Pippin on The Tonight Show in 1972

[lovebwy]

Posted: 7/20/21 at 8:57pm

I happened to gain access to every surviving Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and was delighted to find that the November 23, 1972 episode featured Ben Vereen, John Rubinstein, and several dancers.

Vereen performed Simple Joys with original choreography. Then he spoke to Carson. Rubinstein came out with several of the dancers, and they performed With You, with original choreography. Then Rubinstein talks to Carson. Finally, Vereen and Rubinstein do On the Right Track with original choreography. 

It's an absolute treasure. I never knew it existed. Does anyone who was around at the time remember if there were any other Broadway Shows that appeared on The Tonight Show in the late '60s/early '70s? 

 

[JayElle]

Posted: 7/20/21 at 9:17pm

Ed Sullivan often had B'way stars perform songs/skits.  

Richard Kiley of Man of La Mancha doing Impossible Dream from 1965 cast.

Alot of that and Carson are still available on little watched upper cable channels.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 7/20/21 at 9:52pm

Right, exactly. Those Ed Sullivan performances are pretty well known. I adore the footage of Gwen Verdon doing If They Could See Me Know from Sullivan!

What I think was cool about finding these Tonight Show performances from 1972's Pippin cast was I'd never heard they existed before. I know that soon after the taping of this episode, Carson leaves for Los Angeles. And most of the Tonight Show footage from 1962-1970 no longer exists. So, there's a short window where Carson may have had other Broadway shows perform. Although, maybe not because he mentions he's gone to see Pippin and was knocked out by it, so maybe he only had them on for that reason.

 

[JayElle]

Posted: 7/20/21 at 10:20pm

Wouldn't NBC have kept the pre-LA shows in their archives?

[cliffordbradshaw2]

Posted: 7/20/21 at 10:33pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A9K0w8voPY

[Bwayornoway]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 2:07pm

I think there is a production of this happening right now in a small 'off west end' theater in London.  I wonder with Schwartz being involved with the opening of "Prince of Egypt" over there, and with this production of Pippin, is it possible for there to be a West End Transfer and then ultimately a Bway Revival in '23 season? 

[darquegk]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 2:34pm

Before the pandemic, two major Pippin productions were being staged: one full sized and one chamber sized with a tiny cast and lots of doubling. Which one is running now?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 4:01pm

Right, exactly. Those Ed Sullivan performances are pretty well known. I adore the footage of Gwen Verdon doing If They Could See Me Know from Sullivan!

Gwen performed a large chunk of the Vittorio Vitale scene including doing the full number.  Many only have seen the last dance break that ends the number.  

[Bwayornoway]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 5:20pm

darquegk said: "Before the pandemic, two major Pippin productions were being staged: one full sized and one chamber sized with a tiny cast and lots of doubling. Which one is running now?"

 the smaller cast size is the one that is currently playing - 8 members I believe, and that was a transfer from an even smaller cast that was produced outside in a garden area of a pub. It seems to be getting fairly good, positive reviews-   Charing Cross Theatre is where it is at.  Good luck to all theater over there as they open up to full capacity

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 8:58pm

I remember seeing this episode. (I was a senior in HS and was now allowed to stay up as late as I wanted). I recall that Johnny was very taken with Pippin and promoted it on his show. Especially in comparison with HAIR, which he hated.

I can't recall another situation where he showcased a single show before or since. It made me especially excited to see the original production on our high school trip over Spring Break the following April. 

I also remember him giving a similar push around that time about a singer he found (but not likely at the baths) Bette Midler. And, of course, she was a guest on his famous penultimate show. Oh, and earlier, Elaine Stritch and Ladies Who Lunch... Yep, I was gay.

Updated On: 7/23/21 at 08:58 PM

[Shalfoard]

Posted: 7/25/21 at 6:38am

Glynis Johns and D'Jamin Bartlett performed respectively "Send in the Clowns" and 'The Miller's Son," from A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoMvOxSWg2w&t=972s

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 7/25/21 at 7:42am

Bwayornoway said: "I think there is a production of this happening right now in a small 'off west end' theater in London. I wonder with Schwartz being involved with the opening of "Prince of Egypt" over there, and with this production of Pippin, is it possible forthere tobe a West End Transfer and then ultimately a Bway Revival in '23 season?"

It's a small fringe production, it wouldn't look great in the West End or Broadway

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/25/21 at 8:47am

I also remember him giving a similar push around that time about a singer he found (but not likely at the baths) Bette Midler.

Your memory is quite shoddy.  He never claimed to have “discovered” Bette Midler.  Her first appearance on The Tonight Show was in November 1972 to promote her debut album THE DIVINE MISS M.  She had already appeared a few times on many other talk shows including The Merv Griffin Show and The David Frost Show.  Carson did mention her start at The Continental Baths as a conversation sidebar, but Midler wasn’t an unknown when she appeared on his show for the first time.  

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 7/25/21 at 1:14pm

Peacock should put the on their streaming service.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 7/29/21 at 10:12pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "I also remember him giving a similar push around that time about a singer he found (but not likely at the baths) Bette Midler.
Your memory is quite shoddy.

Perhaps my choice of terminology was more shoddy than my memory. I never meant to claim that he "discovered" her, merely that he came upon her and was taken by her.

I am duly impressed by your knowledge of Bette's early media exposure.