My parents were huge Eartha Kitt fans and I grew up with her hits; it's hard to capture how risqué and glamourous she was in the staid 50s, now that we have so much more explicit (but not glamorous) performers. Her teasing club act with its double entendres would seem quaint today.
Today's NYT has a great remembrance, mentioning that her career tanked after she criticized the Vietnam War to Lady Bird Johnson on a visit to the White House, and did not revive for decades.
I actually collided with her once backstage at a show. She was so tiny I almost knocked her over, and felt badly. She was wearing a fabulous fur & was very elegant.
Bonnie-ann - yes, she does the definitive version of that song.
Rita - yes, she does, doesn't she? She's such a pleasure to watch.
Duchesse - yes, I remember as a child picking up on the fact that she was considered risqué; I recall watching her as Catwoman while my mother tsk-tsk-ed that she wasn't "wholesome."
Janet - somehow I think she'd like to be remembered as tiny, elegant woman in a fur...
and she sang the original version of "Santa Baby"... i always liked her growly, purring voice.
ReplyDeleteShe always seemed to be having so much fun performing.
ReplyDeleteMy parents were huge Eartha Kitt fans and I grew up with her hits; it's hard to capture how risqué and glamourous she was in the staid 50s, now that we have so much more explicit (but not glamorous) performers. Her teasing club act with its double entendres would seem quaint today.
ReplyDeleteToday's NYT has a great remembrance, mentioning that her career tanked after she criticized the Vietnam War to Lady Bird Johnson on a visit to the White House, and did not revive for decades.
I actually collided with her once backstage at a show. She was so tiny I almost knocked her over, and felt badly. She was wearing a fabulous fur & was very elegant.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Bonnie-ann - yes, she does the definitive version of that song.
ReplyDeleteRita - yes, she does, doesn't she? She's such a pleasure to watch.
Duchesse - yes, I remember as a child picking up on the fact that she was considered risqué; I recall watching her as Catwoman while my mother tsk-tsk-ed that she wasn't "wholesome."
Janet - somehow I think she'd like to be remembered as tiny, elegant woman in a fur...