Hall of Fame Ceremony Now On-Line

January 14, 2011
In case you missed Barbra's induction into the California Hall of Fame last month, be sure to head over to the California Museum home page. Once there, you can watch a streaming video of the entire ceremony. Fast forward to 48:25 for George Schultz's introduction of Barbra.

December 14, 2010
At ceremonies in Sacramento this evening, and to the familiar strains of People, Barbra Streisand was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. Her work as an entertainer and philanthropist were cited among her many accomplishments. On hand to honor Barbra were Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver.

Hon. George Schulz Introduces Barbra
Each recipient had the distinction of introducing the next inductee. Barbra was introduced by former Secretary of State George Schulz. His remarks were obviously written for him by the Hall of Fame committee, but they were still gracious:

"If it were only her voice, Barbra Streisand would deserve her own wing in this hall of fame. Her singing voice is among the world's natural wonders. We are here tonight discussing Barbra Streisand because there is so much more to her than her voice. The distance from the streets of Brooklyn to the golden shores of Malibu was spanned by a great deal more than a few perfect octaves and a bridge made of iron will.

Barbra Streisand is the only artist, ever, to receive the Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe, Director's Guild of America Award, the National Endowment for the Arts and Peabody Awards. She was the first woman, ever, to win an Oscar as a composer. In baseball terms, it's like winning the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and the Cy Young Award, all in the same season.

From her earliest appearances as a teenager at The Lion in Greenwich Village, from playing Miss Marmelstein and Fanny Brice on Broadway, to, in film, Susan Lowenstein in The Prince of Tides and Roz Focker in the highest grossing comedy of all time, the breadth and scope of her artistic achievements as a singer, actor, director, composer, producer, and now best selling author is extraordinary.

But over the last half century, Barbra Streisand didn't just show us the way we were. She never settled into the complacency of fame, wealth and personal accomplishment. Instead, she has worked just as hard to make us the way we should be. She is a devoted and tireless activist and philanthropist. Anyone who has benefited from her work on the environment , voter education, civil rights, women's health and education, the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons can tell you there's so much more to Barbra Streisand than her voice.

The State of California proudly honors Barbra Streisand for her unflagging work ethic, insatiably curiosity, unstoppable desire for a more perfect union, and yes, for her voice."