The Bon Soir, 40 West 8 St.

Then and Now
Barbra performed some of her most important singing engagements between 1960 and 1962 at a night club called The Bon Soir. For all intents and purposes, it can be said that Barbra, the singer, was discovered at this small basement club in Greenwich Village, just around the corner from where she was living at the time.

According to Barbra, Julie Styne first saw her at the Bon Soir and later came back with producer Ray Stark. Stark liked what he heard and eventually signed Barbra to star in her own Broadway show. That show was "Funny Girl." And it was during her time at The Bon Soir when Barbra hooked up with her long-time manager, Marty Erlichman.

For the cover of her first studio recording with Columbia, a photo of Barbra performing at The Bon Soir was fittingly chosen.

The Album that Never Was
In the fall of 1962, Columbia Records recorded several of Barbra's performance sets at The Bon Soir that were earmarked for her first album. Columbia ultimately decided, however, that Barbra's first album demanded nothing less that the professional environment of a studio, a good decision for a debut album. A few of those Bon Soir recordings were later released on Barbra's "Just for the Record" compilation.

The Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce St.

Then and Now
Barbra had early theatrical aspirations, so what better place to seek employment than at a real live New York theatre. As a 15 year old, Barbra managed to get a job at the historic Cherry Lane Theatre in Greenwich Village.

Barbra was an unbilled understudy in the 1956 production of "Purple Dust" at the Cherry Lane but never got onstage. Her real job, along with an aspiring actor named Dustin Hoffman, was to clean-up the theatre.

Purple Dust
Unfortunately for young Barbra, she was never given an opportunity to actually perform on the fabled stage of the Cherry Lane. She did, however, understudy the part of Avrile in the 1956 production of Sean O'Casey's "Purple Dust." She was not billed.

One of the lead actors in that production was Robert Gerringer. In 1974, Gerringer would portray Katie's writing professor in "The Way We Were."
 

The Lion, 62 West 9 St.

Then and Now
In 1960, Barbra performed publicly for the very first time at an intimate nightclub called "The Lion." Like a scene out of a movie, Barbra's career took flight when she was awarded a three week engagement by winning a talent contest. Her time at The Lion was significant. It helped establish Barbra as a bone fide New York nightclub act. It was during her time at "The Lion," according to Barbra's pal Barry Dennen, when "Barbara first began her metamorphosis into Barbra" by dropping the "A" from her name.

"The Lion" was located across the street from Barbra's apartment on West 9th Street, so her commute to stardom was a breeze. During the 90s (top), "The Lion" was replaced by a trendy Village eatery. If you visit, be sure to spend a few moments at the bar. It was within the small confines of this front room where Barbra most likely performed.

The Lion Roars Back (May 15, 2010 Update)
The original "Lion" has undergone several name changes and different owners throughout the years. It was, until recently, known as "The Village" restaurant.

We're happy to report that the bistro which now occupies 62 West 9th St. is once again called "The Lion" despite the fact that there is no sign out front to indicate the name.

The only thing this new "Lion" has in common with "The Lion" that occupied the same space years ago is its name. Still, if you can wrangle a reservation (good luck), you'll be dining at the same place where Barbra won that famous talent contest and got her very first paying gig as a singer back in 1960.

According to one of the waiters, the restaurant's main dining room (in back) was added on in 1972. Barbra presumably sang in the bar, which you immediately enter from the street.

The Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S.

Then and Now
On Sep 26, 2009, Barbra Streisand performed at The Village Vanguard, a venerable jazz institution in the heart of Greenwich Village. This was Barbra's second appearance at the historic cabaret,. She first auditioned at the Vanguard in 1961 in a one night public appearance on the same bill with jazz great Miles Davis. Though she didn't get a permanent job at the Vanguard, owner Max Gordon soon hired Barbra to play at his other NYC venue, The Blue Angel on the Upper East Side.

Much like The Bon Soir, The Village Vanguard is a very small club located in a cellar. It has been in business since 1935.

Of her most recent Vanguard performance, Barbra made good on her promise to 100 of, unquestionably, THE luckiest fans in the world. Her much publicized show at The Village Vanguard was a rousing success, attracting an enthusiastic audience that included Lorraine Gordon, widow of Vanguard Founder Max Gordon, and Rick Edelstein, the Vanguard's waiter who actually was responsible for arranging Barbra's original audition there in 1961. Barbra's song set was inspired by her new CD, "Love Is The Answer."

After a 48 year absence, Barbra Streisand returned to the intimate stage at The Village Vanguard. For this occasion Streisand, who can sell out 20,000 seat arenas in mere minutes, was center stage in a club that can comfortably seat, at most, 123 patrons. Cozy and intimate, yes. But Barbra's Village Vanguard gig was of monumental and historic significance.


Barbra, According to Max and Lorraine
Not much is known, and even less is documented about Barbra's particular one night performance at The Village Vanguard in 1961.

The late Max Gordon, owner of The Village Vanguard, does confirm in his 1980 book "Live at The Village Vanguard" (right) that Barbra did indeed perform in his club on the same night as Miles Davis. Gordon goes on to say, however, that Barbra was not accompanied by Miles Davis himself.