children: A Benefit For Arts Education. Please join me as I serve as Emcee and Auctioneer presented by Blue Rock School...Where Learning Comes Alive!




TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED JUNE!
Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com                            
 

This Blog is dedicated to ALL THE DOLLYS and ANYONE who has EVER had a connection with ANY of them on ANY Level!





Comments

  1. I vote yes! Carol Channing Deserves the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors!

    ReplyDelete

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