Our Broadway Babe has unearthed some unique finds this week: Tony award winning Glynis Johns on the Tonight Show; Shirley Jones, in her own words; Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue talking about their successful 40-year marriage; and a very special entre nous benefit that pays tribute to Kander and Ebb with performances from the best of Broadway!

What Makes a Marriage Last

I can’t resist posting this! This video is so life-affirming and delightful. Discussing their book at “Live Talks In Los Angeles”— “What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share With Us the Secrets to a Happy Life” are Show Business Icon, Marlo Thomas and her husband, TV Icon, Phil Donahue who conducted intimate conversations with 40 celebrated couples whose long marriages they’ve admired, including award-winning actors, athletes and newsmakers to writers, comedians, and musicians.  Marlo and Phil reveal the rich journey of their own successful 40-year marriage — a most extraordinary blending of 2 strong personalities.

Sidebar: Some of you may remember that they met on Phil’s talk show and there was immediate chemistry… I remember Marlo taking Phil’s hand and saying to Phil on the show “Whoever the woman in your life is, is a very lucky woman!” …And the rest, is history!

Glynis Johns on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson

A truly rare find — from 1973, actress Glynis Johns, who won the Tony Award for best leading actress in a musical for “A Little Night Music”, appears on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. It’s an unusually long, but quite delightful segment and Carson seems mesmerized…she chats with Johnny and then sings, “Send In The Clowns” which Sondheim wrote specifically for her. Glynis then introduces cast member, D’Jamin-Bartlett who sings her showstopping song, “The Miller’s Son”. Glynis John’s is now 98 years old!

Sidebar: I adored “A Little Night Music,” and saw it several times. In those days. we dressed up to go to the theater. I had a date who took me to see the show, and I knew I looked beautiful that night, but my date said nothing.  The next day, I was pitching a story (I was doing PR) to journalist William Wolf, who saw me at the theater the night before and said, “Randie, you looked so beautiful”, to which I replied, “thank you for noticing, as my date said nothing. “ Bill then replied, “Who is he, the new blind movie censor from Nyack????”

Private Tribute to Kander and Ebb

From 1997, a true entre-nous musical tribute to Kander and Ebb, a benefit for Musical Theatre Works, featuring appearances by Chita Rivera, Donna Murphy, Bebe Neuwirth, Ann Reinking, Joel Grey, David Sabella, James Naughton, Dorothy Loudon and Marcia Lewis, with Rosie O’Donnell hosting.   A private and very fabulous concert!  A must see for Kander and Ebb fans.

Shirley Jones, Uncut

Legendary singer/actress Shirley Jones, in her own words. A candid interview with this delightful and down to earth personality about her life and times in show business.  Not sure where or when this was done, but it’s absolutely fabulous!

I had the pleasure of meeting her at both the Friars Club, as well as, at Sardi’s.  I was doing one of my Randie’s Roundtables and spotted Shirley going upstairs to the ladies room. I followed her upstairs. I told her about who was at the roundtable downstairs and invited her to join us… which she did!  As it turned out, she knew a few of my roundtablers and one of them, actually worked with her and her then husband, Jack Cassidy, on the Broadway flop musical in 1968, “Maggie Flynn”!