Mary Martin

Never in a million years did I think I'd ever agree with Cal Thomas, but I certainly agree with him abut having the IRS investigate every ministry that raises large amounts of money on TV. There have been abuses there for many many years. MARY MARTIN Long Beach

It is true that Ray Middleton played Frank Butler opposite Ethel Merman in the Broadway production of "Annie Get Your Gun." However, John Raitt did not do the national tour with Mary Martin. The actor who played Frank Butler opposite Martin in the national tour was Earl Covert. Raitt played the part in a 1957 revival for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera and also in the NBC-TV production that year. I played Chief Sitting Bull in the national company tour (1947-48) and also in the 1957 stage and TV productions.

To many, Mary Martin is still the quintessential Peter Pan. Sandy Duncan won fans for her impish, surprisingly gutsy stage portrayal, however, and Cathy Rigby is downright astonishing. Actresses of the early 20th century were also lauded when they played the part of "The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up." So why has it so often taken a woman to do a boy's job?

Meow, the fat cat whose 39-pound girth helped raise awareness about obesity in pets, has died of lung failure. The orange-and-white tabby was turned in to the Santa Fe, N.M., animal shelter last month and quickly made international headlines. At first, his story was played for laughs: The 2-year-old cat apparently favored hot dogs, and was so fat that he got stuck inside things. He barely fit into his animal carrier, and was likened to Puss in Boots from the "Shrek" movies. But Meow's weight underscored a growing problem: Pets in America are getting fatter -- just like their owners -- and all that extra weight can hasten death.

Revising classic musicals, most notably "Annie Get Your Gun," to modernize or make them politically correct is indeed a perversion ("When Shows Refuse to Repeat History," by Michael Phillips, Nov. 19). I see it as no different or more justifiable than revising works of Shakespeare because of disapproval (even if justified) of his viewpoints. However, for those who wish to hear the complete and original version, there are plenty of both contemporaneous recordings of "Annie" and recent revival casts.

Who are those people? The question is asked by those walking into a UCLA women's basketball game, looking up into the stands, startled by what they see. Who are those people? There are two of them, sitting side by side, wearing silly Dr. Seuss hats trimmed in blue and gold. They sometimes do funny cheers that sound like, "Whoooooo." They sometimes sing the UCLA fight song, only they don't know the words, so they substitute, "Dah-dah-dah."

The rumor that had Mary Martin and Carol Channing--legends in their own might--pairing up to do "Legends," a new James Kirkwood play, hardened into fact Tuesday. Channing and Martin will sail into town Feb. 2 in what is now the third show of the Ahmanson season. This unusual Kirkwood comedy deals with two famous movie stars who hate and despise each other and are offered parts in the same play; both resist and, of course, both desperately need the work.

Mary Martin is such a colorful figure around the country musical capital that it's a tossup whether the first thing you'll hear about the record executive is that she once managed Leonard Cohen and Van Morrison or that she once punched out a loudmouth in a music club. Wes Vause, director of media marketing for the RCA Nashville label, can fill you in about the latter.