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Step by Step: The Streisand Walking Tours |
Feature/September 2006 |
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Barbra
on the
shores
of
Lake
Michigan |
When
you visit
the
various
cities
on
Barbra
Streisand's
upcoming
concert
tour,
remember
that
there
will
be a
lot to
see
and do
before
and
after
the
concert.
Here
are a
few
sightseeing
suggestions
for an
all
inclusive
Streisand
Walking
Tour. |
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Atlanta
The
last time Barbra Streisand appeared in Atlanta, she performed to
a thrilled Atlanta Stadium crowd - wearing a rain
coat, galoshes, and clutching an umbrella
during a driving rain storm. But fans in Atlanta
(and neighboring states), who have long hoped for
a Streisand return will be delighted when she
performs there in November. Nothing will be wet
this time around, except for tears of joy when The
Southern Belle of 14th Street takes
to the stage.
Atlanta Stadium site (demolished)
-
755 Hank Aaron Dr.
A.K.A. Atlanta Fulton
County Stadium, Barbra
performed there in August
of 1966.
There's nothing left of Atlanta Stadium,
demolished in 1997 and now the parking lot for
Ted Turner field. So, if
you ever take in a Braves game, you'll leave
your car on sacred Streisand ground.
Atlantic City
Barbra last appeared in Atlantic City at the
Democratic convention in 1964,
performing before President Lyndon B. Johnson. Her
1964 appearance was held at the same convention
center where Barbra will perform during her 2006
tour. Additionally, the 1996 Atlantic City ShowEast convention
was held down the boardwalk where Barbra was honored as
Filmmaker of the Year. Unable to attend,
Barbra sent a very lively and humerous videotaped
acceptance speech which was shown during the
awards ceremonies.
Trump Taj-Mahal, 1000 Boardwalk Ave.
Barbra sent a video
that was screened for attendees of the ShowEast
convention in 1996.
Atlantic City Convention Center, 1
Miss America Way
The location of Barbra's
upcoming performance was
where the 1964 Democratic
Convention was held. At
the convention, Barbra
performed for President
Lyndon Johnson. The
convention center is on
the boardwalk.
Boston (and vicinity)
Like
most of the other cities on Barbra's upcoming tour,
Boston and some neighboring New England
locales, harbor significant Streisand history,
though not all of it pleasant. Barbra first
visited the region in 1963, playing club dates and
promoting her first album. But it was in early 1964 when things began
to unravel for Barbra and the creators of "Funny
Girl." The musical was in trouble, receiving poor
notices following Boston tryout performances. Even
the song "People" was nearly removed from the
score as a result. Boston '64 was not a happy
experience for Barbra. Would Boston '06 be better?
You bet. Local fans are counting on Barbra to give
a wicked good performance.
Revere Frolic - 155 Revere Beach Blvd.,
Revere, MA
Barbra performed here in
February of 1963, her first night club engagement to
promote her new album.
Shubert Theatre - 265 Tremont St.,
Boston, MA
Barbra performed in "Funny
Girl" pre-Broadway, in January, 1964.
Festival Field - Hillside Ave.,
Newport, RI
The original home of the
Newport Jazz Festival was the site of a
legendary Streisand concert in 1966.
Chicago
Absent from the windy city for nearly four
decades, Barbra's return to Chicago is destined to
be a triumph. Her early tour of 1963
took her through the heart of Chicago, where she
performed at the legendary Mr. Kelly's on Rush
Street. And be sure to take your camera to the
Chicago shores of Lake Michigan. Barbra shot the
stunning cover photo for her album, "People"
somewhere along the strand.
Soldier Field - 1400 S Museum Campus Dr.
Barbra gave an outdoor concert in
August, 1966.
Mr. Kelly's site - Rush St.
arbra performed at this legendary club in
Chicago's jazz quarter for the better part of
June, 1963 (Mr. Kelly's burned down in 1966).
Arie Crown Theater - 2301 South Lake
Shore Dr.
Barbra performed here, near the
shores of Lake Michigan, in November, 1963.
The Italian Village - 71 West Monroe
St.
Chicago's oldest Italian restaurant and
frequented by Barbra during her early Chicago
appearances in 1963 (Reservations suggested).
