Angela Lansbury, 1975 Tony awards, MAME

[@outreachvideo]

As I've dreaded for the last six years since I found this clip the day has come for me to pay my respects to the Grande ol' Dame of Broadway. I watch this clip at least four to five a months because of how classy its done. RIP Angela. Loved you and will miss you dearly.

[@LawandGossip]

She was like you all know I can sing. Let me show you these legs

[@mrfester42]

I grew up in the 19630s hearing this song but I never saw this awards presentation. What a surprise to see the Mayor of New York City, John Lindsey, suddenly appearing on stage at the end of this number and surprising Angela Lansbury as one of her male dancers. That's Mayor Lindsey walking to the podium with Lansbury. She was genuinely surprised and that was cool as hell.

[@triciarie3972]

Thanks, I could tells she was surprised, but I had no idea who he was.

[@AmericaCirclingTheDrain]

I couldn't tell who it was because of the poor quality of the video. I'm so glad you mentioned it.

[@carolewatson-mckoy8689]

Angela a true natural beauty Elegant and bright. You and your late husband made a handsome couple. A very good actress

[@trilby5546]

She will always be Mame and a STAR.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@wiguy3]

Now this is pure class. I recall Angela saying how she had to fight to get this role. I couldn't imagine identifying anyone else with the stage version. Ms. Russell was superb in the non-musical movie as well.

[@artistphx]

Imagine the risk they took with Landsbuty at the time and it certainly paid off! And I agree about Ms. Russell!

[@jessicalillianweinberg4401]

I always feel like when they do the song "Mame" as part of showcases like this it's really about Angela (i.e., it's Angela who can charm the blues right out of the horn.)

[@briansnow5138]

Don't forget -- this was 1975, which was the year AFTER the Lucille Ball movie version of the musical Mame was released. Angela was openly disappointed in not being cast in this film, and rightfully so. This was surely the American Theater Wing's tribute to her as Mame.

[@bostonblackie9503]

Her competition was Patricia Routledge. The British actress who appeared in TV's "Keeping Up Appearances." Now also a Dame! Forever known as Hyacinth Bucket. Pronounced Bouquet!

[@truckermctruckah9454]

@@briansnow5138 I always thought this was the best way to get people to forget the biblical mistake of choosing Lucille Ball over her in the movie. I do mean that was a BIBLICAL mistake.

[@realfredwithtires]

NOW THIS! THIS IS A LEGEND!

[@XX-gy7ue]

TWO LEGENDS

[@d.joslin5985]

Angela You Will Never Be Forgotten. Rest In Peace!

[@fido3449]

How beautifully she moves. Actually come to think of it, so does Carol Channing.

[@p.haffner4468]

Lansbury.... Total CLASS!

[@timothyleon558]

She’s a treasure!

[@artistphx]

Having the mayor of New York step in as her last dancer certainly gave her a smile!

[@stephanieyeshuaislife7236]

I love Angela Lansbury!

[@stephanieyeshuaislife7236]

***** of Blue Hawaii fame, do you remember?

[@judyprebell7223]

Rest in Peace Mame♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@echeleteich3347]

Yes, for sure a legend & Broadway royalty. 🎼🎶

[@robertgraziano]

I was in the front row when I saw her on Broadway and still remember her wink at me when I yelling my bravos.What an experience!P,S I also saw her in Gypsy and Sweeney Todd. Those were the wonderful times of Broadway.

[@rogelioquintana7927]

She was (and is) great, but more than that she was (and will be) loved. Thanks God for her.

[@kensimmons1499]

The way all she did was walk around and look fabulous truly iconic

[@toodie535]

that looks like the iconic Jean Harlow dress.She looks fantastic!

[@tadimaggio]

It's a safe bet that Angela Lansbury will leave both a bigger and a better mark on history than John Lindsay.

[@JOSEPEREZ-mi9sn]

Que elegancia, que exquisitez, que belleza que dama que maravilla en fin en todo ella es siempre ella unica Angela Lansbury por siempre .

