Carol Channing has been in our hearts for decades. The recipient of three Tony Awards will always be remembered for her role in Hello, Dolly. The voice of Channing continues to delight as she spoke Nunn on One.
Windy City Times: Hello, Carol.
Carol Channing: Jerry Nunn, how are you?
WCT: Great. It is surreal to hear you speak my name with that voice. I heard you were busy last week.
Carol Channing: I was doing a benefit in San Francisco for AIDS. I feel deeply about it. I was exhausted by the time we got through doing it. It was a huge auditorium.
WCT: Wow.
Carol Channing: We had just come from Los Angeles and Denver. Oh, and New York before that. I did 23 interviews in three days. So I was tired.
WCT: Well, I don't blame you one bit. It is an honor to talk to you.
Carol Channing: You are in Chicago. I played there years at a time. I was at the Chicago Opera House and packed them in. The Shubert Theatre also with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Hello, Dolly. Do you know if the Drury Lane Theatre is still there?
WCT: Yes. It is still there and has now acquired by Broadway in Chicago, calling it the Broadway Playhouse and doing several new shows there.
Carol Channing: Good. Well, I did, too, with my one-woman show. I loved it.
WCT: We need to get you back here.
Carol Channing: [ Laughs ] Oh, I would love that but I am so hot and heavy trying to get the arts in public schools that I have no time.
WCT: Yes, how is that project going?
Carol Channing: Let me get my husband, Harry, on the phone to tell you about it.
Harry Kullijian: Hello, Jerry. Several years ago Carol was giving scholarships around the state of California. Out of that she was lecturing and teaching in the area. A congresswoman contacted us and is passing a bill for arts and education. We are putting on a telethon to support it starting September of next year, calling it the "Channing National Coalition for the Arts."
Carol Channing: It is a real emergency we have got to get arts back into public schools. Nobody realizes how it important it is.
WCT: You are still making albums, like For Heaven's Sake.
Carol Channing: Those are songs that my father taught me. He was born in Augusta, Ga. He lived to a ripe old age and now I have as well. So these are practically two hundred year old songs and some are older than that. This is American music and the last chance to hear of it.
WCT: Was your father African-American?
Carol Channing: I don't know that at all. My mother said that, but I don't know if it is true or not. Someone told me that way back he had African blood. He seemed as white as I am. I look just like him. If I am African-American I would be proud to say so.
WCT: People want to know how old are you now.
Carol Channing: In three more months I will be 90 years old.
WCT: My birthday is the 16th.
Carol Channing: Mine is Jan. 31st.
WCT: Are you working on a patriotic CD?
Carol Channing: Yes, I am but it is not out yet.
WCT: You have such a huge gay following.
Carol Channing: Oh, I am your queen. I was made queen in the 50s. They say there wasn't a blonde wig left in San Francisco. Everyone came dressed as me. I thought it was a great tribute. I was very touched.
WCT: Does it bother you when people do impersonations of you?
Carol Channing: No, it doesn't bother me. I used to work with George Burns after Gracie died. He just thought that the impersonations were wonderful, that they had me down to a "T."
WCT: People love to do the voice.
Carol Channing: I am proud of that. When I first appeared on Broadway, I did about 10 shows. I have never stopped working after all this time.
WCT: What is your secret for working so long?
Carol Channing: I don't know. I feel fine.
WCT: You received a Lifetime Achievement Award for the Tonys.
Carol Channing: Yes, I did. It was amazing.
WCT: I heard Dolly Parton might play your role in Hello, Dolly. What do you think about that?
Carol Channing: I think everyone should play Dolly. I think she would be wonderful. She is a friend so I think a lot of her.
WCT: Well, it's time to say goodbye, Dolly. Thanks for talking with me today.
Carol Channing: Thank you.
For more information about Ms. Channing visit www.carolchanning.org .
