- Martha Raye, the only woman buried in the Special Forces cemetery at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Raye joined the USO soon after the US entered WWII. During WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, she traveled extensively to entertain our troops, despite her extreme fear of flying. In 1966 she went to Vietnam to entertain two platoons of airmen, both were called out on a mission. She held the show there till they returned. She often served as a nurse on these trips.
- Had so little formal schooling, her scripts had to be read to her.
- Raye died of pneumonia at Cedars Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles) at 1:45 pm on October 19, 1994. By 2 pm, her body was en route to a mortuary. She had suffered from Alzheimer's disease, liver disease, and cataracts. Both of her legs had been amputated a year earlier due to severe circulatory problems.
- Raye was named an honorary member of the Special Forces units that she often assisted and received her Green Beret and the title of Lieutenant Colonel from President Bill Clinton. For her services in entertaining the troops she was allowed burial in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
- Following the demise of her TV variety show, the breakup of her fifth marriage, and a series of other personal problems, she attempted suicide with sleeping pills on August 14, 1956. After her recovery she always wore a St. Christopher's medal, a St. Genesius medal and a Star of David given to her by wellwishers. At the end of her TV programs she also would say "Good night, Sisters," a reference to The Sisters of St. Francis Hospital in Miami where she recovered.
- Born backstage at a local vaudeville theatre in Butte, Montana, where her song-and-dance parents, Maybelle Hazel (Hooper) and Peter Reed, Jr., were performing. Two days after Martha was born, her mother was back doing the act.
- Became an overnight star in 1936, after she was spotted by producer/director Norman Taurog performing comedy skits at the Trocadero nightclub, with Jimmy Durante and Joe E. Lewis as straight men. She was in front of the cameras the following day, doing a comic drunk routine in Bing Crosby's 'Rhythm on the Range'.
- Martha Raye had a lifelong fear of flying, but because of her profession was required to make numerous air trips, which she could muster only after drinking herself into a near alcoholic stupor. Her drinking and conduct during these periods ended up with a number of airlines refusing her service, particularly on her many trips into the Miami, Florida, area, which was a favored vacation spot.
- Was an honorary Green Beret. Visited U.S. Army Special Forces in Vietnam without fanfare. Registered nurse Lt. Colonel, helped out when things got bad in Special Forces A-Camps. Affectionately known by Green Berets as "Colonel Maggie."
- Had a temporary falling out with daughter Melodye when Melodye had her father cremated against Martha's wishes.
- She popularized the catch phrases, "Oh, Boy!" and "Yeah, Man!" in the 1930s.
- Before she died, Raye sued singer/actress Bette Midler and the producers of the movie For the Boys (1991) citing that the film was based on her own extensive experience as a much-loved entertainer of US troops during three wars. She lost in court when the judge, after hearing evidence on both sides, ruled that she didn't have a case.
- The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award was given to Raye in 1969 for her work with charities and entertaining U.S. troops; her estate gave it to the Friars Club in 1997 where she was its first female honorary member.
- Married last husband Mark Harris - an admitted bisexual - after knowing him for less than a month. He was 42; she was 75.
- Once attended the Professional Children's School in New York.
- Performed in a family act called "Reed and Hooper" (their parents' names) with brother Bud. Martha (whose real name was Margaret) and Bud so consistently stole the show that the name of the act was eventually changed to "Bud and Margie."
- Her singing style inspired Anita O'Day to pursue a career as a jazz singer (which O'Day succeeded in doing so following Raye's distinctive high vocals and scat technique).
- Her fifth husband, Edward T. Begley, should not be confused with Oscar-winning actor Ed Begley, the father of Ed Begley Jr..
- One time band vocalist with the Paul Ash and Boris Morros orchestras in the early 30s.
- Daughter (Melodye Condos) born on July 26, 1944. Father is Martha's then-husband, Nick Condos.
- Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 505-506. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
- Martha Raye was granted a Mexican divorce from Capt. Neal Lang on Thursday 3 February 1944 by Judge Javier Rosas Ceballos in the Juarez civil court on grounds of incompatibility. (United Press, "Martha Raye Given Divorce in Mexico", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Saturday 5 February 1944, Volume 50, page 6.).
- Profiled in book "Funny Ladies" by Stephen Silverman. (1999)
- Raye's career was highlighted in "The Slapstick Queens" by James Robert Parish, published by A. S. Barnes in 1973.
- Received the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award in 1988.
- Spokesperson for Polident denture cleanser in the 1970s and 1980s.
- She was a lifelong Republican and a solid supporter of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan in particular.
- Raye once owned The Five O'Clock Club in Miami, Florida.
- Martha's father, born in Manchester, England, had Irish ancestry. Martha's American-born mother had German and English roots.
- She was a smash hit in the New York Al Jolson show 'Hold On To Your Hats'.
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