[@professoro.g.whataschnozel4936]

For those of you who have no idea who that guy is its former mayor John Lindsay of NYC.

[@Youbibaby]

Thank you because I sure as hell didn't know who he was. lol

[@maxjohnson8025]

can you imagine rudy - lol

[@cynthiabelleman6497]

Thank you, now I know!

[@mediumthomasjohn8531]

@@maxjohnson8025LOL. Not Rudy 😂

[@hallson2917]

Rest in Peace :(

[@amyclarke41]

Loved her

[@garycarpenter6433]

She knew how to strut her stuff

[@ember906]

Her reaction at :053 when she realizes it's the mayor of NYC is priceless.

[@johnmiller9024]

He wasn't Mayor at this time. He left Gracie Mansion in 1973

[@dannybex]

What a dumb clip.

[@dannybex]

@@brownncares Yes, because it was DUMB. Pointless. Lansbury walk-dancing across the stage, and getting "surprised" (not) by the governor. I thought it would at least include a performance.

[@cynthiabelleman6497]

Love her

[@michaelcreekmore1885]

Class act!

[@verba5747]

Love her, love her, love her!

[@zkg]

@dollarallen Lindsay was very famous for attending opening nights of new B'way plays and musicals during his tenure as NYC mayor...

[@teeniebeenie8774]

BEST SHOW I EVER SAW. SHE WAS THE ONLY ONLY MAME !

[@robsieger1886]

No, she wasn't. But she was probably the best.

[@mzmiller52]

And the best mrs. Lovett. No one else comes close. One of the best performances I ever saw.

[@e.r.5802]

Omg! She's fabulous!!

[@bobbymaesteg]

The moment she became a gay icon forever

[@marisascasserra3897]

Troppo simpatica Angela

[@immaculatezulu]

joyous!

[@earthlingsdeliciousfoodlab]

that dance

[@MP-lq3xx]

Gold!

[@stefaniapattelli9325]

Grande Angela ti riempie il cuore

[@EagleRockers]

Of course Lucy did not appear in Mame on Broadway. I was responding to phlash12 saying Ms. Ball did not appear on Broadway, which she did. That was my point. I did see Angela do Mame when I was 12 years old. Loved it! I also saw Ginger Rogers do Mame in London in the summer of 1969 - she could still do those high kicks.

[@skippy1733]

This is terrific. I think the man who surprised her at the end is New York Mayor John Lindsey.

[@mzmiller52]

I think beanarthur and her husband intended for bea Arthur to have the title role. Don’t the mayor and mame look gorgeous together. He had a lot of charm and good looks.

[@amparosorolla6831]

Me encanta esta señora...

[@XX-gy7ue]

when mayor's were stars

[@kred_65]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@marialafauci5362]

MAGNIFICA INIMITABILE IN TUTTO E PER TUTTO UNA GRANDE ARTISTA DI UNA GRANDE CLASSE COMPLETA QUESTI SONO I SPETTACOLI DA VEDERE L'ABBIAMO SEMPRE AMATA LA SIGNORA IN GIALLO , INDIMENTICABILE.

[@milenapompei3679]

Angela mitica!

[@willhoey6159]

Actually, Rosalind Russell was the original Mame in 1958's "Auntie Mame". Angela did the original Broadway production in 1966.

[@mirellasanseviero472]

Bravissima. 🤗❤🌷

[@satnitcboy]

Not that other actresses haven't played it onstage when they were becoming more senior than the role suggests. Lansbury is about 50 in the clip here, was a young 41 when the Broadway show opened in 1966. She last played it in '83, age 58.

[@CharlieChilders-wm9gb]

They were getting ready to film The Broadway show "mame" live while she was appearing again on broadway but at the last minute she had to cancel the film in 1983. She had signed to begin "murder she wrote" and her msw obligation would not allow it. She wanted to film it so very much and I wish something could have been worked out. Such a pity and loss!!!😟♥️

[@maxjohnson8025]

Back when many people in politics had class

[@XX-gy7ue]

WOW

[@noniway8013]

John Lindsay was so handsome.

