1960’S
SPRING 1960
Barbara gets cast in the off-Broadway play “The Insect Comedy.” During rehearsals, Barbara meets fellow actor Barry Dennen and they become romantically involved.
MAY 8, 1960
“The Insect Comedy” opens at the Jan Hus Theatre. It closes after 3 performances. Barry hears Barbara sing and encourages her.
JUNE 6, 1960
Barbara enters a talent contest at The Lion, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. She sings “When Sunny Gets Blue” and “A Sleepin’ Bee,” and is declared the winner. She is given an engagement at the club and changes her name: she drop the middle “a” from Barbara (“…because you don’t need the extra ‘a’”), becoming Barbra Streisand.
AUGUST 1, 1960
After her success at The Lion, Barbra develops enough material to audition at a Greenwich Village nightspot called the Bon Soir. She gets hired.
SEPT 9 – NOV 20, 1960
Barbra appears at the Bon Soir as Phyllis Diller’s opening act. Variety gives her a positive review.
APRIL 5, 1961
Streisand makes her television debut on “The Jack Paar Show.” Guest host Orson Bean invites her on the show after seeing her at the Bon Soir.
MAY 9 – JUNE 6, 1961
Backstage at the Bon Soir, Barbra meets Martin Erlichman, who becomes her personal manager.
JUNE 22, 1961
Streisand makes her first television appearance on Mike Wallace’s “P.M. East.”
AUGUST 1, 1961
Barbra auditions and wins a role in an off-Broadway revue called “Another Evening With Harry Stoones.”
SEPTEMBER 1, 1961
Streisand gets an audition to sing at the swanky Blue Angel. Erlichman tries to convince Columbia Records to sign Barbra to a recording contract.
OCTOBER 21, 1961
“Another Evening With Harry Stoones” opens at the Gramercy Arts Theatre. It closes on the same night.
NOV 16 – DEC 13, 1961
Barbra plays the Blue Angel. Barbra does an audition tape for RCA Records singing most of the songs she’s been doing in the clubs.
NOVEMBER 29, 1961
Barbra auditions for a Broadway show, “I Can Get It For You Wholesale,” singing “A Sleepin’ Bee,” “Value” (from “Harry Stoones”) and “Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair.” “Wholesale’s” leading man. Elliott Gould, watches her audition and calls her that night. Barbra’s cast as Miss Marmelstein and she starts dating Elliott.
WINTER 1962
Ray Stark and David Merrick develop a musical based on the life of Ziegfeld Follies’ star Fanny Brice (Stark’s mother-in-law). Composer Jule Styne is interested in Streisand playing Fanny based on her appearances at the Bon Soir. At the time, Anne Bancroft is the lead candidate to play Fanny. Styne asks songwriter Bob Merrill to write lyrics. After hearing the songs-written with BJS in mind-Bancroft decides she wants no part of the show.
FEBRUARY – MARCH 1962
“Wholesale” previews in Philadelphia. Because of her chronic lateness, Barbra is nearly fired. However, her second act solo stops the show, and her role is expanded. The show moves on to Boston.
MARCH 22, 1962
“I Can Get It For You Wholesale” opens at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway. The show gets middling reviews, but Barbra receives the lion’s share of praise.
SPRING 1962
Elliott moves into Barbra’s apartment-a tiny, $62-a-month flat on Third Avenue over Oscar’s Salt-of-the-Sea Restaurant.
APRIL 1, 1962
Thanks to “Wholesale,” composer Harold Rome asks Barbra to participate in the 25th anniversary revue of his show “Pins and Needles,” a special Columbia Records product. Columbia president Goddard Lieberson likes Barbra’s voice, but feels her appeal will never go beyond “cult “status.
APRIL 29, 1962
Five days after her 20th birthday, Barbra goes to the Tony Awards, where she’s the favorite to win “Best Supporting Actress in a Musical” for “Wholesale.” She loses to Phyllis Newman (“Subways Are For Sleeping”).
MAY 22 – JUNE 3, 1962
Barbra makes a return engagement at the Bon Soir where she meets songwriters Marilyn and Alan Bergman. Their friendship will lead to many collaborations, including “The Way We Were” and “Yentl.”
MAY 29, 1962
Barbra appears on “The Garry Moore Show.” For the first time, she sings “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
AUGUST 21, 1962
Guest-host Groucho Marx welcomes Barbra to “The Tonight Show.”
SEPTEMBER 1, 1962
Atlantic is interested in signing Barbra. Capitol makes an offer. Erlichman gives Columbia, his top choice, one last opportunity to sign Barbra.
