This Broadway singing giant ("Girl Crazy", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Gypsy") had a brassy, larger-than-life star persona and a uniquely powerful, heart-felt voice and popularized songs by George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin, among others. Merman's belt-it-out rendition of Berlin's "There's No Business Like Show Business" has become the anthem of the entertainment industry. In occasional films from 1930, Merman undeniably brightened a number of features (several of which, like "Anything Goes" 1936, "Call Me Madam" 1953 and "There's No Business Like Show Business" 1954, were full-fledged
Worked as stenographer upon high school graduation
1926
Obtained letter of introduction to producer George White from her employer; White subsequently offered Merman a chorus role which she declined (date approximate)
1927
Signed to 9 year contract by agent Lon Irwin (date approximate)
1928
Signed 6 month contract with Warner Bros.; made film debut in short subject in nonspeaking role (date approximate)
