Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards... — Page 2

#26

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/8/07 at 7:32pm

I'm sorry - but I watched the same clip on a home video recording of those same awards, and as I remember it, Ms. Kahn was definately NOT in attendance. When they showed all four of the nominees faces, what should have been a video feed was replaced by a still photo.

It would have been waaaaaaaay awkward if she was there.

#27

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/8/07 at 9:02pm

Check that unmentionable site in about an hour -- I'll be posting the entire Best Actress in a Musical sequence from the 1978 Tony Awards and Miss Kahn is present and 'live' in her front orchestra seat. Proof is in the puddin', as they say in Dubai.

#28

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/8/07 at 10:40pm

I thought that Melanie Vaughn took over Judy's role, as the maid, when Judy took over the lead...

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"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

#29

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/8/07 at 11:35pm

Well...the full 1978 Tony Awards Best Actress in a Musical category is up already on that site. All the nominated ladies are present, except for Frances Sternhagen. Miss Kahn is sitting orchestra right (on the aisle) and behind Earth Kitt.

Enjoy!

#30

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/9/07 at 7:27am

Oh, Madeline. How'd it feel watching Judy Kaye perform at the Tony's a role YOU'RE nominated for?

#31

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/9/07 at 6:09pm

Wow. Steve Rubel looked like he was going to fall out his seat when Liza won. Where were Kander and Ebb though?
Brody, if you could put some more speeches from years past that'd be great. They're quite interesting to hear, and so breif. I wish people made speeches like that today.

#32

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/9/07 at 6:58pm

will anyone who thinks miss minelli didn't perform in "the act" under the influence of cocaine please raise his or her hand?

#33

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/9/07 at 8:06pm

I think she was on coke when she did that speech. In fact, I think her two companions were too. In fact, her two companions are partly responsible for her missing most of her run.

Updated On: 4/9/07 at 08:06 PM

#34

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/9/07 at 8:15pm

She definitely was on something when she gave that speech. Or perhaps she was too sober.
Madeline Kahn did not look happy when they announced her as a nominee.

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"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#35

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/9/07 at 8:16pm

But where were Kander and Ebb? They were always usually near her cheering her on. Guess they weren't too happy with her then.
Oh, I think Kahn was just a little surprised when that orchestra started and the presenter sang the nominees. No one looked that happy to be there except for Steve Rubel. God, he looked crazy in (or rather out of) that seat when Liza won. It was hysterical.

Updated On: 4/9/07 at 08:16 PM

#36

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/12/07 at 3:50am

I can't believe such a brilliant show as On the 20th--while I'm not TOO surprised it never really found its audience--lost the Tony to Ain't Misbehavin'--a fun *revue*

#37

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/12/07 at 9:21am

Well - I just checked the site whose name we cannot mention, and I stand humbly discredited by my incorrect, if wishful, thinking.

I bet what happened is when I saw the original clip of Madeline Kahn there, I was so confused and shocked that she would even THINK of showing up after creating such a big fuss - that I probably projected that she didn't show up - because, really, it just don't make no sense.

#38

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/13/07 at 4:52pm

Madeline Kahn was an amazing performer.

I saw her in "On the 20th Century" and she floored me with her singing and comic ability. I saw her in staged reading of "She Loves Me" as Amalia and I was on the floor in hysterics during "Where's My Shoe." She was also an amazing Gorgoeous in
Sisters Rosensweig. Kahn was a comic genius with a voice!

Judy Kaye was not as good and Kahn in "20th Century" deespite the producers touting at the time that she was. In fact, they wanted Kaye to be up for the tony; not Kahn. Of course, I had to go back and it just wan't the same.

As for Harold Prince, a director that I have always admired, I was shocked when a well-know performer today said to me she was dismayed when she got virtually no direction from Harold Prince in the revival of Show Boat and that it was non-direction direction. She said she heard so much about Hal Prince and when she finally worked with him, he really left it to the others. So who really knows what happenned betweeen Prince and Kahn.

#39

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/13/07 at 4:58pm

Of course, I'm biased, since I love the woman, but she looks absolutely gorgeous in that clip. I mean, she always did, but I love that dress.

#40

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/13/07 at 5:06pm

Well, some of us thought that Judy Kaye was a lot better. I know I'm not the only one who felt that the whole show played much better with her, and that her performance was better than Kahn's. No reason that we have to agree.

That's not to say, of course, that Kahn wasn't a brilliant performer in the right material and when she was at her best. She was extraordinary at her best.

It should be remembered that Hal Prince didn't make this decision in a vacuum or by himself. I believe that not only the producers but also Comden, Green, and Coleman also felt the same way.

#41

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/13/07 at 5:15pm

One of the most disappointing evenings of theatre I've ever seen was the 80's Born Yesterday revival.

The production was awful.

It was painful to watch Kahn. Such a great role, such a great actress.. such a horrible combination.

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What great ones do the less will prattle of

#42

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/13/07 at 8:36pm

Please let Madeline Kahn rest in peace. She is not here to tell her side of the story and she never talked about it, thats how classy she was. Cy Coleman said in an interview he wanted Madeline Kahn from the get go as Lily Garland in On The Twentieth Century. I only wish I had seen her in In The Boom Boom Room and her earlier Broadway roles. I loved her in Born Yesterday and she won the tony for her brillaint portrayl of Gorgeous Tietebaum in The Sisters Rosenweig. They should have filmed that one for sure with her. She would have won the oscar as well. They should do a musical based on her life and career. On stage and in film and tv she was the best of the best and never got credit for how great a star she was.

#43

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/13/07 at 8:39pm

Sorry I am a bit biased when it comes to Madeline Kahn!

#44

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/15/07 at 4:23pm

Go to the forbidden site and search for "Judy Kaye Lily Garland". I've posted 2 audio only clips. Kaye singing "Veronique" and "Never".

#45

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/15/07 at 5:06pm

Why didn't you post the video links for it instead of just the audio clips? I guess I'll have to post the videos of the 2 numbers. I thought everyone had the DVD of ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. Guess not.

#46

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/15/07 at 5:07pm

I only have the audio. No video.

Would LOOOOVE to see the video.

Updated On: 4/15/07 at 05:07 PM

#47

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:05pm

What it was filmed for DVD? Or are you refering to a common bootleg? I'd love to see the original Prince staging

#48

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:01pm

If there is a dvdof On The Twentieth Century starring the great Madeline Kahn, I would love ot get a copy in my hands. I heard you can go to the library at licoln center and they have a video of all the broadway plays. Don't know if its true or if they have everything. Would go see all her shows there then.

#49

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:11pm

Nope. No video, legal or bootleg, exists of Madeline Kahn in ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. The bootleg that is out there is of the 1986 tour with Judy Kaye, Imogene Coca and Frank Gorshin. To quote Judy Kaye -- "...it was the 'bus & truck' tour from Hell". Basically, most of the sets were just backdrops, with the occasional prop. At least the costumes were the originals and it had Judy Kaye.

Her versions of "Veronique" and "Never" that I will be posting on that site come from this tour.

#50

re: Madeline Kahn at the 1978 Tony Awards...

Posted: 4/20/07 at 11:03pm

Heads-up!

The performance clips from ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY of Judy Kaye performing "Veronique" and "Never" are up on that site now.

Enjoy!