B.S.: Rita Moreno and who else?

Subject: B.S.: Rita Moreno and who else?
From: Peter T.
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 02:57 PM

Rick F. mentioned that Rita Moreno was the first actress to win the Tony, Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy. Prompted a brief search, but with spotty results. Among the men -- Marvin Hamlisch (!!!!!) Barbra also won all 4. Any others come to mind? (Audrey Hepburn won three, Oscar, Tony, and Grammy -- there was a surprise). yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: B.S.: Rita Moreno and who else?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 04:05 PM

According to the Internet Movie Data Base:

Rita is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first performer to win an Oscar, a Tony, an Emmy and a Grammy.

Rita Moreno made a guest appearance on "Father Knows Best" as an exchange student from India who attends school with Betty. Bud teaches her how to play football.

Appeared in the pilot for the TV series "Empty Nest", which was an episode of "The Golden Girls". The premise was changed in the final version of "Empty Nest", in which she did not appear.

Rita Moreno was not the first person to win a Grammy, an Oscar, a Tony, and an Emmy, despite what the Guinness Book may say. Barbra Streisand won all 4 by 1970 (though the Tony was a non-competitive award for Star of the Decade), and Helen Hayes won all 4 by 1976 (the last being a Grammy for her recording of the Bill of Rights). Rita did not win her Emmy until 1977.

So apparantly Rita was the third person so honored. The piece doesn't mention who the first man (if any) may have been but he'd have had to be fourth at best.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: B.S.: Rita Moreno and who else?
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 04:27 PM

Can't even say her name without thinking of one of Carlin's routines where he refers to worshipping at the "Church of St. Rita Moreno."

And PT, I can't see why you're surprised with Audrey Hepburn. I mean, I know you're a big fan and have often waxed poetic about "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

Spaw

Subject: RE: B.S.: Rita Moreno and who else?
From: Peter T.
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 04:34 PM

Given that Audrey had been dubbed for "My Fair Lady" (against her wishes), I couldn't figure out what she won a Grammy for -- turns out to be a record of her reading to children. On the other hand, Henry Mancini is on record as saying that he preferred her singing of the song to anyone else. The less said about the rest of Porridge at Tiffany's the better.
I wonder if any other men have won them all -- I wonder how many Joel Grey won for Cabaret (one of those crossovers). yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: B.S.: Rita Moreno and who else?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 11:47 PM

Peter, I found out something interesting today (FROM THE LADY HERSELF!!)*

Only one of her songs was dubbed in the movie of West Side Story......"A boy like that" cuz, she couldn't hit the high note.

* well, from an interview with her in the Star actually

Subject: RE: B.S.: Rita Moreno and who else?
From: Peter T.
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 10:30 AM

I knew from somewhere that she had been dubbed -- glad to hear it was only partly.

The song, duh, Moon River.

Only Rick Fielding could tell us what guitar she was playing in Breakfast at Tiffany's.


yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: B.S.: Rita Moreno and who else?
From: JJ
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 06:44 PM

How about Liza Minnelli?

Tonys for FLORA THE RED MENACE, THE ACT
Oscar for CABARET
Emmy for LISA WITH A Z
Grammy is a honorary one, alas