On this day 60 years ago, the imdominable Ethel Merman opened in her greatest role in what is arguably the greatest musical ever written: the Jule Styne / Stephen Sondheim / Arthur Laurents showbiz saga Gypsy. 

The “musical fable” opened at the Broadway Theatre to run 702 performances, and has been revived on Broadway four times since, garnering Tony Awards for three of five Roses.