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Hermione Gingold

Was she a gay icon in her time?

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by Anonymousreply 82March 4, 2020 3:39 AM

The only movie I ever saw of hers was "Munster, Go Home".

Not exactly a cinematic masterpiece, but I like it

by Anonymousreply 1December 20, 2015 4:53 PM

Why isn't her photo appearing?

by Anonymousreply 2December 20, 2015 4:55 PM

She should have been in Bewitched.

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by Anonymousreply 3December 20, 2015 4:55 PM

[quote]The only movie I ever saw of hers was "Munster, Go Home".

I can see why you would remember this.

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by Anonymousreply 4December 20, 2015 4:58 PM

She was truly unique and brilliant. Talk about a one-of-a-kind, never-to-be seen-again.

Adore her!

by Anonymousreply 5December 20, 2015 5:07 PM

There is a wonderful variety show called "Almanac" which features her and Billy de Wolfe in some wonderfully funny sketches, also the very camp Cyril Ritchard. "Almanac" is on cd. Here's a song she did on cocaine.

from Wikipedia-

John Murray Anderson's Almanac opened on Broadway on December 10, 1953 at the Imperial Theatre, New York City and closed on June 26, 1954, after 229 performances.The revue was conceived and staged by John Murray Anderson, with sketches directed by Cyril Ritchard, and dances and musical numbers staged by Donald Saddler.The revue starred Harry Belafonte, Hermione Gingold, Polly Bergen, Orson Bean, Tina Louise, Monique van Vooren, and Billy DeWolfe. The songwriting team of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross provided the majority of the songs for the show.[1]

The sketches were written by Jean Kerr, Sumner Lock-Elliot, Arthur Macrae, Herbert Farjeon, Lauri Wylie and Billy K. Wells.

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by Anonymousreply 6December 20, 2015 5:37 PM

Shes a goddess !

by Anonymousreply 7December 20, 2015 5:42 PM

[quote]Here's a song she did on cocaine.

I was stone cold sober, you silly boy!

by Anonymousreply 8December 20, 2015 5:44 PM

Ah yes, I remember her well.

by Anonymousreply 9December 20, 2015 5:44 PM

R8, you silly.

by Anonymousreply 10December 20, 2015 5:50 PM

Hermione Ferdinanda Gingold (9 December 1897 – 24 May 1987) was an English actress known for her sharp-tongued, eccentric persona. She had a strikingly individual voice, drawling and deep, the latter a result of nodes on her vocal chords.

Hermione Gingold was a frequent guest on The Merv Griffin Show in the '70s. She was a hoot with her British humor; very entertaining along the line of Zsa Zsa and Eva Gabor and Pamela Mason. Hermione was a gay icon but of course her appeal was different than others--and she wasn't American and was around long before gays came into their own in society.

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by Anonymousreply 11December 20, 2015 5:59 PM

Hermione found her milieu in revue, in which she played from the 1930s to the 1950s, co-starring several times with Hermione Baddeley. Later she played formidable elderly characters in such films and stage musicals as Gigi (1958), Bell, Book and Candle (1958), The Music Man (1962) and A Little Night Music (1973).

Gingold was a member of the original 1973 Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music in the role of the elderly Mme. Armfeldt, a former courtesan. Clive Barnes wrote of her performance, "Hermione Gingold is immeasurably grande dame as the almost Proustian hostess (I haven't loved her so much since she sang about the Borgia orgies 30 years ago)." When the production transferred to London in 1975 Gingold reprised the role, and later played it in the film version of the musical (1977).

by Anonymousreply 12December 20, 2015 6:02 PM

I adore English Jews.

by Anonymousreply 13December 20, 2015 6:06 PM

Hermione was intelligent, witty and a first-rate raconteur. She was a frequent guest on talk shows at a time when there used to be actual conversation and she was always mesmerizing. There is a story, probably apocryphal, that upon arriving home late one night she found her son in bed with a man. Not skipping a beat, she is alleged to have said to him, " take that man out of your mouth and come kiss your mother." Of course, I like to think it was true. She was, after all, from the theater. Thanks, OP, for starting this thread.

by Anonymousreply 14December 20, 2015 6:14 PM

I met her when I was at a college where she came to perform. I was on the Performing Arts Committee and had to entertain her. She was very nice, but kept spitting tiny bits of sandwich in my face as she spoke.

Years later, I was reviewing resumes at our law firm. On one, the applicant had listed under Special Accomplishments: "Took actress Hermione Gingold to tea at the Ritz." I laughed, but, needless to say, he did not get the job.

by Anonymousreply 15December 20, 2015 6:47 PM

In his review of ALNM, John Simon said "Hermione Gingold continues her career as America's leading fag hag, senior division." She actually loved the quote and referred to it several times, even on the Merv Griffin show.

