Why didn't Motown like Mary Wilson?

[Spreadinglove21]

Diana Ross knew how to play the game. Not only did she work her butt off to develop her singing and performing talents, but she played office politics to the hilt and impressed the right people both with her work ethic and her shenanigans [[stealing from other acts, snitching on others, picking fights, casting couch sexual antics [[no #MeToo cries from Miss Ross a few years back), etc.). And the public bought the Ross led product which ensured she kept climbing.

Mary was Miss Casswell to Diana's Eve Harrington for all intents and purposes when it came to playing the game to get ahead.

[TheMotownManiac]

Diana Ross knew how to play the game. Not only did she work her butt off to develop her singing and performing talents, but she played office politics to the hilt and impressed the right people both with her work ethic and her shenanigans [[stealing from other acts, snitching on others, picking fights, casting couch sexual antics [[no #MeToo cries from Miss Ross a few years back), etc.). And the public bought the Ross led product which ensured she kept climbing.Mary was Miss Casswell to Diana's Eve Harrington for all intents and purposes when it came to playing the game to get ahead.

I couldn’t agree more. Mary was definitely from the “Copacabanya” school of vocal artistry. She had a wonderful, but extremely limited vocal quality that took 20 years to develop into something more marketable. Even with all the leads, she did in the 70s, she didn’t grow as a performer. When she finally realized where her strengths lay, She became A credible soloist, but still with a very limited appeal. Her most loyal fans, like most loyal fans, can’t see past their love for her to see her weaknesses that kept her from solo stardom. I don’t think it’s necessarily true that Motown didn’t like Mary as much as they were probably just not impressed, and certainly not interested in developing, her talent. It might be that Gordy didn’t care for Mary. I’ve always had that impression.

Gordy saw the potential in diana ross from the beginning. She didn’t become an 80-year-old icon by happenstance. Her natural charisma, style and star power could not be taught, copied or learned. She also took advantage of every opportunity possible, as you mentioned. But she made good on them.

[Ollie9]

Mary was Miss Casswell to Diana's Eve Harrington for all intents and purposes when it came to playing the game to get ahead.

If Mary was M’s Casswell and Diana Eve Harrington, does that make Flo Margo Channing?.

[jim aka jtigre99]

If Mary was M’s Casswell and Diana Eve Harrington, does that make Flo Margo Channing?.

LOL, I can just hear Flo saying to them on her last show "fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night".

[Spreadinglove21]

If Mary was M’s Casswell and Diana Eve Harrington, does that make Flo Margo Channing?.

No, not Margo Channing as Margo was already an established star. I'd say, going outside of All About Eve, Lora Meredith in that scene early in Imitation of Life when she's outraged when the agent says if she has to eat and sleep with the Dramatist Club to get ahead and she storms out of the office and goes home to have a big cry. But Flo is only like that version of Lora. Not the one later who after first taste of Broadway success entices the playwright to always write comedies for her and over the next 10 years becomes a self absorbed diva. That Lora is more like Miss Ross after years of stardom. I could see Lora writing an autobiography along the lines of Secrets of a Sparrow.