Editing Mary Martin (section)

== Early life ==
Martin was born in [[Weatherford, Texas]]. Her autobiography described her childhood as secure and happy.<ref>{{cite book |first=Mary |last=Martin |year=1976 |title=My Heart Belongs |type=autobiography|publisher=Morrow|isbn=9780688030094}}</ref> She had close relationships with both of her parents as well as her siblings. As a young actress Martin had an instinctive ear for recreating musical sounds.{{Citation needed |date=January 2024}} 

Martin's father, Preston Martin, was a lawyer, and her mother, Juanita Presley, was a violin teacher.<ref name=Pylant-2012-12-11-Hagman/> Although the doctors told Juanita that she would risk her life if she attempted to have another baby, she was determined to have a boy. Instead, she had Mary, who became a [[tomboy]].{{Citation needed |date=January 2024}} 

Martin's family had a barn and orchard that kept her entertained. She played with her elder sister Geraldine (whom she called "Sister"), climbing trees and riding ponies. Martin adored her father. "He was tall, good-looking, silver-haired, with the kindest brown eyes. Mother was the disciplinarian, but it was Daddy who could turn me into an angel with just one look."<ref name=Pylant-2012-12-11-Hagman/>{{rp|page=19}} Martin, who said "I'd never understand the law"<ref name=Pylant-2012-12-11-Hagman/>{{rp|page=19}} began singing every Saturday night at a bandstand that was near the courtroom where her father worked. She sang in a trio with her sister and Marion Swofford, all three in [[bellhop]] costumes. "Even in those days, without microphones, my high piping voice carried all over the square. I have always thought that I inherited my carrying voice from my father."<ref name=Pylant-2012-12-11-Hagman/>{{rp|page=19}}

She remembered having a [[photographic memory]] as a child.  School tests were not a problem,  and learning songs was easy.  She had her first experience of singing solo at a fire hall, where she felt the crowd's appreciation. "Sometimes I think that I cheated my own family and my closest friends by giving to audiences so much of the love I might have kept for them. But that's the way I was made; I truly don't think I could help it."<ref name=Pylant-2012-12-11-Hagman/>{{rp|page=20}} Martin's craft was developed by seeing movies and becoming a mimic. She would win prizes for looking, acting and dancing like [[Ruby Keeler]] and singing exactly like [[Bing Crosby]]. "Never, never, never can I say I had a frustrating childhood. It was all joy. Mother used to say she never had seen such a happy child — that I awakened each morning with a smile. I don't remember that, but I do remember that I never wanted to go to bed, to go to sleep, for fear I'd miss something."<ref name=Pylant-2012-12-11-Hagman/>{{rp|page=20}}