I know that it must not exist anymore, but, when Irving Thalberg bought the rights to "Private Lives" for Norma Shearer,, he sent a camera crew to the theater to film Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence in performance.
Can you imagine how incredible that would be to see?!?!
"A coherent existance after so many years of muddle" - Desiree' Armfelt, A Little Night Music
"Life keeps happening everyday, Say Yes" - 70, Girls, 70
"Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" - Zorba
A camera crew also filmed BYE BYE BIRDIE for Columbia Pictures when they first wanted to make the movie. Sadly, after much searching, it's believed to not exist anymore.
Moss Hart allegedly filmed Julie Andrews performing the entire role of Eliza for understudies and replacements to study. Not the whole show; just Andrews running through her part.
AEA, I was careful to say "allegedly" because I don't know whether it's true. I read it somewhere years and years ago and a few years later I met a very knowledgeable collector and asked him about it. He'd heard the story and described it as rumor and that he'd never heard of anyone locating the footage, despite searches. Maybe Andrews knows it never existed, or knows or assumes that it no longer exists if it did. Or maybe, since, if it existed, it was a rehearsal product, she didn't consider it a public record of her performance. I have no idea. But the story used to be out there.
Charlie K., there used to be an entire 1981 Merrily on youtube, in parts, but I have no idea whether it is still there. Sometimes these things appear, disappear and occasionally re-appear there. It's always good just to go there periodically and see what searches turn up and to have favorite posters like our Follies Fan to check.
I guess that would depend on how we are defining bootlegs. If an archival recording which is never meant to be released into the public is somehow leaked and finds its way into the hands of the collectors and traders I would still consider it to be a bootleg.
In responce to Acekatherineplumbe2, there is footage of the original production of Anything Goes with Ethel Merman. It's form the Miles Kreuger collection. Sadly, I don't believe it has been digitised yet (however you'd need to ask Jordan Catalano that: he has so much rare footage and knows a whole lot more about it than I do!)
(I hope this thread won't get deleted because of this) :)
Does anyone have this collection of clips? I've been looking for it for quite a while, but haven't found anyone willing to share yet. It's usually circulated under this description among collectors:
Interesting collection of footage from various old Broadway shows, most probably filmed by a cast member. Included: Black and white footage of Gypsy rehearsal with Ethel Merman and the original Broadway cast, and some bootlegged color footage from the show, all the music from the cast album playing over the footage; Color silent footage of Mame with Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur filmed from the balcony and some from the wings and some candid footage before the show with Lansbury; Rare color footage, also silent, of Angela Lansbury and the original cast of Dear World during a rehearsal; More rare footage of Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera, this time in color with full sound of a rehearsal of Chicago with full orchestra, cast and costumes on stage. There’s a number with Chita Rivera which never made it to the final show, as well as some other scenes which didn’t make the final cut either. You can even hear Bob Fosse stopping the action a few times to give stage directions. Also includes fragments of the 1977 revival of Fiddler On The Roof with Zero Mostel. Very good video and sound. Extremely rare.
Hey maybe I'm wrong but wasn't there a recording of Follies in black and white (presumably from the 70s) with little to no sound? If I'm right, where could I find that?
Krueger also had possession of some film footage of the 1940 Hold On To Your Hats with Al Jolson and Martha Raye - I think in color. Give both my balls to see it.
missthemountains said: "Hey maybe I'm wrong but wasn't there a recording of Follies in black and white (presumably from the 70s) with little to no sound? If I'm right, where could I find that?"
On the YouTube page of 1971FolliesFan. Check it out--he's put an enormous amount of work into compiling and editing it.
Still waiting on audio of Lansbury and Bea Arthur full performance to bubble up to the surface. This is my holy grail. The LA stop with Lansbury and Anne Francine is spectacular. I can only imagine Arthur taking it to the stratosphere. 1971FolliesFan, your magic, PLEASE?