Martha Raye

The singer actress comedienne had several monikers one was rather derogatory but she accepted it with grace and “The Big Mouth” was part of her strength in her voice, and charm and appeal to the vast audiences she entertained throughout her years on stage, screen and television.

It was Broadway that her powerful voice got her the notice for Hollywood to tab her for basically throw away parts of obnoxious characters but she would distinguish herself in several movies, which we will get into shortly. 

Born August 17, 1916 in Butte, Montana Margy Reed made it on stage at age 3 as part of her parent’s vaudeville act of song and dance. Soon after her brother and she were and act called “Margie and Bud”. Martha went through life largely illiterate as she failed to finish grade school but it mattered little. After singing on Al Jolson’s radio program Martha made it to the stage and her performance in “Calling All Stars” got her an audition with Paramount and she knocked them out with “Mister Paganini” aka “If You Can’t Sing It, You’ll Have to Swing It” which would end up being her signature song.  By the 1930’s the woman with the enormous smile was spreading her fame worldwide.

This writer first became aware of Martha Raye via Abbott and Costello when she played twins in one of their service movies Keep ‘Em Flying in 1941. (Before the Air Force came into being in 1947) Raye showed off her comedic talents as she matched the pathos of Lou Costello in every one of their scenes together.  Martha began her buildup in films with the Big Broadcast of 1937 and a year later with the same title in 1938. In her first of several service film that accentuated her career it began with 1938’s Give Me a Sailor and then in 1941 with Navy Blues starring opposite the beautiful Ann Sheridan. Margy was headed where she wanted to be most, near the military.  Her critical acclaim followed the A&C film when she starred in the anarchic filled comedy Hellzapoppin’ a film marked by the stars breaking the 4^th wall (talking to the audience) just about every chance they got.  A few years later Martha got her chance to work alongside the comedy genius of Charlie Chaplin in 1947 (directed and written by him) in the dark comedy Monsieur Verdoux about a man who supports his family by marrying rich women and then murdering them. It was nominated for an Oscar for best writing and screenplay.

When Martha took to the small screen she began as a summer replacement to host Sid Caesar and the All Star Revue. In 1954 the name changed to The Martha Raye Show and it ran from that year until 1956 guest starring many Hollywood luminaries of the day.  In the 1960’s she appeared with Red Skelton on his show and in the 70’s and early 80’s on a number of hit shows like Love, American Style, Love Boat, McMillan & Wife (7 episodes) Alice, Murder, She Wrote and playing the part of Boss Witch in the movie Pufnstuf in 1970. 

    

It was in 1942 that support for the military began for young Margy. She requested to go to England to entertain the troops and together with Carol Landis, Kay Francis and Mitzi Gaynor they took their USO road show to North Africa and entertained the fighting boys there. It was the genesis of the film Four Jills in a Jeep in 1942 loosely based on their escapades.  Martha’s stint didn’t end with WWII, as she would take up her mantle again during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She attained honorary ranks with the Marines and the Army and made close friends with the Green Berets. Her help with the wounded in surgical wards and units had people speculating she was a nurse but she came clean, as she had only been a candy striper. The military soon had dubbed her “Colonel Maggie” a nickname she proudly adored. 

In 1991 Martha would as some would contend made the worst marital decision of her life when she took the ring for the 7th and final time to a man she has just met that was over 30 years her junior. The tabloids speculated that Mark Harris married Martha merely for her money and the fact that her only daughter Melody was virtually disinherited lent much credence to that original thought as most of her 3 million dollar estate went to Harris. That same year Martha made headlines when she filed suit against Bette Midler for the film ‘For the Boys” which she claimed was about her life without Martha’s permission. The attempt failed but the year ended on a high note when President Bill Clinton bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her tireless work for the Country’s war effort.

Actually married 8 times (one husband twice) the longest being 9 years to Nick Condos where she had her only child Melody that she had a falling out with.

As her health began to deteriorate Martha lost both her legs and began to show acute signs of Alzheimer’s. A truly sad demise to one of America’s great entertainers who was as some thought the female Bob Hope. She died on October 19, 1994 with a concomitant of maladies accentuated by cardiovascular disease and in the end pneumonia. Martha Raye was buried with full military honors at Fort Bragg, N.C.

As I watched Martha on an episode of What’s My Line aired in 1955 the panelists Bennett Cerf, Dorothy Kilgallen, Arlene Frances and Fred Allen guessed her identity in just moments, as she just couldn’t disguise her voice. As she departed she asked John Daly the emcee to donate her fee to a charity she helped sponsor. Martha Raye deserved a better ending but she gave much to the Armed Services of this Country and for that she will not be forgotten. Martha Raye a true Patriot.