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JANUARY 19, 1970
"The Owl & the Pussycat" wraps up production in New York.
JANUARY 29, 1970
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau invites Barbra to his country. She attends the National Arts Center with him, then watches him conduct a session of Parliament from the visitor's gallery.
FEBRUARY 1, 1970
Columbia releases "Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits."
MARCH 10, 1970
Streisand begins recording a new album called "The Singer." Though some songs would later show up on later albums, the project is ultimately shelved in favor of a more contemporary album.
MARCH 31, 1970
Barbra purchases a new home-a brownstone at 49 East 80th Street. The $200,000 5-story, 17-room and 6-bathroom building is a "fixer-upper."
APRIL 7, 1970
Barbra presents the Oscar for Best Actor to John Wayne for "True Grit."
APRIL 19, 1970
At the Tony Awards in New York, Barbra's given an honorary Tony as "Star of the Decade." It's the first and only time this award is given to an artist.
JUNE 9, 1970
Streisand hosts a fundraiser for Democratic Congressional candidate Bella Abzug.
JUNE 14, 1970
Barbra campaigns throughout New York for candidate Bella Abzug, riding in a flat truck and encouraging citizens to vote for Bella.
JUNE 17, 1970
"On A Clear Day You Can See Forever" opens in theaters around the country. Barbra gets wonderful reviews, but Paramount offers little promotion and "Clear Day" does very modestly at the box office.
JULY 30, 1970
Streisand returns to the recording studio to begin a new album, "Stoney End," working with rock producer Richard Perry for the first time.
SEPTEMBER 25, 1970
Encouraged by the Perry sessions, Columbia releases "Stoney End" as a single.
OCTOBER 30, 1970
"The Owl & the Pussycat" opens. The raunchy comedy, complete with four-letter words, but minus the brief topless moment Barbra filmed (but had removed), is a box office hit. It proves Barbra doesn't have to sing in every movie she makes for it to succeed.
NOVEMBER 17, 1970
The print ads for "The Owl & the Pussycat" are rejected by many newspapers, including the New York Times.
The ads show Streisand in the character's sexy pajamas, with appliqued hands on the breasts and a pink heart on the crotch. The papers will run the ads only after the appliques are airbrushed.
NOVEMBER 27 - JANUARY 2, 1971
Streisand returns to the Riviera and the Hilton (formerly The International) in Las Vegas. She creates a controversy when she does a comedy routine on stage about smoking marijuana to relax.
JANUARY 10, 1971
Barbra and Ryan O'Neal go to a rock concert in L.A. and get into a fracas with paparazzi photographer Peter Borsari. The pictures of Ryan and Barbra land on the cover of The National Enquirer.
FEBRUARY 1, 1971
With the single in the top ten, Streisand's new album, "Stoney End," is released. The album puts Barbra back in the top ten on the Billboard album chart.
FEBRUARY 5, 1971
Barbra appears as the lone guest on "The David Frost Show." She sings two songs—"Didn't We" and "I Don't Know Where I Stand"—but the program never airs because of Barbra's exclusive deal with CBS-TV.
MARCH 14, 1971
Streisand makes a guest appearance on "Singer Presents Burt Bacharach," a CBS TV special. Barbra sings four numbers.
SPRING 1971
Elliott Gould gets into a fight with director Anthony Harvey on the set of his new film, "A Glimpse of Tiger." Warner Brothers stops production and only agrees to continue the film if Barbra takes over Gould's part. Peter Bogdanovich, a hot new director at the time, agrees to helm the film, but only if he can turn it into a screwball comedy.
APRIL 1, 1971
Steve McQueen joins First Artists Production Company.
MAY 21, 1971
Barbra and Elliott Gould enter a separation agreement in New York State Supreme Court.
JUNE 14, 1971
Barbra performs at a benefit concert for the Motion Picture Relief Fund's 50th Anniversary.
JULY 1, 1971
Barbra begins rehearsal on "What's Up, Doc?" with Bogdanovich directing and Ryan O'Neal as her leading man.
JULY 2, 1971
Barbra Streisand and Elliott Gould file a joint petition for divorce in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
AUGUST 1, 1971
"What's Up, Doc?" starts shooting on location in San Francisco.
FALL 1971
Barbra announces plans to star in "Masquerade," based on "Yentl, the Yeshiva Boy," by Isaac Singer. Ivan Passer will direct.
MARCH 9, 1972
"What's Up, Doc?" opens at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The "G"-rated comedy is an immediate hit, playing throughout the spring into summer.
