Nostalgia Now Streaming: Kukla, Fran, & Ollie, Rosemary Clooney, Elaine Stritch and more
Our Broadway Babe, Randie Levine Miller has some wonderful nostalgic finds this week. Our favorite, a childhood treasure is an episode of Kukla, Fran, & Ollie. Younger Tomatoes, check it out.
A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green
This was originally produced on Broadway in 1958, with a revival produced in 1977, with long time musical director, Paul Trueblood. For over 60 years, Comden and Green wrote some of the greatest songs of the twentieth century and were two of the most lauded writers to grace Broadway and Hollywood. Mostly known as lyricists, they also wrote the screenplay for the legendary, “Singin’ In The Rain”. Their most famous songs were written with composers Jule Styne, Leonard Bernstein and Andre Previn. This special aired in 1979 on TV and is truly a party with 2 people who you’d love to have at your party!
Sidebar: Many years ago, I was at Caldor in Bridgehampton and I spotted Adolph Green in the aisle with his aide… he was in declining health at that time, and had trouble walking. The following week, I went to a concert in the city, and Adolph was singing (and unbelievable as it seems) dancing on stage, doing kicks in the air, as though given a shot of adrenaline…. that’s what being on stage does for many people.. There’s no business like show business!!!
Rosemary Clooney, Nelson Riddle–Parade, 1961 TV Special
From 1961,Rosemary Clooney, (George Clooney’s aunt) in her prime, looking and sounding beautiful. This was a CBC-TV special, “Parade” with legendary musical director, Nelson Riddle and his orchestra. She was truly one of the greats, which you’ll experience from this rare video. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore.
Sidebar: Rumor has it, that Rosemary and Nelson Riddle were having a love affair during the time this was recorded!
Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
This is a true treasure… aged, ageless, over-ripe late Tomato, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty…. There was no one like her… a true trooper to the end.. this is Elaine telling her life story: hilarious, brilliant, outrageous, as well as singing her showstoppers and dishing as only she could! Politically incorrect, she had no filter… just the way we like her!
She shares that she prepared a speech for 45 years for when she won the Tony, and when she won her Tony in 2002,she got cut off, as they went to commercial break! There’s no business like show business and Elaine takes us through all of her “heartaches, the backaches, the flops”… and of course, her becoming a show biz icon. Don’t miss this performance!
Kukla,Fran and Ollie
I couldn’t resist posting a kinescope of one of my favorite childhood shows, Kukla,Fran and Ollie… definitely a trip down memory lane, this episode is from November 21, 1949… Burr Tillstrom is the brains behind the puppets and the show itself… I’m sure Tomatoes of a certain age will remember this children’s show with great fondness!
Randie Levine Miller is Director of Special Events for The Three Tomatoes, and co-produces and hosts the annual Tomatoes Got Talent show. Known around NYC as a modern day “hostess with the mostess, she has performed in and hosted benefits for the Actors Fund, the Actors Temple, Multiple Sclerosis, and Prostate Cancer Research. Randie’s performance venues have included: The Triad, The Metropolitan Room, the Laurie Beechman Theater, and the Friars Club. For many years, she was special events director for the Drama Desk Awards. Randie also had a successful 30-year career as a public relations consultant and handled several major health and medical technology clients.