FALL 1962
Barbra auditions for three new Broadway shows: “Hot Spot,” “New Faces of 1962,” and “Bravo, Giovanni.”
MID-SEPTEMBER 1962
To keep her from Capitol, and despite his reservations about her appeal, Goddard Lieberson offers Barbra a contract with Columbia Records.
OCTOBER 1, 1962
Barbra signs with Columbia Records. The initial contract is modest, but she negotiates to get creative control-she can choose her own material, dictate the cover art and title the albums.
OCTOBER 4, 1962
Barbra finally does the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson behind the desk.
OCTOBER 16, 1962
In her first, solo Columbia session, Barbra records “Happy Days Are Here Again,” “Right As the Rain,” “When the Sun Comes Out,” and “Lover Come Back to Me.”
OCT 23 – NOV 18, 1962
Barbra has her final Bon Soir engagement.
NOVEMBER 2, 1962
Streisand’s first single is released, “Happy Days Are Here Again”/”When The Sun Comes Out.”
NOVEMBER 5 – 7, 1962
Streisand is recorded live at the Bon Soir for a possible debut album. The material is eventually released as part of “…Just For The Record.”
DECEMBER 9, 1962
“I Can Get It For You Wholesale” closes at the Broadway Theatre. (It moved from the Shubert Theatre mid-run).
DECEMBER 16, 1962
Streisand makes her first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” singing “My Coloring Book” and “Lover, Come Back to Me.”
JANUARY 8 – 28, 1963
Barbra plays her last engagement at the Blue Angel. Opening the bill is the comedy team Stiller and Meara.
FEBRUARY 1, 1963
Streisand’s first album, “The Barbra Streisand Album” is released. The album stays on the Billboard charts for 101 weeks, and wins Grammys for Best Album and Best Female Vocalist (for “Happy Days Are Here Again”).
FEBRUARY 11 – 15, 1963
Barbra is the week-long guest host on “The Mike Douglas Show.”
MARCH 5, 1963
Barbra appears for the very last time on “The Tonight Show.”
MARCH 19 – 23/ 25 – 26, 1963
Streisand appears at the Eden Roc in Miami Beach. She flies to New York for her second appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show”.
MARCH 27 – APRIL 20, 1963
Barbra appears at the hungry i in San Francisco.
APRIL 1, 1963
Following her successful TV appearances, Columbia re-releases the “Happy Days” single to get radio to play Barbra’s music.
MAY 12, 1963
Streisand appears on “The Dinah Shore Show.” President John F. Kennedy sees her and she’s invited to perform at the White House.
MAY 13 – JUNE 1, 1963
Streisand debuts at Basin Street East in New York, opening for bandleader Benny Goodman.
MAY 24, 1963
Barbra entertains at the White House Press Correspondents Dinner and sings for President Kennedy. She croons “Happy Days Are Here Again,” the traditional Democratic party theme song, to the President. When she’s introduced to JFK, Barbra asks for his autograph…for her mother. He obliges and asks her how long she has been singing. “About as long as you’ve been president,” she answers, making him laugh.
JUNE 1, 1963
Elliott Gould appears in London in the musical “On The Town.” Barbra joins him for a short vacation.
JUNE 9, 1963
Streisand appears on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” this time singing “When the Sun Comes Out.”
JULY 2 – AUGUST 4, 1963
Barbra appears in Las Vegas, opening for Liberace at the Riviera Hotel. Liberace became a fan of hers after going to the Bon Soir and seeing her on “Ed Sullivan.”
JULY 26, 1963
After months of speculation, Barbra is announced as the winner of the coveted role of Fanny Brice in the Broadway musical “Funny Girl.”
AUGUST 1, 1963
“The Second Barbra Streisand Album” is released. It stays on the Billboard charts for 74 weeks.
AUGUST 21, 1963
Streisand opens a two-week gig at the Cocoanut Grove in LA, attracting celebrity-filled audiences. Judy Garland comes to see her and asks her to appear on “The Judy Garland Show.”
SEPTEMBER 13, 1963
Barbra marries Elliott Gould (nee Goldstein) in Carson City, Nevada, near Lake Tahoe.
OCTOBER 4, 1963
Barbra tapes “The Judy Garland Show.” The two singers hit it off and the show is riveting. Network execs like the show so much, it’s broadcast two days later, October 6, 1963. Streisand is nominated for an Emmy-the first time a guest appearance was ever honored in such a way.
OCTOBER 5, 1963
Streisand sings at the Hollywood Bowl. Sammy Davis, Jr. headlines the concert.
