The star of many classic stage musicals - including South Pacific, The Sound Of
Music and Hello Dolly - Mary Martin was one of the best-loved American actresses
and singers. The daughter of a lawyer and a violin teacher from Texas, Martin
displayed her musical talents early in a trio of schoolgirls who sang on the
bandstand with the local town band. Copying the singing technique of Bing Crosby
and the dancing style of Ruby Keeler, she went to dance and theatre school in
California and, after accidentally stumbling into an audition, was hired to sing
at theatres in San Francisco a...