1950 A Day In The Life Of Mary Martin

Article in the June 1950 edition of THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE

The most exciting cue-line in a day in the life of Mary Martin, star of the record-breaking Broadway musical show, South Pacific, is a little 6-word speech she and her husband, Richard Halliday, hear almost every night as they tiptoe up the stairs after driving 45 miles out from the theater in New York to their home in the Connecticut hills overlooking Long Island Sound.  It comes from a little canopied bed and it goes like this: "Is that you, Mommy and Daddy?"  On cue, they gallop in to say good night to their 8-year-old daughter Heller.

Mommy sleeps until noon, and is one of the few healthy persons in this world fully entitled to breakfast in bed.  In over a year Mary Martin has not missed a performance of South Pacific.  She is able to keep her healthy, she says, because her manager-husband "does everything - I don't do a thing but have fun."  After breakfast, she goes over her mail, which averages from 75 to 100 letters per day, answering all personal letters herself, while Dick takes care of business matters.  On good days, Mary and Heller take a walk on the 6-acre lawn with their 3 miniature French poodles, then Mary helps Heller with her ballet steps.  

Once a week Mary takes a voice lesson from Mrs. Helen F. Cahoon, who comes from Mary's home town, Weatherford, Texas, and has been giving her lessons since Mary was 12 years old.  Mary does her own nails and toes, but it's her hair that really gets her attention.  She washes it once at home before the show to bring out the curls, once during the show for the famous song, "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," and once after the show to get the soap out.

At 5:45 P.M. on the dot dinner is served, and at 6:15 there's a frenzied farewell at the door to Heller and the dogs, and the hour and 15 minute drive into town.  Then comes the show, in which Mary sings 6 numbers and is off stage only about 20 minutes during the 2 1/2 hour performance.  After the curtain, she greets admirers in her dressing-room.  Finally, comes a postmidnight snack, and the drive home to Heller.                  -Wayne Amos-