NOVEMBER 22, 1963
Streisand hears the news President Kennedy has been assassinated. During a rehearsal with pianist. Peter Daniels, she’s overcome with emotion while singing “Happy Days.” She was supposed to return to the White House on Dec ember 5, less than two weeks away, to perform for JFK once more.
DECEMBER 10, 1963
In New York City, pre-production on the new Broadway musical “Funny Girl” commences.
DECEMBER 27, 1963
Barbra is guest of honor when she’s named Cue magazine’s Entertainer of the Year.
JANUARY 13, 1964
In the midst of a snowstorm, “Funny Girl” has its first public showing in Boston. It’s a disaster, not ending until 2:00 a.m. The reviews are awful and the producer contemplate pulling the plug on the show.
JANUARY 21, 1964
Columbia releases Barbra’s latest single, “People,” a ballad from “Funny Girl.” It’s the “B” side, with “I Am Woman” designated the “A” side. Because Capitol Records is producing the original cast album rather than Columbia, the label is reluctant to promote Barbra’s show.
FEBRUARY 4, 1964
“Funny Girl” opens in Philadelphia. Jerome Robbins returns to the show to “doctor” the production. Under his supervision, the show continues to improves-he puts all the pressure on Barbra, giving her more songs and co- medley. It’s decided that the musical will rise or fall on her performance.
MARCH 26, 1964
“Funny Girl” opens on Broadway. Barbra receives glowing notices and the show’s a hit. She is nominated for a Tony award as Best Actress in a Musical.
APRIL 6, 1964
The cast gathers to record the original cast album. Capitol Records releases the vinyl three days later. It sells 400,000 units in one month-the fastest selling Capitol record up to that time.
APRIL 10, 1964
Time Magazine hits the stands with Barbra on the cover.
APRIL 12, 1964
Barbra appears as the mystery guest on “What’s My Line?”
MAY 1, 1964
Streisand appears on the cover of Life magazine.
MAY 12, 1964
Streisand attends the Grammy Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. She wins two Grammys, Best Female Vocalist and Album of the Year for “The Barbra Streisand Album,” her first solo album. She is 22, the youngest person to date to win Album of the Year. The album also wins Best Album Cover.
JUNE 22, 1964
Barbra Streisand signs a $5 million deal with CBS Television to do as many as 10 musical specials.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1964
The People album is released.OCTOBER 6 – 8, 1964
Barbra guests on the radio show “Let’s Talk to Lucy,” with hostess Lucille Ball.
OCTOBER 31, 1964
All five Barbra Streisand albums are on the Billboard Top 100 Albums chart.
MAY 17, 1965
Encyclopedia Britannica names Barbra as one of two fashion trendsetters of the year.
JANUARY 18, 1965
Streisand entertains at the Democratic Inaugural Gala for President Lyndon Johnson.
APRIL 4, 1965
At a Civil Rights fundraiser in Selma, Alabama, Barbra sings “That’s A Fine Kind of Freedom.”
APRIL 13, 1965
Streisand attends Grammys and wins Best Female Vocalist for “People.”
APRIL 14, 1965
Taping is completed on Barbra’s first TV production, “My Name Is Barbra,” a one-woman musical special. Without any guest stars, CBS fears the program will be a disaster.
APRIL 24, 1965
Barbra is given a birthday party-her 23rd-at the Spindletop Restaurant by the cast of “Funny Girl,” and receives as a gift from them a white poodle puppy named Sadie.
APRIL 28, 1965
“My Name Is Barbra” airs. Despite CBS’s apprehensions, the critics call it an instant classic. It’s nominated for five Emmy Awards.
JUNE 11, 1965
Backstage at “Funny Girl,” a disgruntled Sydney Chaplin, Streisand’s leading man, tangles with Barbra and he leaves the show before his contract is up.
SEPTEMBER 12, 1965
“My Name Is Barbra” wins 5 Emmy awards, including two for Barbra.
OCTOBER 1, 1965
Streisand meets composer Michel Legrand and they discuss collaborating on an album.
OCTOBER 10, 1965
Elliott Gould opens in a new Broadway musical called “Drat! The Cat!” Streisand and Gould invest in the show, but it’s a flop, closing in a week. Barbra records two songs from the show-”He Touched Me” and “I Like Him.”
NOVEMBER 22, 1965
At composer Harold Arlen’s invitation, Barbra agrees to be a guest on his solo album, “Harold Sings Arlen (with friend).” She does two songs, a solo rendition of “House of Flowers” and a duet with Arlen,”Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead.”
