Mary Martin, Broadway Legend
by Ronald L. Davis
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ronald L. DavisEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-04-01
ISBN: 0806139056
Number of pages: 328
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780806139050
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Mary Martin, Broadway Legend
Book Review: Nicely Balanced Biography
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoyed reading this account of Mary Martin's life and career. I am a big fan of her son, Larry Hagman, and in the process of reading everything I could get my hands on about him, became familiar with much of the written source material used here. I was happy to find that there is much more to this book than a compilation of existing work. Davis' use of his interviews with Martin and many who knew her, including her childhood best friend Bessie Mae Sue Ella Yeager, which were part of his SMU Oral History Project, make this volume valuable. Information from personal letters are also used effectively throughout.
One item in particular intrigued me, that Mary had an older brother who died in childhood. I have never read anything of the sort, but if true it explains why Mary's mother, Juanita, became so attached to Larry Hagman. I had always assumed that her strong desire for a son was simple sexism. I'd love to know more - too bad the boy's name, age and cause of death were not included.
I have a few minor complaints. Larry Hagman was married in 1954, not 1955 as reported in this book. Some of the implied time-lines seemed wrong to me, even though specific dates were not given. For example, Mary and Larry made a record together, not "shortly before Larry went into the service," which was after Larry appeared in South Pacific in London with his mother, but over a year before that, while Mary was still in South Pacific in New York.
Overall, I found "Mary Martin, Broadway Legend" to be a fair and balanced account of Martin's life, well written, informative and entertaining. I recommend it to anyone interested in Mary Martin, her family and colleagues, theater history, or a good biography.
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