Las Vegas
As
with most of the other cities on Barbra's upcoming
tour, Las Vegas figured prominently in her early
career success. As an opening act in 1963, Barbra
was introduced to a whole new demographic. Her
early notices in Vegas were so good that she
relinquished that title in short order and quickly
become one of the biggest marquee names in town.
But as her career priorities changed, Barbra put
all live performing on the back burner. It wasn't
until 1993 when the bright neon Strip beckoned
Barbra back to the concert stage, and she hasn't
really left since. Barbra's upcoming engagement at
The MGM will be her third.
The Riviera - 2901 Las Vegas Blvd
South
Barbra's first Vegas engagement was at The
Riviera in 1963. She
was Liberace's opening act
Las Vegas Hilton (International) - 3000
Paradise Rd.
Barbra opened the International Hotel in
1969
and headlined there three times
Sahara Hotel - 2535 Las Vegas Blvd
South
Barbra gave a performance for
Columbia Records executives in 1966
Los Angeles
Obviously, Barbra and Los Angeles are intertwined,
and have been ever since she arrived in Hollywood
to begin production on her first film. These days, Barbra
records all of her albums exclusively at the Sony
recording studio that bears her name.
Barbra has
worked at every major studio in town and has been
on location all around the area at one time or
another. If you plan on seeing some of the more
interesting Streisand locations in the LA area,
leave yourself lots of time, and rent a car. A
through exploration of Barbra's Hollywood will
take you from Burbank to
Long Beach.
Here are just a few
Streisand related sights you might want to check
out in LA. Visit our special section
-
On Location: Los Angeles
- for many more.
Twentieth Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd.
Barbra made "Hello, Dolly!" here
in 1969. You can still
see remnants of the "Parade" set from Pico Blvd
Exposition Rose Garden - Exposition
Blvd.
Barbra
filmed the opening number from "Clear Day" here
in 1970.
New York
Without doubt, New York is the most important and
meaningful city associated with Barbra's career.
Born and raised there, Barbra got her early start
in the Big Apple. Though she now lives in
California, Barbra has never really left New York.
She's filmed countless films and television
specials, given numerous performances,
participated in local politics, and until
recently, maintained a second residence there.
When she opens in New York on October 9, Barbra's
local family and friends, not to mention fans from
around the world will converge at The Garden for
another Streisand hometown extravaganza. You'll
need plenty of time to explore Barbra's New York
haunts before attending the concert. There's
something related to her career around every
corner.
These are just three of the most important
Streisand related sights you might want to see.
Be sure to visit our special section -
On
Location: New York
- for more.
Winter Garden Theatre - 1634 Broadway
Barbra performed in "Funny Girl" here
in 1964 and 1965.
Sheep Meadow - Central Park at 63 St.
Barbra performed her Central Park concert here
in 1967.
The Plaza Hotel - Fifth Ave at Central
Park South
Barbra and Robert Redford
filmed the final scene from "The Way We Were"
here in 1973.
Philadelphia
Barbra's history in Philadelphia is extremely
significant, especially during the earliest part
of her career, so her choice to perform in The
City of Brotherly Love is a meaningful and
sentimental homecoming.
On August 3, 1966, Barbra gave an outdoor concert
at Philadelphia's JFK stadium. The stadium was
demolished in 1992. On the exact same
site is The Wachovia Center,
where Barbra will be recreating performance
history on October 4.
Shubert Theatre (now the Merriam) -
250 South Broad St.
Barbra performed in "I
Can Get It For You Wholesale" pre-Broadway
in 1962.
Forrest Theatre - 1114 Walnut St.
Barbra performed in "Funny Girl" pre-Broadway
in 1964.
Philadelphia Museum of Art - 26th St &
Ben Franklin Pkwy.
Barbra taped
"Color Me Barbra"
in 1966.
Phoenix
Barbra's history in Phoenix is not extensive, but
what she accomplished in The Valley of the Sun was
extremely important in her career.
It was March 20, 1976 when Barbra and the cast and
crew of "A Star Is Born" descended upon the
college town of Tempe, AZ to film several of the
film's concert sequences. The scenes were shot at
Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium, a
massive outdoor football venue that proved to be a
perfect location.