DECEMBER 1, 1965
Barbra is forced to sign a four-picture deal with Ray Stark to ensure that she’s cast in the film version of “Funny Girl.” Stark announces that Barbra will re-create her Broadway success in the big screen adaptation of “Funny Girl.”
DECEMBER 26, 1965
Streisand plays Fanny Brice for the last time on Broadway. For an encore, Barbra does Fanny’s classic theme, “My Man.”
JANUARY 1, 1966
“Color Me Barbra,” Streisand’s second TV special, begins pre-production.
FEBRUARY 1, 1966
Streisand attends Paris fashion shows, shopping for clothes to wear on her next TV special.
MARCH 30, 1966
“Color Me Barbra,” Barbra’s second TV special, airs.
APRIL 13, 1966
The London version of “Funny Girl” opens at the Prince of Wales Theatre with Barbra duplicating her Broadway success. The show is sold out for the entire fourteen-week run.
APRIL 19, 1966
Streisand and husband Elliott Gould announce the impending birth of their first child. Barbra’s planned U.S. concert tour of 26 cities is cut back to just four.
JUNE 26, 1966
In London, Barbra begins recording “A Christmas Album.”
JULY 21, 1966
Barbra performs for record-sellers at the Columbia Records sales convention.
JULY 30-AUGUST 9, 1966
Barbra does concerts in Newport, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago, before retiring to have her baby.
SUMMER 1966
Barbra and Elliott rent a house in Long Island for the season.
FALL – WINTER 1966
After Sidney Lumet walks out on preparations to direct the film version of “Funny Girl,” Oscar-winning filmmaker William Wyler decides to do the film.
DECEMBER 29, 1966
Barbra checks into Mount Sinai Hospital on December 28, using the name Angelina Scarangella, her acting school alias. Jason Emanuel Gould is delivered by Caesarian section the next day. He weighs 7 lb…12 oz.
JANUARY 1, 1967
Streisand agrees to star in Paramount Pictures adaptation of the Broadway musical “On A Clear Day You Can See Forever.”
APRIL 26 – 29, 1967
Streisand tapes her third CBS special, “The Belle of 14th Street” in New York. Unlike her previous one-woman shows, this one has guest stars and a theme-an homage to vaudeville. CBS doesn’t like the finished product and shelves the show until October.
MAY 1, 1967
Barbra signs to play Dolly in the film version of “Hello, Dolly!” It causes an uproar because many champion Carol Channing, who originated the role on Broadway, getting the part. Barbra’s also deemed too young for the part.
MAY 5, 1967
Barbra presents the Best Musical Tony award to “Cabaret.”
MAY 10, 1967
Barbra lands in Hollywood to begin shooting “Funny Girl.”
MAY 14, 1967
“Funny Girl” producer Ray Stark throws a party for Barbra to introduce her to Hollywood’s biggest stars.
JUNE 1, 1967
In reaction to the Six-Day War in the Mideast, Barbra gives $400,000 to the Emergency Campaign for Israel.JUNE 11, 1967
Barbra sings at a Rally for Israeli Survival at the Hollywood Bowl.
JUNE 17, 1967
Barbra gives a free concert in New York’s Central Park. Over 135,000 people show up. The concert, “A Happening In Central Park,” is taped for a CBS-TV special. Streisand reveals years later that she had received death threats because of her pro-Israeli stance.
JULY 9, 1967
Streisand does a second live concert, this one at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
JULY 18, 1967
In New York, Barbra shoots the “Don’t Rain on My Parade” musical sequence for “Funny Girl.”
FALL 1967
Streisand and her “Funny Girl” co-star Omar Sharif have a brief romance.
OCTOBER 1, 1967
Barbra re-signs with Columbia Records for five more years.
OCTOBER 11, 1967
“The Belle of 14th Street” finally airs on CBS. It’s Streisand’s third TV special, and a flop.
DECEMBER 1, 1967
Barbra finishes filming “Funny Girl.”
WINTER 1967
Back to New York, producer Valentine Sherry sends Streisand a story to read which he would like her to do as a film. It’s Isaac Bashevis Singer’s “Yentl, the Yeshiva Boy.” Barbra loves it and wants to do it, but her agents-David Begelman and Freddie Fields-advise her to put it off.
JANUARY 21, 1968
Streisand sings at the “Broadway For Peace 1968″ rally, a fundraiser for members of Congress who are opposed to the war in Viet Nam.
FEBRUARY 23, 1968
“Our Corner of the Night”/”He Could Show Me” is released as a single, signaling Streisand’s early forays into pop music.
