Martha Raye 1916-1994
When I was a kid, my parents never left me at home when they went “nightclubbing”. And they went often. So there we were in Miami Beach in 1949 in a place called “The Five O’Clock Club” which happened to be owned and operated by none other than the powerhouse known as Martha Raye. She was a beloved funny lady who spent a great deal of her life entertaining the troops both at home and abroad.
Even though I was 5 years old that night in 1949, I distinctly remember dancing with Martha’s daughter who, it turns out, is the same age as I. I guess Martha didn’t leave her at home, either.
Fast forward to 1963 and Chastain Park in Atlanta and a performance of “Wildcat” starring Martha. It’s an outdoor stage and of course the planes flew over and Martha, who was a law unto herself, would look up to the sky, put her hands up as she walked to the footlights and gave the finger to the noise overhead. Of course the audience went wild and cheered her for several minutes. Several times.
Fast forward again to 1978 and the old Harlequin Dinner Theatre in Atlanta and a production of “Everybody Loves Opal” starring Martha. Again she sort of did what she wanted to do and completely disregarded the script. She was famous for that. But we didn’t care, she was a genius comic who could also break your heart.
I’ll never forget when, as Opal and she thought her cat was dead, Martha’s ‘Please, Mr. God’ speech. It is burned into my memory.
Did you know that she is buried at Ft. Bragg in Fayetteville, NC with her beloved troops? She is.
Damn, she was a bright and shining star! Happy Birthday, Girl!
C. Richard C. Wall 2008
Just watch what a divine clown she was
Just watch what a divine clown she was
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