The 87-year-old Broadway star fell last week and fractured her hip and femur. She had to undergo surgery and her doctor said absolutely NO concerts, so the San Francisco fundraisers were cancelled. Ms. Channing has been known to go on stage with a broken rib, arm, fresh stitches, etc. This is the first time she's cancelled shows in 70 years. She is a firm believer that "the show must go on".
Tonight's event was:
"The concert was to be the official kick-off event for HELLO, CAROL! A Celebration of Carol Channing, the first major retrospective exhibition ever mounted on the life and work of this Broadway and Hollywood legend, as well as the official launch of a major fundraising and public awareness campaign by the Dr. Carol Channing & Harry Kullijian Foundation for the Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving arts education in California schools (drchanningfoundation.org). The exhibition is still scheduled to run at the Museum of Performance & Design beginning Friday, September 26, 2008 and running through March 14, 2009." (- from BroadwayWorld.com).
Rhiannon is a very big Carol Channing fan and of course made her a get well soon card immediately. We were lucky to see Ms. Channing and her husband at a fundraising event for their foundation at Sonoma State University a couple of years ago. She's still got a personality about 100 times bigger than her body... and that giant smile.
Carol Channing was in the news earlier this year when the dress you see pictured here was stolen from her hotel room. It was, obviously, recovered and will be on display at the Museum of Performance and Design, but I don't know the details about the recovery.
I found an old magazine on ebay with Carol Channing on the cover promoting Hello Dolly and was able to have it autographed for Rhiannon. She also has an autographed photo of Carol Channing prominently displayed in her room. We're certainly hoping for a full, speedy recovery for this amazing entertainer.
Carol is a very impressive star. Her performances leave one wanting more.
Chris she is one of my favorite of all time! I love the clip from Thoroughly Modern Milli Raspberries!! as she used to say! The original Dolly Levy! Sorry she cancelled and hope she gets well
Chris, I know you're both disappointed, I would be as well....she's one very special lady and I was sorry to hear what happened to her. Hopefully she will recover soon and you'll catch her next show--how nice that your daughter loves her as well!
Chris, I'm sorry to hear that you won't get to see Carol and that she won't be able to perform. The first time in 70 years I expect she is feeling a little bummed.
First, I hope she recovers quickly. She is truly a gem of the stage, movies, and TV. Second, sorry you guys didn't get to see her this time around.
Chris, sorry to missed seeing her and that she is ill. You would have enjoyed the performance. She's bigger than life! Good thought to Carol and her speedy recovery!
Chris,
What a disappointment this must have been. I know the feeling when your looking forward to a great concert or night out on the town and then it fizzles. What a BUMMER! Hope Carol has a speedy recovery and returns to the stage soon! What an icon she is! She has done many character voices for animated movies as well. Has Rhiannon seen the animated movie Thumbelina?
Danny - She is quite impressive. She's a funny lady.
Fernando - She is one of Rhiannon's favorites as well. Rhiannon actually discovered her in Thoroughly Modern Millie and has moved on to watch anything/everything we can find with her in it.
Carole - I can't imagine how disappointed SHE is, having never cancelled a show. Must feel very scary. I hope she recovers quickly.
Marchel - I agree, she must feel pretty sad about it.
Rich - She is a true gem. We're lucky that she lives near us, so if I pay enough attention to her schedule we'll get to see her again when she's feeling better.
Jeanean - She really is bigger than life. All that amazing personality coming out of that tiny person! It's wonderful to watch.
Michelle - Yes, it is a bummer, and I feel bad for her. Rhiannon does have Thumbelina, and also one that I loved & never realized was Carol Channing, Shinbone Alley. She's done so much work over the years!
She certainly is an amazing woman. Rhiannon must be an extremely creative child. She has to be...just look at her mommy. GBU!
Thank you Elizabeth, she is. Much more creative than I am. I'm just very grateful she doesn't ONLY like Hannah Montana, so I encouge all other interests. : )
Chris ... how cool is it that you have met Carol Channing and got her autograph! I can't believe she is still going strong at 87. I had no idea. God bless her and her recovery. With the sad news about Paul Newman, I hope Ms Channing does well.
Sharon - I am very sad about Paul Newman, what a man he was. I hope Carol Channing recovers, quickly.
Wow! That's an amazing story about Carol Channing. I hope she has a full recovery.
Lizette - I hope so too. She is an amazing woman and a huge part of American Theater.
Dated Friday, 10/3/08:
On November 15th, Carol Channing will make her first appearance in public after fracturing her femur and hip. Carol Channing had an accident last week, fracturing her Femur and hip. She is currently undergoing four weeks of extensive therapy after her surgery. Although she has had to cancel numerous engagements from GA to CA through out the end of the year, Miss Channing has decided that she will be on hand for the Celebration of Caring 2008 (benefiting Actors & Other for Animals) TOAST with panelists to date including Betty White, Dick Van Dyke, Tippi Hedren, Carole Cook, Bruce Vilanch, host/emcee JoAnne Worley and more. Chris