[@phlash12]

Because this is the Tony Awards, and Ms. Ball did not appear on Broadway. Angela Lansbury did.

[@bryanallen2545]

Let's be clear, Rosalind Russell was the originator of the film character, Mame (which is based on a true story). Russell's film was produced in 1958, while Ball's (musical version) was produced in 1973. The Broadway production came about in 1975.

[@chandlerverastro3569]

Bryan Allen Let's be even clearer...The original Broadway Production of the Musical "Mame" was in 1966. It was the first of many shows my late Father took me to. To be even clearer than clear: Rosalind Russell portrayed "Auntie Mame" in the original Broadway Production of the play in 1956 before taking on the film in 1958.

[@emerybayblues]

Actually the musical adaptation of "Mame" was in the mid 1960s. The movie version of the musical with Lucille Ball was 1974.

[@bobchretien7104]

Bryan Allen Stop talking out of your butt. Mame opened on Broadway in the mid sixties. Do some research man.

[@SeabornChristian]

So a couple of comments to both a comment and a question: In truth the story of the original book (Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade (published 1955)) was written by Edward Everett Tanner III who used the name Patrick Dennis (the boy character in the story) to help sell the story on the concept of it being a "true story". In truth, it was not a true story. Tanner is even quoted as saying it was all fictional. As for why Lucille Ball got the role (while key cast members from the Broadway show did reprise their roles in the film), because Ball was the driving force in making the deal with Warner Brothers Studios to make the film at all. So (sadly for film history), Angela was never going to be offered the chance to play the role that she had initiated on Broadway. Of course, the film version of the Herman's other big hit, Hello Dolly, was another sad story in terms of the Broadway star (Carol Channing) was never going to have been offered the role in the film. 20th Century-Fox Studios wanted a younger, up and coming yet proven lead. With Streisand coming off the success of Funny Girl (which is kind of ironic, given the in the case of Funny Girl Streisand both created the role on Broadway and got to recreate it in the film), she was deemed the logical choice. Now I have been a Jerry Herman fan (via Hello Dolly) for 53 years (since I got to sing it live with Louis Armstrong when I was 9 years old). Was Streisand a good choice for the Hello Dolly film? Certainly her voice and acting skills and credentials would say yes. My only objection (as I got older, I was only 13 years old when the film was released in 1969), was that the immensely talented Streisand was about 15 years too young (in 1969) to play the role of a more middle-aged woman. And casting her opposite Walter Matthau (who was the right age for his role) was almost like an old man robbing the cradle with marrying someone 30 years younger than he. But as with all these cases that people like to debate, it's a bit pointless. The films were made and are a part of our rich film history and should be enjoyed (or not) based upon what is and not what might have been. (Of course another great example would be Warner Brothers Studios (by way of legendary producer Jack Warner himself) bypassing Julie Andrews (for Audrey Hepburn) to recreate Andrews' stage role of Eliza Doolittle in the musical My Fair Lady. (Funny. Warner Brothers did the exact same thing here as they did with MAME. Using a number of the supporting cast roles from the Broadway show but not the leading lady. It was funny, in this case, however. The year the film My Fair Lady came out so did Disney's Mary Poppins. Andrews was able to take the Poppins role primarily because she was not involved with the film of My Fair Lady. Both she and Hepburn were, for their respective roles, nominated that year for Golden Globe Awards and Andrews won. In her acceptance speech, Andrews jokingly said from the stage that she wanted to especially thank Jack Warner for making her award possible. (Since Warner had denied her the My Fair Lady role.) It all worked out rather well for Julie Andrews. Her success in Poppins made her both a star and household name. That, in turn, led to The Sound of Music, making her not only a once-in-a-lifetime type of a star, but a legendary piece of film history.)

