Our Broadway Babe, Randie Levine Miller has some fabulous finds today that you can watch right now. There’s a classic episode of The Frank Sinatra Show from 1958; a vintage video from 1965, The Andy Williams Show with Bobby Darin, Robert Goulet, and Woody Allen; a Dusty Springfield documentary, and opera stars performing Broadway favorites.

The Andy Williams Show: Bobby Darin, Robert Goulet, Woody Allen

A vintage video from 1965, “The Andy Williams Show”, a popular weekly variety show (remember those?) which aired on NBC-TV.  This is a most entertaining hour with Andy’s guests: Bobby Darin, Robert Goulet and Woody Allen (who was just starting out as a comedian). An excellent trip down memory lane. The video is somewhat compromised, but the sound is good and worth viewing to see these performers.

Sidebar: I was lucky enough to see Bobby Darin, live and in person, at the Copacabana at my childhood friend, Susan Freed’s Sweet Sixteen.  He was one of the greatest performers I’d ever seen at that time.  Unfortunately, he died while still in his thirtees. Celebrations in those days, if our parents could afford it,  were held at some wonderful venues.  I had my Sweet Sixteen at Tavern On The Green, which is also where I had my first wedding. My pedicure literally lasted longer than the marriage!

Sidebar, too: I got to see a young Woody Allen, when he was starting out as a comedian, at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village, with my high school BFF, Robin Gottlieb, whose sister, Gail, was dating Woody. I couldn’t understand why Gail was dating this skinny, nerdy looking guy.  His comedy was clean and witty, but he would practically “suck” on his microphone and made sucking sounds. However, he was funny and his star was rising.

Dusty Springfield Documentary

Most Tomatoes will remember British singer Dusty Springfield, who had many hits in the 60’s: “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”, “I Only Want To Be With You”, “Son of a Preacher Man”, “Anyone Who Had a Heart”.  She peaked in the 60’s, and was one of the most successful British female performers on both sides of the Atlantic. She hit it big in the U.S. with “Wishin’ and Hopin'” and “The Look of Love”. She moved to the States, after she had been “outed” as gay, as it was not an easy time for gay people, in general, but especially a gay woman in show business.

As Sir Elton John, who helped induct her into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,said: “I think Dusty was the greatest white singer ever. ” She died of breast cancer at age 59, in 1999…. This is a wonderful documentary about her life that I feel Tomatoes will really enjoy.

Opera Singers Perform Broadway

A Celebration of the American Musical Part 2..performed at Avery Fisher Hall in 1997, aired on Great Performances on PBS-TV with opera stars performing Broadway favorites: Frederica Von Stade, Marilyn Horne, Jerry Hadley, Renee Fleming, Samuel Ramey, Dwayne Croft, Elisabeth Futral. An incredible find and omg. those voices! The American Theater Orchestra is conducted by Broadway veteran musical director, Paul Gemignani. A must-see for musical theater lovers

This was sent to me by dear friend, Josh Ellis who says: “Not politically correct by 2021 standards and some of the singing is a bit over-refined, but it’s still vastly enjoyable and occasionally amusing.  The finale, “Make Our Garden Grow,” is spine-tinging!  And there’s a musical treat after that.  Don’t stop watching too soon.”

The Frank Sinatra Show – 1958

This is pure gold! This is the first episode of “The Frank Sinatra Show” which aired on ABC-TV, in October, 1958. Sinatra was vocally in his prime. This variety show is star studded with guests: Bob Hope, Peggy Lee and Kim Novak, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes (Sinatra always seemed to have a cigarette in his hands, when singing, which made him look “cool”…oops, that was another brand LOL). There’s a Bulova Watch commercial at the end. Don’t miss this historical show. A wonderful trip down memory lane, which was brought to my attention by 3Ts contributor, Ellen Easton.