Our Broadway Babe, Randie Levine-Miller has come up with a potpourri of fascinating videos, including the 1960 opening night world premiere of “Camelot”; Mel Brooks doing some schtick; Lauren Bacall, in conversation with Dick Cavett in 1979; as well as, legendary movie star, Lana Turner, talking about her life and times on the Phil Donahue show in 1982.

Camelot Opening Night 1960

From October 1960, the world premiere of Lerner and Loewe‘s “Camelot” at the newly opened O’Keefe Theatre in Toronto. A historical and rare video find, you can feel the excitement in the air. “Camelot” starring Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, and (Canadian)Robert Goulet, singing the song he introduced, “If Ever I Could Leave You”. A star-studded evening, attended by some of the most important people in show business with interviews with Alfred Drake, Carol Channing, as well as the young Robert Goulet. The show opened at New York’s Majestic Theatre on December 3, 1960. It was the most expensive musical ever produced, up to that time. Robert Goulet stopped the show on opening night, generating lots of publicity for him. He was destined to become a major star!

Lana Turner Interview with Phil Donahue

From 1982, “Phil Donahue,” who was considered the best of the daytime talk show hosts, spends an hour with the radiant and legendary movie star, Lana Turner, who was promoting her autobiography.  She was 61 at that time and comes across warm, though sometimes hesitant.  She answers questions from the live audience, which can be a tough task, as she was not an experienced talk show guest.  She obviously had a thing for Clark Gable, who she worked with, and insists on referring to him as Mr. Gable, which says to me, that they probably had an affair. She talks candidly about her love affair with the then married Tyrone Power and having an abortion.  At that point, the audience appears judgmental.  I was absolutely mesmerized watching this program and I think you will be, too. Lana Turner was one of the last of the great movie stars! They don’t make them like that anymore!!

The Very Best of Mel Brooks

…with Anne Bancroft, Gene Wilder, and Carl Reiner, this is a 22 minute documentary with some hilarious clips of Mel Brooks, as well as with his late wife and partner in life, Anne Bancroft. A true love match, on and off the screen, they sing “Sweet Georgia Brown” in Polish, which is truly hilarious. Carl Reiner, and Gene Wilder are also part of this lovefest for Mel. Mel and Carl Reiner were best friends for decades until Reiner died a few years ago. This is a must see… guaranteed to make you smile… And laugh! He believes that you must “Laugh badness away” which is how he explains springtime for Hitler “

Lauren Bacall with Dick Cavett

From 1979, “The Dick Cavett Show”…One on one conversation with legendary theater and film star, Lauren Bacall,  talking about her life and career, very candidly, while plugging her autobiography. She was one of a kind, a true classic, glamorous, authentic, with her own personal style. She and Cavett obviously had a great affection for each other. In my opinion, he was the best of the talk show hosts of his day, with a keen intellect. He was mentored by Jack Paar, who he worked for, who taught him (as Dick Cavett taught me) that it’s not an interview… It’s a conversation! And I believe that that’s what separated him from so many of the other TV interviewers. This is a really fascinating conversation between two legendary, cultural figures, and it’s also a lot of fun watching them.