Owner of the Crystal Palace

February 23, 2011
Brothers Jay and Fred Landesman were proprietors of famed Crystal Palace in St. Louis. Jay passed away on Feb. 20 at his home in London. He was 91.

Jay Landesman was one of those many people in the background who served an important role in the genesis of Barbra Streisand's career. It was at Landesman's club where Barbra performed for a week-long engagement in the spring of 1961. An opening act at the time (and they were still misspelling her name), that booking was one of several important appearances Barbra made during the earliest portion of her career that helped her establish a prominence outside of New York.

Barbra reminisced about her days at the Crystal Palace during her recent gig at New York's Village Vanguard, specifically recalling her friendship with Jay's wife when she performed Fran Landesman's composition, "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most."

Incidentally, the Landesman name is very big in legitimate theatrical circles, too. Nephew Rocco Landesman, one of the biggest producers and theatre owners on Broadway, is currently serving as President Obama's chairman for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Jay Landesman is survived by Fran and their sons.

"Caught in the Act" Barbra's appearance at the Crystal Palace was actually part of a variety revue called "Caught in the Act" produced by Jay Landesman. We don't know the context or theme of the show, or whether Barbra participated in any sketches. It's safe to assume that the standards and novelty numbers Barbra was performing in those early days were her contributions to the revue. Here's what Billboard wrote about "Caught in the Act" in their April 24, 1961 edition: St. Louis - Four entertainers from the Jack Paar TV show are being featured in a variety review called "Caught in the Act" at the Crystal Palace in Gaslight Square. The performers are the young guitar and bass duo, the Smothers Brothers, low-pressure sophisticated comic Marc London and 18 year old songstress-comedienne Barbara [sic] Streisand. Producer Jay Landesman said the show is the first production of a series designed to showcase rising new talent. "Caught in the Act" started April 17 with performances at 8:30 and 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8, 9:30 and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and is expected to run for three weeks.