Once Barbra and Kris Kristofferson had completed
the actual film shoot, Barbra, as herself, gave
a concert for the thousands of film extras.
Peter Frampton and Santana were just two of the
additional performers who shared the bill with
Barbra on that bright, sunny Saturday afternoon.
Arizona
State University (Sun Devil Stadium) - 5th
St. and College Ave, Tempe
Barbra filmed concert scenes at the stadium in 1976.
San Jose and the Bay Area
Barbra's history in San Jose and San Francisco is
quite extensive, so it is no wonder that she chose
to perform in one of the Bay Area's most
up-to-date facilities. Both San Francisco and
neighboring San Jose were pivotal stops during
Barbra's early 1960s club appearances. Her
month-long engagement at San Francisco's The
Hungry i helped establish Barbra as a
nationally known entertainment figure.
And lest we forget, Barbra filmed What's Up,
Doc? on location in San Francisco in
the 70s.
Hungry i site (original club demolished)
- 599 Jackson St.
Barbra played a month
long engagement in March, 1963.
San Francisco Masonic Auditorium -
1111 California St.
Barbra gave a
one-night-only show in 1963.
San Francisco Hilton - 333 O'Farrell
St.
Barbra filmed hotel and pharmacy scenes
for What's Up Doc?
in 1971.
South Florida
When
Barbra opens at the BankAtlantic Center in
Sunrise, Florida this October, it will be one of
the very rare occasions when Barbra has performed
in the Sunshine State. Her only other Florida
performances were given during the early 60's in
neighboring Miami and Palm Beaches.
Coincidentally, Barbra's most recent film and
album each have direct associations with Florida.
Barry Gibb wrote and crafted Barbra's most recent
CD, "Guilty Pleasures" at his Miami studio while
Barbra recorded the vocals back home in
California. And don't forget "Meet the Fockers."
Though not filmed on location, the film's action
takes place on fictitious "Focker Isle" in Florida.
You can't go to "Focker Isle" - but you can
visit these two important Streisand locales in
South Florida:
Eden Roc Hotel - 4525 Collins Ave,
Miami Beach
Barbra opened for Sergio Franchi in a week
long engagement at the hotel's Cafe Pompeii in
1963.
Paramount Theatre - 145 North Country
Rd, Palm Beach
Barbra performed here on
March 17 in a benefit for the Palm Beach
American Cancer Society in 1963.
Washington, D.C. and Vicinity
As the seat of our
government, Washington, DC is always top of mind
for Barbra. Her decision to play a concert
there was to be expected. Barbra's performance
history in DC has primarily been political in
nature with the exception, perhaps, of her 1994
concerts in Landover, MD. In Washington, Barbra
performed for President Kennedy, and, most
recently, on the nationally televised Inaugural
concert for Bill Clinton.
The Kennedy Center - 2700 F St. NW
Barbra performed live in the TV special "Funny
Girl to Funny Lady" in 1975.
USAir Arena - 1 Harry S. Truman Dr.,
Landover MD
Barbra performed at the
Clinton inaugural in 1993 and gave her own concert there
in 1994.
Columbus and St. Paul
Barbra does not have any significant performance history in
either Columbus, Ohio or St. Paul, Minnesota, so
unfortunately, there are no sightseeing
opportunities.
However, Barbra does have television and nightclub
history in the state of Ohio that played a very
important part in her early career.
In 1963, she was in Cleveland as the week-long
co-host on The Mike Douglas Show. Around the same
time, Barbra was booked for a week of nightclub
performances at The Chateau in Lakewood, a suburb
of Cleveland. The deal was arranged for Barbra by
Mr. Douglas himself, perhaps as an inducement for
her to do his show.
Montreal and Toronto
This
is the very first time Barbra will be performing
full fledged arena concerts in Canada. As there is no
significant Streisand history in either Toronto or
Montréal, you'll just have to be content in
knowing that you will be part of a new chapter in
the story of Barbra's performance career when you
attend her concerts north of the border.
Barbra does have some interesting professional and
personal history in Canada, however. In 1961, she
performed in a nightclub called "Town 'n Country"
in Winnipeg. And in 1970, she spent time in Ottawa,
observing Canadian politics as the personal guest
of PM Trudeau, from a front row perch in the
visitor's gallery at Parliament. |
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