APRIL 10, 1968
Streisand appears at the Academy Awards for the first time to present Best Song. The Oscar is accepted by Sammy Davis, Jr. for the Anthony Newly-Leslie Bricusse song “Talk To The Animals.”
APRIL 15, 1968
“Hello, Dolly!” starts shooting in upstate New York.
JUNE 1, 1968
“Funny Girl” is sneak-previewed. Barbra and the film both gets high marks from audience members.
JUNE 7, 1968
While shooting in Garrison, New York, Streisand and co-star Walter Matthau get into a squabble. Director Gene Kelly minimizes the incident. Later on, Matthau blames his hot temper on the fact that it was the day after Robert F. Kennedy was shot.
LATE JUNE 1968
Clive Davis, Columbia Records president, visits Streisand to convince her to con-temporize her music.
AUGUST 14, 1968
The “Funny Girl” soundtrack is released and stays on the Billboard chart for 108 weeks-Barbra’s longest run.
LATE SUMMER 1968
“Hello, Dolly!” wraps.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1968
CBS airs Barbra’s first television concert, “A Happening In Central Park.”
SEPTEMBER 18, 1968
“Funny Girl” has a gala premiere in Times Square. In the days ahead, she attends a similar opening in Hollywood. “Funny Girl” gets great reviews, especially Barbra’s performance.
OCTOBER 1, 1968
Streisand poses for Blackgama fur ad…”What Becomes A Legend Most?”
OCTOBER 5, 1968
“On A Clear Day” begins shooting
OCTOBER 17, 1968
At an Israel Bond luncheon at the Hollywood Palladium, Streisand sings “Hatikvah,” the Israeli national anthem.
NOVEMBER 1, 1968
Producer Ray Stark announces Barbra’s next film will be “The Owl & the Pussycat,” a non-musical.
DECEMBER 1968
For the Will Rogers Foundation, Streisand appears in a public service announcement.
JANUARY 6, 1969
In honor of “Clear Day’s” start, Paramount has a Reincarnation Costume Ball. Streisand arrives as Colette, the French writer.
JANUARY 14, 1969
Streisand meets the European press to promote “Funny Girl.”
JANUARY 15, 1969
Barbra attends the Royal Premiere of “Funny Girl” in London, meeting Princess Margaret.
JANUARY 16, 1969
Maurice Chevalier escorts Streisand to the “Funny Girl” premiere in France at L’Opera de Paris.
FEBRUARY 1, 1969
“Funny Girl” garners eight Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture and one for Barbra as Best Actress.
FEBRUARY 13, 1969
Streisand and husband Elliott Gould announce that they are separating.
APRIL 14, 1969
At the Academy Awards, Streisand (with Elliott by her side) wins the Oscar in a tie with Katharine Hepburn. Barbra’s Arnold Scassi-designed pants suit causes a stir. Barbra accepts the award from Ingrid Bergman, then says to the Oscar, “Hello, gorgeous!”
APRIL 17, 1969
Al Moharrer, a Beirut newspaper, demands Barbra Streisand’s films be banned in the Arab world because she is a “Zionist.”
MAY 16, 1969
Streisand becomes the second woman in history to be honored by the Friar’s Club with one of their legendary roasts as Entertainer of the Year.
JUNE 1, 1969
Streisand, Paul Newman, and Sidney Poitier create a film company called First Artists to produce their own movies.
JULY 2 – 30, 1969
Streisand is the first star to appear at the new International Hotel in Las Vegas. She is paid a (then) whopping one million dollars for four weeks work.
NOVEMBER 1, 1969
Barbra begins dating Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
OCTOBER 6, 1969
Principal photography begins on “The Owl & the Pussycat.”
DECEMBER 1, 1969
Streisand and her mother, Diana Kind, go to see Barbra’s 18-year-old sister, Roslyn Kind, sing at the Persian Room.
DECEMBER 1, 1969
A co-op board rejects Barbra’s application when she tries to buy a 20-room apartment at 1021 Park Avenue. Barbra suspects the cause is anti-Semitism because one year earlier she had been similarly denied an apartment at 1107 Fifth Avenue.
DECEMBER 3, 1969
State Attorney General Louis J. Lefkowitz launches an investigation into the practices of the city co-op boards in response to Barbra’s plight.
DECEMBER 17, 1969
“Hello, Dolly!” finally opens. Streisand goes to the New York opening directly from filming “The Owl & the Pussycat” in Central Park. She’s mobbed by overzealous fans, who break through police barriers to try and get to the star.
WINTER 1969
Barbra becomes the spokesperson for the National Association of Retarded Children, appearing in commercial, on posters and in print ads. She also contributes to the United Nations’ Children’s Fund.
