The Riviera Hotel
Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada
July 2—August 4, 1963
Barbra Streisand's first gig in Las Vegas was as the opening act for pianist/entertainer Liberace.
Liberace saw Streisand's club act at The Bon Soir in New York and later appeared with her on an episode of The Ed Sullivan Show in 1962. He was an immediate fan and supporter of Streisand's.
Liberace’s audiences, however, didn't appreciate Barbra's act at first.
The Hollywood Reporter wrote:
Singer Barbra Streisand was a sharp contrast to [Liberace]. Her make-up made her look like something that just climbed off a broom, but when she sang, it was like the wailing of a banshee bouncing up and down on marionette strings. It isn't until she does three or four songs that her voice is even noticed as being very pleasant. Her outrageous grooming almost nullifies her talent.
Whereas, Variety wrote:
Barbra Streisand, in her debut here, is a most pleasant nitery surprise. She has an interesting look and an interesting sound, which of course is necessary to set her apart from other canaries.
The story goes that Liberace changed the format of his show to showcase Barbra and make her more welcome to the audience. Liberace came out, performed for fifteen minutes, then introduced Barbra as his “discovery.” Audiences then accepted Streisand since she had Liberace's stamp of approval.
Betty Bunch, who was a Dick Humphries Dancer in the showroom, witnessed Streisand's first run-thru at the Riviera and wrote about it in 2008:
As they were tuning up in the pit, Milt, our gruff stage manager, was checking lights on stage. We heard a lone drum roll, a single spotlight tested the center curtain in "one," Milt's voice said, "Ladies and gentlemen, presenting Barbra Streisand!" And a tall, slight figure dressed in a chic, long gray jersey gown with a sharp New York haircut walked on from the wings. You can imagine what it was like hearing that incredible voice for the first time. Most people remember the first time they heard that voice, just like they remember hearing that John F. Kennedy had been shot, also that year.
We were stunned. She sang "Happy Days Are Here Again" in that dramatic, plaintive arrangement, and we looked at each other in amazement. We knew talent and star presence when we saw it, and here it was, a new one, right in our own Riviera showroom.
While performing at the Riviera, Barbra was visited by Ray Stark and Jule Styne, who played some songs from the new Funny Girl score.
An announcement that Streisand would star in the musical was made on July 25, 1963 during her engagement at the Riviera.
End.
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