On this day in 1962: Barbra makes her debut

Here’s her understudy later replacement Louise Lasser speaking about not stopping the show with the legendary “Miss Marmelstein” number that made Barbra a sensation.  

Updated On: 3/22/20 at 12:12 PM

Funny Girl memories---I am a huge Barbra fan and can share some memories. I was a 13 year old who, along with my best friend- who also turned out to be gay- lol, no surprise- well, we went to a show almost every Saturday matinee for a year during my seventh grade year. We both were already huge Barbra fans- but could never get a ticket because FG was always sold out. One Saturday, instead, we saw Flora The Red Menace- and it was amazing- and was the beginning of my Liza fandom. Anyway, when we found out that Barbra was gonna leave in December, we got tickets for November 20, 1965 in the box seats at the Winter Garden- at a cost of $5.50 each- I think a lot at that time. We were on the side- and Barbra sang People on our side of the theater- so I almost totally missed her singing People. I have very vivid memories of seeing FG- the sets, costumes, His Love Makes Me Beautiful- the mirror she looked into- but I must say, in November, 1965, I think Barbra had lost her enthusiasm for the show and it was pretty obvious that the Barbra we were seeing was not the Barbra we were expecting. But, still, it was something I will always treasure- since then I have seen Barbra in many of her concerts and sometimes she is amazing- and sometimes I am a bit disappointed in parts- when Barbra is lit- there is nothing like it. One more memory- we waited at the stage door of the WG before every show we saw- and left in time to see our play for the day. One Saturday, the stage door was jammed- as usual- and then a hubbub ensued- and all of a sudden, there was Barbra rushing by us into the stage door. She was wearing a brown newsboy cap- carrying Sadie,  and was so pretty and small- I hardly recognized her. She was very pretty and so young- well, so was I- but I hardly recognized her because of her size and prettiness. She rushed through the crowd and did not sign any autographs- and when she went into the stage door, I was in awe- and it is a moment I will always remember. Now, I have other memorable moments with Barbra- but this is not the place for it because I think this is FG and Wholesale related. 

Updated On: 3/22/20 at 02:16 PM

Updated On: 3/23/20 at 10:23 PM

Both pictures magically disappeared- don't know why. David, please go on the great site barbraachives.com - it has so much history and so many pictures you will spend many hours of bliss reading and listening to everything Barbra. You will love it. -Mitchell

David10086 said: "I'm a frequent visitor to that site - I love it! I think Matt (site owner) knows more about Barbra than Barbra!

PS - check your email."

Indeed Matt does.  Streisand has mentioned on a few interviews that his site is her main source of reference in helping her write her autobiography, which she has been working on since 2015.  No expected date for it as the publisher has said it’ll come out when it’s ready.