This is a rare double-weight 8" X 10" inch press photograph of Broadway Musical Theatre legend ETHEL MERMAN used to promote her appearance at the historic R.K.O. KEITH PALACE THEATRE in New York City beginning April 23rd, 1932 ..... The Palace Theatre, located at 1564 Broadway (at 47th) in midtown-Manhattan opened March 24th, 1913 and until 1929, attained legendary status among vaudeville performers as the flagship of the monopolistic Keith-Albee organization, and the most desired booking in the country. To "Play the Palace" meant that an entertainer had reached the pinnacle of his vaudeville career. Performer Jack Haley wrote: Only a vaudevillian who has trod its stage can really tell you about it ... only a performer can describe the anxieties, the joys, the anticipation, and the exultation of a week's engagement at the Palace. The walk through the iron gate on 47th Street through the courtyard to the stage door, was the cum laude walk to a show business diploma. A feeling of ecstasy came with the knowledge that this was the Palace, the epitome of the more than 15,000 vaudeville theaters in America, and the realization that you have been selected to play it. Of all the thousands upon thousands of vaudeville performers in the business, you are there. This was a dream fulfilled; this was the pinnacle of variety success. (Wikipedia) ..... Born in the Astoria section of Queens, New York City, ETHEL MERMAN (1908 - 1984) was surely the preeminent star of  'Broadway' musical comedy for much of the 20th century. Though untrained in singing, she could belt out a song like quite no one else, and was sought after by major songwriters such as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. Having debuted in 1930 in "Girl Crazy," she followed with "George White's Scandals" (1931), "Take a Chance" (1932), "Anything Goes" (1934), "Red, Hot and Blue" (1936), "Stars In Your Eyes" (1939), "Du Barry Was a Lady" (1939), "Panama Hattie" (1940), "Something For the Boys" (1943), "Annie Get Your Gun" (1946), "Call Me Madam" (1950), "Happy Hunting" (1956) and "Gypsy" (1959). Merman finished her Broadway career starring as "Dolly Gallagher Levi" in "Hello, Dolly!" (1970), the role she declined to accept when it was offered to her by Jerry Herman in the early 1960's. Many of Merman's starring roles were adapted to the silver screen. Among these film versions, Merman herself starred in "Anything Goes" (1936) and "Call Me Madam" (1953). That wonderfully boisterous blonde, Betty Hutton, had the Merman lead in both "Red, Hot and Blue" (1949) and "Annie Get Your Gun" (1950). Other Merman screen stand-ins included Lucille Ball in "Du Barry Was a Lady" (1943), Ann Sothern in "Panama Hattie" (1942), Vivian Blaine in "Something for the Boys" (1944) and Rosalind Russell in "Gypsy" (1962) ..... DETAILS: This rare Culver Pictures, Inc. double-weight press photo measures 8" X 10" inches and includes the photographer's (De Mirjian) embossed logo in the lower right corner. JOHN de MIRJIAN (July 4th, 1896 – September 24th, 1928) was an Armenian American glamour photographer in New York City; his studio was at 1595 Broadway. His fame began in 1922 and ended when he was killed in a car accident in New York in 1928; he was driving a Peerless roadster on the Jericho Turnpike in Long Island at 70 miles per hour, accompanied by the Broadway actress Gloria Christy, when he lost control and the vehicle left the road. He published most of his work in the magazines Art Lovers and Artists and Models. His brother Arto continued the photographic business until 1950. (Wikipedia) ..... CONDITION: With the exception of two spots on the right side and minor edge wear, this rare photo is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.