May 12, 1981 - Lena Horne!

[David10086]

Posted: 5/13/21 at 1:10am

40 years ago tonight Lena Horne wowed audiences and critics with her one woman show Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. The show ran for 333 performances, closing on her 65 th birthday, June 30, 1982. Wish I was there! The double album from this show is one of my all time favorites. Anyone here attend her opening night? Anyone here see the show during its run ? How about her your across America when it closed? Please share your memories!!

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 5/13/21 at 1:33am

I think I posted this some years ago. I saw this show many years ago when I was in my 20s. I somehow scored a front row center seat.

Lena looked down at me in the front row from time to time during the performance to let me know “you weren’t born when I sang this” etc. I loved it!

However, I remember that Lorna and Sid Luft were sitting right behind me. Lorna sang along, softly, to almost all of Lena’s songs. It wasn’t to the point of being annoying, but I remember it to this day.

The show was recorded. I had the double album set, the CD and now I listen to it digitally from AMAZON music HD and Apple Music.

Updated On: 5/13/21 at 01:33 AM

[David10086]

Posted: 5/13/21 at 9:13am

I never read that story before! How fortunate you were! I wish the show was available on DVD!

[Huss417]

Posted: 5/13/21 at 9:39am

For lack of a better word I had a legends weekend. In the short span of maybe a couple of months of each other opening you had. Lena Horne, Elizabeth Taylor and Lauren Bacall. 

[NJGUY]

Posted: 5/13/21 at 11:35am

Lena Horne doing her one woman show was watching a force of nature.  This and Elaine Stricth were the two best one person shows I have ever witnessed iIMHO.

[David10086]

Posted: 5/13/21 at 12:35pm

Huss417 said: "For lack of a better word I had a legends weekend. In the short span of maybe a couple of months of each other opening you had. Lena Horne, Elizabeth Taylor and Lauren Bacall."

You got to see them all back then? How would you rate them from favorite to least favorite? I know each show was different, but what do you think? 

[Huss417]

Posted: 5/13/21 at 12:56pm

David10086 said: "Huss417 said: "For lack of a better word I had a legends weekend. In the short span of maybe a couple of months of each other opening you had. Lena Horne, Elizabeth Taylor and Lauren Bacall."

You got to see them all back then? How would you rate them from favorite to least favorite? I know each show was different, but what do you think?"

At the time I think I was most excited about seeing Elizabeth Taylor. I honestly couldn't rate them in any order as I saw A Play, A one woman show and a musical but if I was only to have seen one show of the three I would choose Elizabeth Taylor in The Little Foxes.