Sondheim said that after her audition for ALNM, she pulled her wig off to demonstrate she was totally bald underneath. That must have been a sight.

by Anonymousreply 16December 20, 2015 7:23 PM

Watch your phraseology!

by Anonymousreply 17December 20, 2015 8:24 PM

Hey, there should also be this option on this poll: I've never heard of her, but now i would like to learn

by Anonymousreply 18December 20, 2015 8:37 PM

One Grecian urn!

by Anonymousreply 19December 20, 2015 8:39 PM

I've always heard that story about Hermione pulling off her wig for Sondheim at the Night Music audition but I've never heard why she did that. Anyone?

But I find it more questionable to believe she would have had to audition for Sondheim and Night Music. It's like the role was written for her.

by Anonymousreply 20December 20, 2015 8:42 PM

I always get her mixed up with Hermione Baddeley.

by Anonymousreply 21December 20, 2015 9:28 PM

Sondheim and Prince wanted Edith Evans. Gingold also couldn't sing and Sondheim was aware of that. They tried to get her to sing her audition song rather than speak it but she couldn't do it and got the role anyways. She did "I Never Do Anything Twice" in Side by Side and spoke/sang it the same way as "Liasons." I still find it hard to believe that Gingold/Arnfeldt could have made love to Kings when she was younger. Queens, maybe.

by Anonymousreply 22December 20, 2015 9:28 PM

[quote]Hey, there should also be this option on this poll: I've never heard of her, but now i would like to learn

You've never seen "Gigi" or "The Music Man?"

by Anonymousreply 23December 20, 2015 9:37 PM

BALLLLLLLLLLLZAC!

by Anonymousreply 24December 20, 2015 9:45 PM

Saw her 4 times in Night Music and NEVER questioned her being a celebrated courtesan and mistress to royalty. Margaret Hamilton in the national tour, however......just no.....it wasn't her looks so much as her lack of continental charm and je nais se quois......

by Anonymousreply 25December 20, 2015 10:03 PM

"Munster, Go Home", "Gigi", "Garbo Talks", and "The Music Man"!

Four of my very favorite movies as a child and young adult! How could I NOT have known her!

by Anonymousreply 26December 20, 2015 10:36 PM

Was she in the A Little Night Music film?

by Anonymousreply 27December 20, 2015 10:50 PM

She did a great job in The Music Man.

by Anonymousreply 28December 20, 2015 10:57 PM

[quote]I always get her mixed up with Hermione Baddeley.

Try not to.

by Anonymousreply 29December 20, 2015 11:22 PM

It's to Hermione's credit that she was cast in the film of ALNM when the role could have gone to any one of dozens of old-time Hollywood broads, who might have visually been more believable as a celebrated whore.

by Anonymousreply 30December 21, 2015 1:10 AM

R25 I thought Margaret Hamilton was quite good as Mme. Armfeldt.

by Anonymousreply 31December 21, 2015 1:20 AM

She had a brief affair with Sal Mineo.

by Anonymousreply 32December 21, 2015 2:34 AM

Hermoine and Sal Mineo is an odd combination.

by Anonymousreply 33December 21, 2015 7:14 AM

Proof or at least a url, R32. Mineo had affairs with women but they were beautiful women.

by Anonymousreply 34December 21, 2015 7:39 AM

R23, all i remember from 'Gigi' was how stunning Louis Jourdan looked. I saw this movie more than a decade ago, maybe that's why i don't remember Hermione Gingold. That will change, when i rewatch the movie. I was very young when i first saw it.

No, i haven't seen 'The Music Man'.

*blushes

by Anonymousreply 35December 21, 2015 12:14 PM

Hermione Gingold always looked and acted like a guy in drag. Sort of pre-Dame Edna but less feminine.

by Anonymousreply 36December 21, 2015 12:54 PM

[quote]She had a brief affair with Sal Mineo.

Well, that probably would have turned even John Wayne gay.

by Anonymousreply 37December 21, 2015 3:41 PM

r29 Thank you, sister Angela.

by Anonymousreply 38December 21, 2015 6:58 PM

Hermione Baddeley was talented character actress but really just a run-of-the-mill British battle-axe type. Hermione Gingold was truly unique.

by Anonymousreply 39December 21, 2015 9:33 PM

Major fag hag. Check out her male friends on the "This Is Your Life" clip. Let me know if you find any straight guys in the mix.

by Anonymousreply 40December 22, 2015 12:23 AM

Really a man in drag.

by Anonymousreply 41December 22, 2015 12:23 AM

Little-remembered fact that I love: At the 1966 Oscars, Lee Marvin was nominated for Best Actor for "Cat Ballou" and won! His date for the Oscars? HERMIONE GINGOLD! Explain that, if you can...