APRIL 1, 1972
"Up The Sandbox" begins principal photography in Los Angeles.
APRIL 15, 1972
Streisand is one of "4 for McGovern," a concert to raise money for the Democratic presidential candidate. Warren Beatty, her friend, produces the show. Barbra's performance is recorded and later released as the album "Live At The Forum."
SPRING 1972
"Up The Sandbox" goes on location in New York and Africa. Streisand takes some time away from the production to visit Israel.
JUNE 1, 1972
The Nixon "enemeies list" is revealed during John Dean's testimony regarding the Watergate break-in, and Barbra makes the list.
SUMMER 1972
Ray Stark puts together the team for Streisand's next project, written for Barbra by Arthur Laurents, called "The Way We Were." Sydney Pollack is chosen to direct, and he and Streisand both want Robert Redford for the male role. Redford isn't interested.
SEPTEMBER 12, 1972
Dustin Hoffman joins First Artists Production Company.
SEPTEMBER 18, 1972
Principal photography on "The Way We Were" begins at Union College in Schenectady, New York.
OCTOBER 1, 1972
Streisand re-signs with Columbia, agreeing to do six albums over the next five years.
EARLY OCTOBER 1972
"The Way We Were" films sequences in Manhattan, including locations like Central Park and the Plaza Hotel.
OCTOBER 11, 1972
"The Way We Were" moves to Los Angeles to continue filming.
NOVEMBER 1, 1972
Streisand attends a sneak preview of "Up The Sandbox" in San Francisco. The picture does not work with the audience. Preview cards indicate audiences were expecting a comedy like "What's Up, Doc?"
DECEMBER 1, 1972
"If I Close My Eyes" is released by CBS Records as Streisand's new single. It's the theme from "Up The Sandbox," but the song is pulled from the movie.
DECEMBER 3, 1972
"The Way We Were" wraps in Los Angeles.
DECEMBER 21, 1972
"Up The Sandbox" is released, Barbra's first film for her own company, Barwood. Despite the fact that she receives glowing personal notices, the film is a flop. Barbra's devastated that the film is so poorly received.
JANUARY 1, 1973
Streisand and George C. Scott are named Favorite Female and Male Movie Stars of 1972 by Box Office magazine.
APRIL 1, 1973
Streisand works on an ambitious project, a new album called "Between Yesterday and Tomorrow" (although sometimes referred to as "Life Cycle of a Woman"). The album is planned to detail a woman's life from birth to death, with original songs written by lyricists Marilyn and Alan Bergman and composer Michel Legrand. Barbra begins the project, but never completes it, much to Legrand's disappointment.
APRIL 7, 1973
To raise money for Daniel Ellsberg's legal defense fund, Streisand sings at a fundraiser, in which celebrities made monetary pledges and Barbra sang their requests. Among the songs she did were "Long Ago and Far Away," "Time After Time," "I'll Get By" and "Someone to Watch Over Me." With Joni Mitchell in the room, she also does "I Don't Know Where I Stand" and tells Joni how much she loves her voice and her song.
MAY 3, 1973
Barbra's called back to re-shoot scenes for "The Way We Were." She also begins recording "Classical Barbra."
MID-MAY, 1973
After a week of rehearsing in New York, Streisand goes to London to tape a new CBS special, "Barbra Streisand...and Other Musical Instruments."
SUMMER 1973
Barbra decides she'd like short hair for her next movie, "For Pete's Sake." Hollywood hairdresser Jon Peters offers to do the cut for free, but Barbra opts for a wig. They meet at her Beverly Hills home and hit it off. They begin dating.
JULY 1, 1973
Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne write an untitled documentary-type script (later called “Rainbow Road”) and set it in the present rock-and-roll music world. There is no love scene and Barbra’s character is a fan who doesn’t appear until page 40 in the script. Barbra makes it into a love story.
SUMMER 1973
"Rainbow Road," is shopped around Hollywood and among the stars who reject it is Barbra Streisand.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1973
"The Way We Were" is previewed in San Francisco. The film gets overwhelming approval by the preview audience.
SEPTEMBER 24, 1973
"For Pete's Sake" begins shooting in Brooklyn, but the crowds trying to see Barbra at work are a major distraction.
SEPTEMBER 26, 1973
Streisand's new single, the title song from her upcoming film "The Way We Were," is released.
