Madeline Kahn
Authors: William V. Madison
MADELINE KAHN
“Madeline Kahn is remembered for her roles in
Blazing Saddles, Paper Moon
, and
Young Frankenstein
, and in his groundbreaking and definitive new biography, William V. Madison captures the complex and rich life of an artist striving for more in the glamorous, hard-knocks world of show business. Madison proves a gifted and sensitive biographer, and
Madeline Kahn: Being the Music
is an addictive read. A riveting and unforgettable portrait.”
— CHRISTINA HAAG
actress and
New York Times
bestselling author of
Come to the Edge: A Love Story
“Despite the great brio of her iconic comic roles, there was always something poignant and enigmatic about Madeline Kahn. In his wonderfully researched and sensitive biography, William V. Madison examines the threads that made her so fascinating and gives her a well-deserved place in the history of great comic actresses.”
— CHARLES BUSCH
actor and playwright,
The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife
and
The Divine Sister
“With the devotion of an ardent fan and the astute thoroughness of a scholar, William V. Madison charts the star-crossed life and career of one of the greatest comedic actresses of the twentieth century. This is a marvelous book that I will love reading again and again.”
— WENDY LAWLESS
New York Times
bestselling author of
Chanel Bonfire
“A lot of us have been waiting a long, long time to find out the real story of this precious, unique talent who left us far too soon. William Madison’s biography of Madeline Kahn comes as a kind of gift. With great sensitivity, he captures the poignancy and the humor that went hand-in-hand in creating one of the great comic personas of the late twentieth century.”
— ERIC MYERS
author of
Uncle Mame: The Life of Patrick Dennis
“Madeline Kahn balked at attempts to biographize her in her lifetime, so she might not even read William V. Madison’s haunting new book were she alive today. But for everyone else who followed her career, and for everyone who found her an enigmatic delight on stages and screens, the book is a resonant must-read, evoking its subject and the golden age of theater and film in which she lived. Madison manages to combine scholarship, a critical eye, and just enough gossip to make this a book worthy of its subject—appropriately entertaining and profoundly incisive at the same time.”
— TOM SHALES
Pulitzer Prize–winning television critic
“A fine biography, worthy of Madeline’s unique talent and contribution.”
— ROBERT KLEIN
New Faces of 1968, The Sisters Rosensweig
, and
Mixed Nuts
“Madeline Kahn is the best comic or best dramatic actress, the best singer—serious or comic—and the best I’ve worked with, or known in my life.”
— GENE WILDER
Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein
, and
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother
“Madeline was bright, committed, thoughtful, and one of the most remarkable actresses I have ever worked with. Her work was character driven, not just for laughs, which made her unique on stage and on film. William V. Madison’s biography captures Madeline’s complexity and finely documents her career and personal life.”
—JANE ALEXANDER
actress, author, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, and wildlife conservationist
“Bids to become the surprise biography of the year. A great untold story intriguingly revealed. Superbly researched, digs deep into the life and times of its subject and captures her essence. Madison also expertly weaves in one sensitive analysis after another of what has happened to acting and actors; to American film, theater, television, and comedy the last half-century plus—and why.”
— DAN RATHER
journalist and author
MADELINE KAHN
KAHN
BEING THE MUSIC • A LIFE
WILLIAM V. MADISON
Designed by Peter D. Halverson
The University Press of Mississippi is a member of the Association of
American University Presses.
Copyright © 2015 by William V. Madison
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
First printing 2015
∞
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Madison, William V.
Madeline Kahn : being the music, a life / William V. Madison.
pages cm. — (Hollywood legends series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-61703-761-0 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-61703-762-7
(ebook) 1. Kahn, Madeline. 2. Actors—United States—Biography. I. Title.
PN2287.K15M34 2015
791.4302′8092—dc23
[B]
2014042232
British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data available
2. A Shoeshine and a Smile: Bernie Wolfson
3. The Manumit School (1948–53)
4. Life with Stepfather: Hiller Kahn (1949–58)
6. The Graduate: Green Mansions (1964) and Upstairs at the Downstairs (1965–66)
7. Pink-Slipped:
How Now, Dow Jones
(1967)
8. We’ve Never Seen You:
New Faces of 1968
9. Cigars and Lavaliers:
De Düva
and
Candide
(1968)
10. Only Make-Believe:
Promenade
and
Show Boat
(1969)
11. “Educated Shrieks”:
La Bohème
(1970)
12. The City Slickers’ Goodtime Hour:
Comedy Tonight
(1970)
13. The Man Who Came to Dinner:
Two by Two
(1970–71)
14.
The
Eunice Burns:
What’s Up, Doc?
(1972)
15. Bon Voyage: Missing
Candide
(1971)
16. Honky-Tonk Parade:
Paper Moon
(1973)
17. Gooch’s Lament:
Mame
and Other Curiosities (1972–73)
18. It’s Twue:
Blazing Saddles
(1973–74)
19. The Half-Vision of What I Might Be:
Boom Boom Room
(1973)
20. Sweet Mystery:
Young Frankenstein
(1974)
21. Down in the Dumps in the Hollywood Hills:
At Long Last Love
(1975)
22. If You Loved as I Do:
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother
(1975)
23. What a Dog:
Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood
(1976)
24. Live from New York:
Saturday Night Live
(1976)
25. So Glad We Had This Time Together:
The Carol Burnett Show
(1976)
26. Prelude to a Train Wreck:
Marco Polo Sings a Solo
and
She Loves Me
(1977)
28. Dames in Distress, Pigs in Space:
High Anxiety, The Cheap Detective
, and the Muppets (1977–78)
29. Train Wreck:
On the Twentieth Century
(1978)
30. Annus Horribilis:
Simon
;
Happy Birthday, Gemini
;
Wholly Moses!
; and
First Family
(1980)
31. It’s Good to Be Somebody’s Mother:
A Little Off-Broadway
and
History of the World, Part I
(1980–81)
32. Slipshod:
Slapstick (Of Another Kind)
(1982–84)
33. The Safe Place: Santa Fe (1982–83)
34. Madness and Mourning:
Yellowbeard
(1983)
35. Breaking into Television:
Scrambled Feet
(1983)
36. A Banana Boat to Nicaragua:
Oh Madeline
(1983–84)
37. Aftermath:
City Heat
, Ludlam, and Beyond (1984–85)
38. The Black Widow:
Clue
(1985)
39. You’d Be Surprised:
Chameleon
(1986), “Wanted: The Perfect Guy” (1987), and
Mr. President
(1987–88)
40. Back to Broadway:
Born Yesterday
(1988–89)
41. At First Glance: John Hansbury
42. The Trouble with Auteurs:
Betsy’s Wedding
(1990) and
Shadows and Fog
(1992)
44. Calling on Dolly:
Hello, Dolly!
(1992)
45. Simply Gorgeous:
The Sisters Rosensweig
(1992–93)