The Silent/sound FOllies clips are fascinating but not really of much better quality (fairly jerky filming etc) than the Chicago home movies most people have seen. However a VERY good print of 15 mins of them was recently on youtube before being pulled down... So it's out there for those looking
I just posted this in another thread but it's a pretty good rundown of some of the 70s shows and what exists (I wish ANYTHIGN existed of Night Music--I'd love to see that set in action) Besides the B&W Company, the archives have the taped for Japanese TV Pacific Overtures OBC (which was talked about to get an Image DVD release *sigh*) and one of I believe the original cast of Sweeney--
ANyway from the Lincoln Center thread post:
"From Mandelbaum's Michael Bennett book's appendix about Bennett work on video [the pre Company stuff isn't included as TOFT collection didn't exist then)
Company: A complete performance with the original staging (minus the automatic elavators on the set) was taped at the end of the national tour on May 20, 1972 in DC. The B&W tape, featuring McKechnie in her original role, Gary Krawford as Robert, Julie WIlson as Joanne and Tandy Cronyn, Jane Johnston, Louisa Flaningham, Joy Franz, J Cromwell and others, preserves Bennett's electric opening sequence, the "side by Side" number and "Tick Tock" with McKechnie particularly thrilling in the latter. It can be seen at TOFT
Follies: One of the most legendary productions in history, there are only three short videotapes in existance that preserve portions of the original staging. The TOFTcollection has two half hours, one silent and one with sound shot in Los Angelas after the Broadway closing--these are also ccirculating in private collections. The sound tape was shot during a rehearsal while the silent tape is edited and combines footage shot from the wings and above the stage with footage shot from the orchestra. LA replacements Janet Blair and Ed Winter are in the silent half hour. There is also a fifteen minute compilation of sequences shot during the final New York perforamance. This tape is in private collections only. Alexis Smith performed "Lucy and Jessie" onthe 1975 Tony Awards but this version features barely one step of Bennett's original great choreography.
Seesaw: Sadly nothing in full costume or choreography from this Bennett show exists--Michele Lee performed I'm Way Ahead at the 1974 Tony Awards after closing and a year later "Nobody DOes it Like Me" on the Dinah Shore show.
A Chorus Line: Thhe original New York Shakespeare Festival off Broadway production was taped at the Newman Theater in 1975. This black and white tape is of very mediocre quality but is of course an invaluable document. It is in the TOFTcollection as well as most private collections. [I love how he calls bootleg collections "private"] The original cast can best be seen on the 1976 Tony Awards in a slightly cut openign sequence and the very end of the finale. The TOFTCollection also has a one hour dialogue on tape from 1977, with Bennett and Avian which covers the genesis of the project. Also in the collection is a tape of the #3,389th Gala Performance. The finale of that was also telecast on the NBC program Live and in Person. McKechnie recreated only parts of her original choreography when doing Music and the Mirror on the 1980 HBO program Showstoppers.
Ballroom: Sadly, while this show opened after TOFT had decided to start preserving most major productions, Ballroomw as never recorded. Loudon performed "Fifty Percent" on the 1979 Tony Awards
Dreamgirls: A complete performance of the show taped near the end of the original Broadway run in August 1985 is in the TOFTCollection. This performance is interesting as by then they had incorporated Bennett's revisions he added tot he tour in LA including the elaborate new Act II opening with the boys and song medleys which Bennett called his "Jack Cole truibute to Monroe updated". The original Act I finale, with minor cuts was performed on the 1982 Tony Awards.
Hope that helps--i wish there was similar info for other major Broadway talents and what film exists "
I was just unaware that there was a near definitive knowledge of the possible videos out there. Thanks guys!