OCTOBER 16, 1973
"The Way We Were" opens in movie theatres around the country. It's a major hit, and Streisand's single is one of the most requested songs on the radio. It becomes Barbra's first number one single on the Billboard charts, as well as her first gold single.
NOVEMBER 2, 1973
"Barbra Streisand...And Other Musical Instruments" airs on CBS. It's her first special in five years.
JANUARY 1, 1974
Streisand's "The Way We Were" is released simultaneously with the soundtrack album. The material on the album includes cut material from "The Singer" project.
FEBRUARY 1, 1974
"The Way We Were" is nominated for six Oscars, including Best Actress for Streisand.
APRIL 1, 1974
"Funny Lady" begins shooting in Hollywood.
APRIL 2, 1974
Although asked to sing "The Way We Were" at the Academy Awards, Barbra declines. Peggy Lee does it instead. Barbra comes from the "Funny Lady" set and stays backstage as Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress for "A Touch of Class."
APRIL 24, 1974
Ray Stark gives Barbra a palomino horse on the set of "Funny Lady" as a birthday gift.
SPRING 1974
Streisand and her co-stars record the "Funny Lady" music at the MGM Studios in Culver City, California. Prince Charles visits Barbra in the studio.
JUNE 26, 1974
"For Pete's Sake" opens nationwide and is a big summer hit.
JULY 1, 1974
Streisand records songs for "ButterFly," with her boyfriend Jon Peters producing. It's his first album.
JULY 9, 1974
"Funny Lady" wraps in Los Angeles. Ending her professional association with Ray Stark, Barbra gives him an antique mirror on which she has written in lipstick, "Paid In Full." On a separate plaque are these words: "Even though I sometimes forget to say it, thank you, Ray. Love, Barbra."
SUMMER 1974
"Rainbow Road" pre-production begins, with Jerry Schatzberg directing. Jon Peters reads the script and convinces Streisand to reconsider doing the film.
FALL 1974
Barbra agrees to do the remake of "A Star Is Born," and restores the classic title. She names Jon producer and she will executive produce the picture for First Artists/Barwood Films. Jon and Barbra's script changes lead to Didion and Dunne's bowing out. Schatzberg also leaves the film.
WINTER 1974
New screenwriter Jonathan Axelrod clashes with Streisand and Peters while working on "A Star Is Born." He predicts the movie, "...is going to be the 'Myra Breckinridge' of 1975!"
JANUARY 24, 1975
New Times prints a devastating account of the pre-production of "A Star Is Born" which ridicules Barbra and Jon.
FEBRUARY 21 - 22, 1975
To promote "Funny Lady," Barbra talks to Barbara Walters on "The Today Show." Barbra uses the opportunity to defend herself and Jon from the negative press "A Star Is Born" is collecting.
MARCH 1, 1975
Barbra and James Caan conduct a press conference in New York to promote "Funny Lady."
MARCH 9, 1975
At the "Funny Lady" premiere in Washington, D.C., Streisand hosts a TV special in honor of the new picture called "Funny Girl to Funny Lady." She performs in concert (with James Caan) before President Gerald Ford. The proceeds go to Special Olympics.
MARCH 18, 1975
"Funny Lady" has a Royal Premiere in London.
When Streisand is presented to Queen Elizabeth, she breaks protocol and asks the Queen why women must wear gloves when meeting her, but men don't have to. The incident is reported in newspapers around the world.
APRIL 11, 1975
Streisand begins work on "Lazy Afternoon."
SPRING 1975
Barbra and Jon go to Las Vegas to see Elvis Presley to discuss his co-starring in "A Star Is Born." They realize after the meeting that Presley is in no shape to do a film. He is overweight and on drugs. Presley turns them down—his manager would not allow him to do it—saving Peters and Streisand from having to retract the offer.
MAY 1, 1975
At a press gathering announcing a Bruce Lee biopic which Jon will produce, Barbra is shown a few karate moves by Chuck Norris.
SUMMER 1975
Barbra works on "Lazy Afternoon" with composer-producer Rupert Holmes. She is so impressed with Holmes, she asks him to write the songs for "A Star Is Born." Also, Barbra takes guitar lessons so she can play it in the film. With Jon's encouragement, she tries writing music and composes "Evergreen."
JULY 1, 1975
Barbra takes classes at the Actors' Studio and works on scenes from "Romeo and Juliet" with Sally Kirkland.
JULY 9, 1975
Streisand is scheduled to appear on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, but backs out at the last minute, suffering for nervous anxiety. Carson is insulted and holds a grudge for years.
