Sondra Lee, Jerome Robbins, Peter Pan

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 8:31am

The wonderful dancer and actress Sondra Lee played Tiger Lily in the Jerome Robbins/Mary Martin Peter Pan, on Broadway and on television, both in the 1955 live black-and-white Broadcast and the 1960 color broadcast.



Here is is, in the Indian Dance from the kinescope of the 1955 live broadcast, a May 2008 interview for New York City Ballet and the Ugg-a-Wug with Mary Martin from the 1960 broadcast.

Indian Dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_UV1CA5FUU


Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUeb4FS1AUo


Ugg-a-Wug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpDMMTlQCQk

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 9:04am

Creepy, stereotypical portrayal of Native Americans. She ought to be ashamed of herself.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 9:10am

In those days such a portrayal wasn't considered offensive. Besides, how many Native Americans have you seen with blonde hair?

Nowadays Tiger Lily is depicted differently in an effort to be politially correct.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 9:16am

Sondra is quite eloquent on the subject, Dollypop. You should interview her for BWW!

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 9:18am

It's still offensive, just as much as the black-face musical number in that Mickey & Judy movie.

And it's the one part of the Disney Peter Pan that makes me cringe too. ("What Makes the Red Man Red")

Yes, you can look at it in historical context. And you can also dislike it in historical context.

Some things just don't age well. This is one of them.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 9:25am

What I wouldn't give to hear Judy today discuss "Franklin D. Roosevelt Jones" then and now...

Or this "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," which is even more astonishing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hMiAVldmww

[tourboi]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 2:17pm

She ought to be ashamed? She was doing a job. If anyone, blame Robbins, but don't blame Ms. Lee for working.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 4:00pm

Oh okay. They want me to put on black-face and gobble watermelon and fried chicken at our county fair. The choreographer is giving me a really great shuffle step to do. They're paying really well, so I'm going or it!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 4:43pm

I think we've all heard more than enough of your sordid private life, JohnBoy.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 4:46pm

So does that mean you're not coming to see me at the fair?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 5:12pm

Go peddle your bitchiness elsewhere. I'm not interested.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 10:01pm

Despite the poliitical incorrectness (which I forgive. it's social evolution IMO), the choreography is amazing.

Thanks for sharing!!!!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 10:11pm

Wow. I've never seen any footage from the 1955 broadcast. Is there any footage available of "I'm Flying" or "Neverland"?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 10:18pm

There's a kinescope, and clips of it turn up on YouTube. Here's the "Neverland":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcBsKLJgKOY

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 10:19pm

"I've Gotta Crow":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHCQf5YkQXA