MGM star Carleton Carpenter dishes about Debbie Reynolds, Broadway and his bisexual past

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 2/22/17 at 1:03pm

Matthew Rettenmund of BoyCulture.com has posted a wonderful interview with Carleton Carpenter, best known for ''Aba Daba Honeymoon,'' his delightful MGM duet with Debbie Reynolds in ''Two Weeks With Love'' (1950). He recalls how he and Debbie tricked their producer into thinking ''Aba Daba'' was his idea. Wikipedia says the song became the first soundtrack recording to become a top-of-the chart gold record.

Carpenter, now 90, has just published his memoir, ''The Absolute Joy of Work: From Vermont to Broadway, Hollywood and Damn Near 'Round the World.'' In it, he reminisces about his Great White Way debut in David Merrick's ''Bright Boy,'' at age 17, plus touring with Mary Martin in ''Hello, Dolly!,'' and doing ''The Boys in the Band'' and ''Crazy for You.'' And he's candid about his bisexual past, and recalls a backstage visit from Cary Grant. Carpenter says he was devastated by Debbie's death, but promoting his book has helped him get through his grief.

http://www.boyculture.com/boy_culture/2017/02/debbie-reynolds-carpenter-book-gay-gossip-obituary-movies.html