[@robsieger1886]

The Broadway musical came out in 1966.

[@jimmyallenjunior6139]

the man at the end of the clip was then mayor of Ny John garbage strike Lindsay.

[@johnfd0210]

Thank you for the information, because I thought it must be her husband.

[@gregorykeithmorris3970]

Somebody should have been in the film version a year earlier.

[@barbarabuttiglieri9858]

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@francoisnatchimie6937]

💙💙💙💥💙💙💙💙

[@Signoredeme]

actually she was... she won the Tony for it!

[@lorialarson]

I sing Mame alsoo, Whitefish, MT. To A T., I am a Thespian, 100 hours, and counting, 1974-1981

[@tomardans4258]

I will never forgive anyone involved.

[@EagleRockers]

Lucille Ball did appear on Broadway - see "Wildcat" the musical. Opened on Broadway in 1960.

[@yettaplotz2155]

LUcy was a bit old and missed most of her performances.

[@EagleRockers]

@@yettaplotz2155 - Lucy was 48/49 - in my book that's not old.

[@MikeysGayToday]

If I may, who is the gentelman that came out at the end and looked liked he surprised Angela? I would have KILLED to have seen Andela and Bea on stage doing Mame!

[@cherylhentz5198]

Amazing how in some pictures Lindsay looks like Lansbury’s husband Peter Shaw. But in this clip it is the former mayor of NYC, John Lindsay. All class acts!

[@TADER1000]

Обаяние- страшная сила...

[@realfredwithtires]

The man is former NYC Mayor, the late John Lindsay.

[@picturefan2009]

It's a former NYC mayor John Lindsay.

[@stevekonefal7990]

Handsome mayor...must be why angie kissed him on lips..

[@greg1lewin]

She was in the musical. And it doesn't sound like a put down at all - just an assessment of talent. Grow up.

[@Pipmus]

PLEASE STOP COMPARING ALL THE MANY PLAYERS. ALL ARE WONDERFUL IN THEIR SPECIAL TALENT. OF COURSE THERE ARE FAVORITES, BUT LET'S BE FAIR TO ALL.

[@johnpickford4222]

Is this a comment or criticism of the film version MAME with Lucille Ball which bombed at the box office since it’s one year after the film was made or MAIMED?

[@bostonblackie9503]

Legs Lansbury!

[@ret2rick]

@artsavant Yes, but I am not the one making serious critical rebukes about a person who has actually garnered success from Her professional chops. That is what I have contention about. Sure you can say that her comedic talents were not to your liking, but she was and is still one of the most revered comediennes in the industry. Just get over yourself. Splitting hairs, critical acumen, and cleverness aside, at least she's still on the air after over 60 years. Is that what bothers you, hmm?

[@satnitcboy]

To be clear, Lucy's husband, Gary Morton, bought the film rights for Lucy (and I believe it was her idea). In any case, if there was to be a film it was to star Lucy, unless she gave it up. Lucy was 63 when the film was made in 1974. She was simply too old for the part.

[@bobchretien7104]

Tom Crisp Old? How about the fact she couldnt sing!

[@russelltelesca6119]

She was 61 years old when she finished filming Mame. She was perfect for the role and I'm glad she immortalized the role on film. Lucy is Mame.

[@ddburrows988]

I dunno, I find Lucy's persona to have a petulance about her, and does not exude the essence of Mame. Ms. Lansbury, on the other hand, is absolutely delightful, sexy and captivating. Mame is a charming gourmand of Life, not an irritable mugger for the camera. It was painful to suffer through Lucy's performance when we know what could have been. No offense meant to her and the many who do Love Lucy.

[@helenrenault8218]

Mayor John Lindsey

[@Heyjay454]

Who are the other men? That looks like Bobby Van dancing with her before John comes out.

[@cherylhentz5198]

It is Bobby Van - good eye!

