10 Things You Don't Know About Larger Than Life Star Carol Channing!

About the author:
Dori Berinstein is both a Tony-winning producer of 11 Broadway shows (including Legally Blonde, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Crucible and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) and a documentary filmmaker whose credits include Gotta Dance. Her newest film, Carol Channing: Larger Than Life, is an affectionate look at one of the greatest Broadway stars of the twentieth century. Berinstein shows the many sides of the Hello, Dolly! icon, still active at age 90, in a film that has won prizes at festivals around the world and is set for theatrical release on January 20 in Los Angeles (and wider release on February 3). Given the amount of time Berinstein spent with Channing, Broadway.com felt sure she could tell us a few secrets about this distinctive musical comedy master—and we weren’t disappointed!
 

I thought I knew a lot about Carol Channing before I began shooting a feature film based on her life. I was wrong. After nearly two years in production, I realized that this phenomenally brilliant, talented and irrepressible legend was even more remarkable off stage. Her giant heart, off-the-charts work ethic and unwaiveringly positive nature are endlessly inspiring. The list below of 10 things you don't know about Carol is only the beginning…

At the Ballet
Carol originally trained as a ballet dancer. At 13, she joined the San Francisco Opera Ballet. She believes the rigorous training and discipline she received there was invaluable in preparing her for a life on stage.

Oops!
During the original run of Hello, Dolly!, Carol fell off the stage into the pit, landing on a tuba player. She managed to crawl back up, yelled “One more time!” and went on with the show. On other occasions—pre- or mid-show—Carol has broken her arm, cracked ribs and sprained her ankle, but those “annoyances” never interfered with her performance. She’d simply decorate her cast with diamonds and take the stage!

Fear Factor
Carol has stage fright…still does. When she first arrived on Broadway, Noel Coward gave her invaluable advice on how to tackle the problem: He told her to imagine “someone who loves you and who you love” in the audience. Carol has done that ever since, and says it works beautifully.

On With the Show
During the national tour of Dolly, Carol was diagnosed, unbeknownst to the cast, crew and audience, with ovarian cancer. Every Sunday afternoon, from wherever she was in America, Carol would travel to New York City for cancer treatment, sleeping on airport benches between flights. She was always back, center stage, for the Tuesday evening performance…never missing a beat.

Bear Necessities
Carol is very proud that the very first “Broadway Bear,” the commemorative teddy bears auctioned to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, was a Carol Channing Hello, Dolly! bear.

Endless Love
In 1934, Carol fell madly in love with an older man, Harry Kullijian, a seventh grader at Aptos Junior High in San Francisco. Carol was in sixth grade. Harry led the band. They were inseparable. Carol and Harry discovered poetry together, watched the Golden Gate Bridge being built and saw as much theater and dance as they possibly could. A few years later, Harry moved away with his family. They didn’t see each other again for 70 years. When they did meet, in 2003, Carol and Harry fell in love again instantaneously. Two weeks later, they were engaged.

Sweet Tooth
On a very strict diet for most of her professional career (due to allergies), Carol would ask members of her beloved Dolly ensemble to sneak her candy bars.

Artistic Inspiration
When Lily Tomlin was growing up in Detroit, she went to see Carol in a touring production of Showgirl. After a performance, Lily waited by the stage door to meet Carol, whom she adored. Carol spent lots of time with Lily and her friends in the theater alley, chatting and telling stories, making a huge impression on the up-and-coming comic genius.

Road Warrior
When Carol toured the country in Hello, Dolly!, she loved staying up all night each week as the costumes, set and props were loaded up for transfer to the next town. She would serve coffee and doughnuts to the crew.

Down-to-Earth Dining
After shooting with Carol and Harry (who died on December 26) for almost two years, I wanted to take them out for a wonderful dinner to celebrate the end of our shooting. I asked that they choose someplace really special to dine…their favorite restaurant. There was no deliberation. Without hesitation, they both said “Subway”! Off we went….