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by Anonymousreply 42December 22, 2015 5:55 AM

Did she turn Lee gay, too?

by Anonymousreply 43December 22, 2015 6:17 AM

Hermione and Michelle Triola. Poor Lee had really bad luck with women.

by Anonymousreply 44December 22, 2015 8:15 AM

Hermione Gingold IS Evita!

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by Anonymousreply 45December 23, 2015 12:17 PM

[quote]Major fag hag. Check out her male friends on the "This Is Your Life" clip.

Definitely a case of not being surprised. One of them obviously told her.

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by Anonymousreply 46December 23, 2015 2:00 PM

That TIYL clip is so strange....the dates!...you were born in 1897 and in 1908, you...

by Anonymousreply 47December 23, 2015 2:04 PM

[quote]Major fag hag. Check out her male friends on the "This Is Your Life" clip.

"He's now an interior designer in Palm Springs...Mark Alexander!"

by Anonymousreply 48December 23, 2015 2:19 PM

She is also great as the head witch in the film of BELL BOOK AND CANDLE in 1958 -where Kim Novak and Elsa Lanchester are witches too.

by Anonymousreply 49December 23, 2015 2:39 PM

The first play she was ever in had another gay icon in the cast, Ellen Terry.

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by Anonymousreply 50December 23, 2015 2:45 PM

[quote]I've always heard that story about Hermione pulling off her wig for Sondheim at the Night Music audition but I've never heard why she did that. Anyone?

Because Mme. Armfeldt dies at the end of the play, and this is indicated by her slumping into her wheelchair and and turning her head in a way that gently knocks her wig askew. Gingold did indeed have to audition for the part. Even well-known performers are often asked to audition. Casting famous actors on blind faith has a way of coming back to bite producers in the ass.

by Anonymousreply 51December 23, 2015 2:48 PM

[quote] She did "I Never Do Anything Twice" in Side by Side and spoke/sang it the same way as "Liasons."

I saw her in SIDE BY SIDE at the Huntington Hartford in Hollywood and she was magnificent

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by Anonymousreply 52December 23, 2015 2:49 PM

I've always been a little obsessed with her. So grand, so unique. A repeat showed up on cable of one of her appearances on Charlie Rose or something like that, and it was so captivating I kept it on my DVR for a year. No one like her.

by Anonymousreply 53December 23, 2015 2:50 PM

R52, I saw that as well and thought the show was totally stolen by Millicent Martin. It was a great thrill to hear Larry Kert do "Something's Coming".

by Anonymousreply 54December 23, 2015 2:51 PM

[quote] it was so captivating I kept it on my DVR for a year. No one like her.

My friends are arriving! God bless you, my dear!

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by Anonymousreply 55December 23, 2015 3:05 PM

Under this clip @ link someone has written:

"What a lady! She wore that song like a silk shawl."

I love gay men so much.

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by Anonymousreply 56December 23, 2015 3:10 PM

[quote]and thought the show was totally stolen by Millicent Martin.

I had no idea Millicent was known in America...and she's still alive!

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by Anonymousreply 57December 23, 2015 3:13 PM

Martin did several Broadway shows, works on stage and TV in L.A. now.

by Anonymousreply 58December 23, 2015 3:21 PM

[quote]Martin did several Broadway shows, works on stage and TV in L.A. now.

Is this a cue for another thread?

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by Anonymousreply 59December 23, 2015 3:25 PM

Millicent Martin played Daphne's mother on FRASIER.

And did it magnificently, I might add

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by Anonymousreply 60December 23, 2015 3:33 PM

Back to Hermione...In her autobiography she says that on the immigration form where it asks "Do you seek to engage in espionage, sabotage, export control violations, or any other illegal activity while in the United States?" she answered "Sole purpose of visit " Here she grandly chats......

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by Anonymousreply 61December 23, 2015 3:44 PM

Are people still naming their daughters "Hermione?" It seems to be up there with "Prudence."

Now that I'm thinking about it, Ms. Jenner should've chosen it instead of "Caitlyn." "Hermione Jenner" fits her face more.

by Anonymousreply 62December 23, 2015 4:02 PM

Hermione probably made a name comeback to some extent thanks to H Potter

by Anonymousreply 63December 23, 2015 4:09 PM

Hermione, yes..probably.

But Gingold is a last name I've never come across....alas!

by Anonymousreply 64December 23, 2015 4:12 PM

Side by Side by Gingold

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by Anonymousreply 65December 24, 2015 5:05 AM

Funny, I was reading about her and found out she had lived at 405 East 54th Street - then this >>

[quote]Back in the 1960’s and 70’s both buildings had a sly moniker…four-out-of-four and four-out-of-five tenants were perceived to be gay men. With the onset of AIDS and the normal demographic change of the city, over time those “wink wink” numbers no longer reflected the general tenantship of the buildings.

