 She eventually was made personal secretary to company president Caleb Bragg, whose frequent lengthy absences from the office to race automobiles allowed her to catch up on the sleep she had lost the previous night when she was out late performing at private parties.During this period, Merman also began appearing in nightclubs, first hired by Jimmy Durante's partner Lou Clayton.At this time, she decided the name Ethel Zimmermann was too long for a theater marquee.