Raspberries!

For over seven decades, Carol Channing has delighted audiences with her bubbly personality and unique voice to become one of the most beloved entertainers of all time.

In 1949, the musical “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” opened on Broadway featuring Carol Channing as Lorelei, the role that would shape her career for the rest of her life.

Who can forget her Oscar nominated performance as “Jazz Baby” Muzzy Van Hossmere in the film Thoroughly Modern Millie? Or her role as Dolly Levi in the stage version of Hello Dolly and her countless television appearances.

Today we’re delighted to talk to Carol Channing about her upcoming performance at “Help is on the Way,” Northern California’s largest annual AIDS benefit concert in San Francisco on Aug 15th at the Herbst Theater.

Listen as we chat with Carol Channing about fighting for arts education in public schools through her charity, Channing Arts, why everyone loves to imitate her, especially drag queens, the Carol Channing Ventriloquist doll, and which President had her on his enemies list.

Plus questions from you, the listeners and even one from Tony Award winning playwright Terrence McNally.

Featured Music:
Carol Channing – For Heaven’s Sake: iTunes

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Peaches Christ talks about films originally made for women, but that have taken on a life of their own as camp classics for gay men in “Chick Flicks for Gay Men” .

Here’s a clip from the 1953 film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” where Jane Russell’s character is on a cruise ship surrounded by the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team. For for some reason this all male scantily clad group is not attracted to poor Jane at all. Could it be that they are all gay? Well, all the butt shaking routines choreographed by Jack Cole could certainly suggests exactly that.

Jack Cole was one of Hollywood’s great gay choreographers and is noted for creating “theater dance.” Cole’s unmistakable style influenced the work of people like Bob Fosse and Tommy Tune and countless other directors of music videos, theater and film. I wonder how many drag queens in the world today owe their style of performance to this great man?

From his biography, he was said to be a demanding and relentless taskmaster in his pursuit of dance excellence. Check it out for yourself.

Unsung Genius: The Passion of Dancer-Choreographer Jack Cole
by Glenn Loney
Get it on: Amazon