& this, though they don't mention Hermione:

[quote]Celebrity pedigree includes Georgia O’Keefe, Dina Merrill, Tyne Daly, Van Johnson and Eileen Herlie (the late Myrtle Fargate from All My Children). None of which is important, but it certainly is fun.

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by Anonymousreply 66July 7, 2016 5:30 PM

Nice bit of research R66 , Sadly it would seem La Gingold is less known these days than the rest of that mostly antique former residents list.....Father Time and his cruel scythe!

by Anonymousreply 67July 7, 2016 6:43 PM

....

by Anonymousreply 68March 20, 2017 1:26 PM

damn she was an ugly

by Anonymousreply 69December 7, 2019 1:42 PM

I was the only Hermione that mattered.

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by Anonymousreply 70December 7, 2019 2:04 PM

Gingold and Baddeley worked together but hated each other. I would have liked to see the battle of the Hermiones

by Anonymousreply 71December 7, 2019 2:17 PM

She was the Miriam Margolyes of her day.

by Anonymousreply 72December 7, 2019 2:30 PM

I recently learned that Miriam Margolyes played Sue Mengers in Australia... DL has no Australian posters, I guess.

by Anonymousreply 73December 7, 2019 6:37 PM

I've read that Millicent Martin was the first person to sing "Alfie," over the closing credits of the movie in the UK. Is this true?

by Anonymousreply 74December 7, 2019 6:38 PM

There's been no one like her this century.

by Anonymousreply 75December 7, 2019 6:40 PM

Wonderful in Gigi!!

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by Anonymousreply 76December 7, 2019 6:46 PM

Hermione Gingold and Hermione Baddeley toured British music halls together in the years after WW2 as "The Two Hermiones." This culminated in a very famous production of Noel Coward's [italic]Fallen Angels[/italic] starring the two as drunk golf widows, although they didn't get along and stopped speaking to each other by the end of the run.

by Anonymousreply 77December 7, 2019 7:20 PM

[quote]I've read that Millicent Martin was the first person to sing "Alfie," over the closing credits of the movie in the UK. Is this true?

It has better damn well NOT be!

by Anonymousreply 78December 8, 2019 5:06 PM

Cher sang it.

by Anonymousreply 79March 4, 2020 1:39 AM

“Not even figs! Raisins! Aaaaah liasons”

by Anonymousreply 80March 4, 2020 2:05 AM

R66 Think Noel Cowrd lived there too for a while and a publicist by the name of Bud Kalish (sp?) who wanted to introduce me to the Maharani of Cooch Behar. "She would adore you!" 405 East 54th Street was also know as "Boys Town". Used to see Hermione walking around there as well as Garbo and Johnny Carson before he moved to CA.

by Anonymousreply 81March 4, 2020 3:27 AM

Sweetest and Lowest” opened on May 9, 1946 at the Ambassadors Theatre and was the conclusion of the three “Sweet” revues.

“Slings and Arrows” opened on November 17, 1948, at the Comedy Theatre. Hermione was the co-author of the revue.

The piece de resistance came when producers Charles Russell and Lance Hamilton persuaded Hermione Gingold and Hermione Baddley to work together again in a Noel Coward double-bill of his plays “Fumed Oak” and “Fallen Angels.” The two bitter rivals were going to work together again! Hermione Baddeley gladly accepted but Hermione Gingold took a lot more persuading.

As neither would take second billing, programmes were printed with the photos of one Hermione right-side-up and the other upside down, thus sharing 50-50 billing on posters, programmes, etc. etc. as shown.

In September 1948 Charles Russell and Lance Hamilton set up a management company to produce a touring revival of Noel Coward’s prewar hit of “Fallen Angels” as a two hander for Gingold and Baddeley playing a pair of jilted women taking uproarious refuge in drink. Coward was not happy with the idea as it was not to his taste or liking of the cast. The two Hermiones upstaged each other mercilessly, introducing all sorts of business, some of it almost obscene, which held up the action, making Coward furious.

“I’ve never yet in my long experience in the Theatre, seen a more vulgar, silly, unfunny, disgraceful performance,” he wrote in his diary.

He demanded the London opening be cancelled – until Russell pointed out that it would cost him £9,000 to get out of the contract. “Fallen Angels” went on to run for nine months at the Ambassadors Theatre where it was an enormous financial success, much longer than the original version had ever run before. In those days, if a show ran for three months it was a hit! Coward confided in his diary, “LIVID.” But he took the money.

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by Anonymousreply 82March 4, 2020 3:39 AM
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