AUGUST 6, 1975
Frank Pierson is the new screenwriter and director of "A Star Is Born." Pierson will only do the screenplay if he can direct. Barbra and Jon agrees when he assures them he wants their input.
OCTOBER 1, 1975
"Lazy Afternoon" is released.
NOVEMBER 1, 1975
Jon and Barbra attend the Muhammed Ali-Joe Frazier championship fight in Madison Square Garden.
FEBRUARY 1, 1976
Principal photography begins for "A Star Is Born."
FEBRUARY 1, 1976
Columbia Records' Masterworks label releases "Classical Barbra," Barbra's only classical music album.
MARCH 9, 1976
Barbra pays tribute to William Wyler -- her "Funny Girl" director -- at his American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award.
MARCH 20, 1976
"A Star Is Born" shoots live concert sequences at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. A huge press junket is visiting for the weekend, in an effort to dispel the notion that the film is a disaster in the making. Streisand is greeted with a great ovation when she goes on stage to sing a few songs, but the positive image she and Peters hoped to convey is destroyed when Jon and Kris Kristofferson get into an argument within earshot of an open microphone on another day. The press leaves Tempe with mixed notices about the future of "A Star Is Born."
APRIL 1, 1976
The "A Star Is Born" wrap party doubles as Barbra's thirty-fourth birthday. Despite the bad publicity, the film is completed on time and on budget -- $5.5 million.
SUMMER 1976
After Frank Pierson delivers his cut of "A Star Is Born," Barbra and editor Peter Zinner work on her version. Hers is the final cut. When Warner Brothers executives see it, they believe the film will be a hit. Rumors about "Jon and Barbra's home movie" are stopped.
JULY 1, 1976
Streisand hosts a fundraiser for Congresswoman Bella Abzug in Los Angeles.
FALL 1976
"A Star Is Born" is previewed and screening cards reveal the audiences love the movie.
NOVEMBER 1, 1976
"A Star Is Born" soundtrack is released. It reaches number one on the Billboard charts, selling one million copies in two months. It eventually goes quintuple platinum.
NOVEMBER 15, 1976
A month before the film opens, Pierson writes "My Battles with Barbra and Jon," a scathing article that trashes Barbra and Jon. It's published in New West and New York.
DECEMBER 1, 1976
Barbra gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame even though she doesn't show up for the ceremony.
DECEMBER 20, 1976
Barbra sends a note to projectionists with each print of "A Star Is Born," advising them how to set the projectors and ending with this:
"Thank you in advance...and you should please take good care of my kid."
DECEMBER 14, 1976
Barbra and Jon Peters are guests on the first "Barbara Walters Special."
DECEMBER 18, 1976
"A Star Is Born" premieres in Los Angeles. The critics blast is, especially Barbra and Jon. Despite the reviews, the film is a box office sensation.
JANUARY 1, 1977
Streisand is the top female star in the 46th Annual Quigley Poll of box office popularity. Sylvester Stallone ranks #1; Barbra #2. This is the sixth time in seven years she is the top female.
FEBRUARY 19, 1977
Streisand appears at the Grammy Awards ceremony wearing the same outfit she wore in the "A Star Is Born" Grammy sequence to present Record of the Year.
The winner is George Benson for his recording of Leon Russell's "This Masquerade."
FEBRUARY 25, 1977
At the Hollywood Foreign Press Golden Globe awards ceremony, Barbra and "A Star Is Born" are the big winners of the night, walking away with awards for Best Picture-Musical, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Score and Best Song -- "Evergreen."
MARCH 28, 1977
Streisand sings "Evergreen" live at the Oscars. Neil Diamond presents the award for Best Song to Barbra and lyricist Paul Williams for their composition.
The film is nominated but does not win for Best Song Score, Cinematography and Sound, as well.
MAY 1, 1977
Columbia releases the single "My Heart Belongs To Me," in advance of Barbra's new album.
JUNE 1, 1977
"Superman" album is released and flies up the charts, going platinum in two months.
OCTOBER 1, 1977
Barbra Streisand does an in-depth interview with Playboy and appears on the cover, the first celebrity to do so since Marilyn Monroe in 1954.
OCTOBER 16, 1977
Barbra goes to the New York premiere of Jon Peters first solo production, "The Eyes of Laura Mars." Barbra's contribution to the film is the title song,"Prisoner."
OCTOBER 21, 1977
Barbra goes to the Grande Finale nighterie in New York to hear sister Roslyn Kind sing.
