Pearl Bailey “took the whole musical in her hands and swung it around her neck as easily as if it were a feather boa.”

Look at the Old Girl Now, Fellas!

In 1967, Pearl Bailey appeared in an all-Black Hello, Dolly! It was a sensation, smashing preconceptions, showcasing civil rights, and announcing a new era on Broadway

By John Mauceri

On an afternoon in June 1966, the Broadway star Pearl Bailey ran into the theatrical producer David Merrick at a videotaping of the popular game show What’s My Line?

Bailey needed a boost. She had made her Broadway debut in the 1946 Harold Arlen–Johnny Mercer musical, St. Louis Woman, which had brought her fame and a Donaldson Award for best newcomer, but a number of flops had followed, including the 1954 Harold Arlen–Truman Capote musical, House of Flowers, which closed after only 165 performances.