The Rink YouTube

[EthelMae]

Posted: 4/7/18 at 11:30pm

Just stumbled on some new footage of the OBC of The Rink on YouTube. Thank you whoever posted it. Wonderful to feel the excitement I felt way back in 1984. Ms. Rivera and Ms. Minnelli at the top of their game.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/7/18 at 11:36pm

^

Yes, they were both very good, but the show wasn't very much.

Still, I'd take it any day over the dross that people drool over today.

And I like a number of the songs.

[cliffordbradshaw2]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 3:39am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdY3rOafEdI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKzAnebh0Jg

[castlestreet]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 6:05am

Spiderwoman’s YouTube station should be required viewing for any Broadway fan!!!

[devonian.t]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 6:13am

A very moving show that managed to combine light and shade and two great roles for ladies!

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 11:24am

Loved this show.  Also saw a good revival of it in London years ago.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 11:31am

These 2 clips come from a fantastic bootleg of the entire show, so the entire show does exist in this pretty good for its time camcorder video bootleg.  

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 11:34am

BrodyFosse123 said: "These 2 clips come from afantastic bootleg of the entire show, so the entire show does exist in this pretty good for its time camcorder video bootleg."

There also used to be footage out there of the unfortunate time Stockard Channing took over.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 1:38pm

I fell in love with the original production during previews in 1984. Rob Marshall was a friend of a friend who I believe was the dance captain for the show. We talked with him for a minute after the house let out-- asking did he realize what an amazing show he was in? They were all floating on a cloud at the time. I assumed The Rink would open to unanimous raves and run for years. How wrong I was. I returned to the OBC with my friends 3 more times, and always broke down in tears as that gorgeous Peter Larkin set rose to the flies on the final chords of "Colored Lights". This show has always been my #1 pitch whenever anyone asks what Broadway flop merits a proper revival. 

[DAME]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 1:41pm

Someone in a Tree2 said: "I fell in love with the original production during previews in 1984. Rob Marshall was a friend of a friend who I believe was the dance captain for the show. We talked with him for a minute after the house let out-- asking did he realize what an amazing show he was in? They were all floating on a cloud at the time. I assumed The Rink would open to unanimous raves and run for years. How wrong I was. I returned to the OBC with my friends 3more times, and always broke down in tears as that gorgeous Peter Larkin set rose to the flies on the final chords of"Colored Lights". This show has always been my #1 pitch whenever anyone asks what Broadway flop merits a proper revival."

Was there anything Rink related at the Liza exhibit? 

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 4/8/18 at 2:11pm

^Nope, sadly. I just gave a rundown (yes, that's the right word to use) over in the Liza with a Z thread.

I think Liza has always felt embarrassed by her time in The Rink-- that was the year she suffered a spell of health issues stemming from various addictions, and her attendance in the show and thus her reputation for carrying a broadway show suffered a great deal. Even though she was woefully miscast in The Rink (she was at least 10 years too old for the part), I always felt so lucky to have seen her at her heartbreaking best. 

[Sparkle Neely]

Posted: 4/9/18 at 12:28am

Thanks for sharing.  I hadn't checked Aurora Spiderwoman's YouTube in a  while.  They always have wonderful stuff on there.  1971FolliesFan also posts some extremely rare and priceless footage. 

The Rink is flawed, but boy are there some great songs in there.  "Colored Lights", "Chief, Cook, and Bottle Washer", and "The Apple Doesn't Fall" are some of my favorite Kander & Ebb numbers.  And the unintentional camp of "What Happened to the Old Days" and "All the Children in a Row" are always good for a chuckle.  "Danny You're too stoned to drive!". And that title number is a real earworm.  

Many argue that the show failed because audiences didn't want to see Liza in a non-glamorous role.  I don't think that was it at all.  Her heath difficulties and a muddled book had more to do with it's quick demise.  

I'd love to see some of that Stockard Channing footage. She was by all reports pretty awful in the role. Still, it would be fun to see.  Mary Tests was Liza's Standby.  I'm sure she was terrific.