NOVEMBER 1, 1977
Still in New York, Barbra records songs for "Songbird," her next album.
NOVEMBER 29, 1977
Barbra is honored by the Anti-Defamation League Appeal as the 1977 Woman of Achievement in the Arts in ceremonies at the Hotel Pierre in New York City.
DECEMBER 22, 1977
To mark her 15th anniversary with Columbia Records, a party is thrown for Barbra in New York.
She re-signs for five new albums, receiving $1.5 per album.
JANUARY 8, 1978
Barbra and Jon Peters visit Paris.
JANUARY 14, 1978
Robert Redford and Barbra are named World Film Favorites at the Golden Globes. It's Barbra's fourth win in this category (1970, 1971, 1975).
FEBRUARY 1, 1978
Streisand is named Woman Teens Admire Most in a Seventeen magazine poll. She's also Favorite Movie Star of 1977.
FEBRUARY 23, 1978
At the Grammy Awards in L.A., Barbra wins Best Female Vocalist for "Evergreen." She and lyricist Paul Williams win Best Song for "Evergreen" (in a tie with Joe Brooks for "You Light Up My Life.")
APRIL 1, 1978
Gary Guthrie, a disc jockey in Kentucky, combines Barbra's rendition of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" with composer Neil Diamond's version. The "duet" is played on the air and becomes the most requested song in the area. When Columbia Records finds out months later, Streisand and Diamond agree to go into the studio and record the song as an official duet. The song is released as a single and on both Streisand and Diamond's subsequent albums, becoming a major success for both.
MAY 1, 1978
"Songbird" is released, Barbra's first album under her new Columbia contract.
MAY 7, 1978
Barbra participates in a salute to the nation of Israel on the 30th anniversary of its statehood. She sings four songs, including "Hatikvah" (the Israeli national anthem), and conducts a mini-interview with ex-Prime Minister Golda Meir via satellite. The all-star program is televised by ABC and broadcast the following night.
SUMMER 1978
Streisand learns more about her late father, Emanuel Streisand, when someone who knew him contacts her. After learning of Barbra's involvement with the Pacific Jewish Center, he sends her a letter revealing these facts: Manny worked in his parents' fish store in Brooklyn while he was going to New York University. He then went to Columbia University's Teachers College for his Ph.D. His dream was to go to California and he aspired to be a writer. In school, he was on the debate team, the chess club, the math club, was interested in drama and fencing, and was a lifeguard. He was Phi Beta Kappa.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1978
Barbra and Neil Diamond rehearse their duet of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" at her Malibu home.
OCTOBER 2, 1978
"The Main Event" begins shooting in Los Angeles.
OCTOBER 17, 1978
Streisand and Neil Diamond record "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." It's released a few weeks later and reaches number one of the singles chart. Barbra's new greatest hits album is released earlier than planned with "Flowers" included. The album reaches number one on the Billboard album chart and goes quadruple platinum.
DECEMBER 15, 1978
"The Main Event" wraps.
MAY 31, 1979
In anticipation of the release of "The Main Event," Columbia Records releases the title song on a single, "The Main Event"/"Fight." It's Streisand's first disco song.
JUNE 22, 1979
"The Main Event" opens nationwide. It gets mixed reviews, but becomes a box office hit.
AUGUST 1, 1979
Barbra and Donna Summer begin recording the duet "(No More Tears) Enough Is Enough" in Santa Monica.
SEPTEMBER 27, 1979
Barbra files suit against High Society, a nudie magazine with plans to publish topless photos of her.
The case is settled out of court on September 28, 1979, when High Society is required to clip the pages showing Barbra's bare chest from an excised scene in The Owl & the Pussycat. Before they can act, 3,000 copies of the magazine are sold.
OCTOBER 1, 1979
"Wet" is released and reaches the Billboard top ten.
OCTOBER 5, 1979
Streisand's duet with Donna Summer, "(No More Tears) Enough Is Enough," is released and goes to number one on the singles charts.
WINTER 1979
Barbra and her brother Sheldon visit their father's grave in Queens. Near her father's grave, Barbra sees the name "Anshel" on a tombstone, the same name found in "Yentl, the Yeshiva Boy," Barbra's long-dormant film project. Barbra takes it as an omen to make the movie. Sheldon takes Barbra to meet a psychic who's helped him communicate with their father. Barbra's receives the message "Barbra, Sorry, Sing, Proud," and went on to make Yentl into a musical.
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