[@iamiconman1]

Does any one know how I can get a quality audio recording of this clip?

[@mariemarchesani1595]

I saw Lansbury in her original Mame and every Broadway revival ...she and only she should have done the movie musical or not. Just saw Russell in the non..musical..Lansbury would have been better. Just like Merman should have done Gypsy. Russell is an embarrassment in the movie. Merman than did Mad, Mad, Mad World! Too bad she did not sing Mad, Mad, Mad, Over the titles and credits..what fun!

[@Lucilleballlover]

Why couldn't they use Lucy?

[@realfredwithtires]

What has Florence Henderson's voice got to do with you propagating a story that you read out of a book and it can not be substantiated by anyone except her? The clip featuring Angela Lansbury is classic. People where commenting on who the man was and some incorrectly identified him. I identified him correctly and you made a very snide comment and then attempted to back it up with unfounded facts. Why?

[@firstnamelastname9631]

the Q of the video is so bad I couldn't work out who's the man.

[@WizardGlik]

Aunt Peg: The Musical!

[@pwthcim]

Okay, point made. I didn't have to bring up Henderson's charges. Sorry. Henderson's still a great singer.

[@tagarikamome]

Thanks! Who's the man with Angela?

[@yettaplotz2155]

@Watson Everly And she preferred lobster.

[@robinycus]

@tagarikamome That's NYC Mayor, John Lindsay.

[@fatheranthony4pope]

Yes, but not in Mame. She did not appear on Broadway in the show Mame: Angela Lansbury did, so why would you not use the Broadway star of the show in the Tony awards? That would be stupid!

[@johnsanders6695]

👏👏👏She Should have been in the movie Not Lucy!

[@johnpollendine5792]

I couldn't agree more, wouldn't it have been great if they had persuaded Doris Day to take over the role. She would have brought so much more to the excellent songs.

[@gizmo081088]

This gentleman is, in my opinion, Peter Shaw, Angelas husband.

[@nicolehill4531]

gizmo081088 I have to agree. Why would she be kissing a former NYC mayor on the lips at the end of the clip? That doesn't make any sense.

[@minnesotajohn29]

It's John Lindsay.

[@pwthcim]

Not at all. Henerson wrote about this in her bio.

[@stephanieyeshuaislife7236]

"Have you got some sugah for your Mama?"

[@stephanieyeshuaislife7236]

***** (love that line so much ................)

[@satnitcboy]

Lucy, for her part, always said her great regret was losing her singing voice to smoking. BTW, the Mame of the book Auntie Mame is not given an age, but you picture her at about 30 at the beginning, based on the description Patrick Dennis gives. She was a still-young jazz-age flapper, or something like it. Lucy would have made a great Mame, had she gotten there sooner.

[@waltkeast9777]

I agree with you 100%!

[@johnpickford4222]

Tom Crisp: Yes, had she gotten there 30 to 40 years earlier!! It was HER choice to smoke 3 packs a day, no one else’s and she gave poor line readings, couldn’t interpret the songs AND WAS TOO OLD AT 62 or 63! She’s supposed to be his aunt, not grandma! Watching this clip you realize what a missed opportunity of class and elegance replaced by a crotchety old woman.

[@akrenwinkle]

Tom Crisp: I am dubious. All my long life, I've only been aware of one celebrity expressing regret about smoking, and that was Yul Brynner. I never heard Lucy claim to actually have a singing voice, and never heard of her saying anything negative about smoking, and that is probably because in that era, people didn't think there was anything bad about it. Inhaling and exhaling smoke... what could go wrong? Many people even today defend it, claiming there is no proof it causes any disease, and even if it does, "we're all gonna die anyway." If you tell anyone they're wrong about it and offer evidence, they get pissy and hunker down on their ancient beliefs.

[@davidallen508]

Lucy playing the screen “Mame” will always be debatable but I enjoy her in it and her singing works for me, especially with ‘’If He Walked Into My Life” where her understated monologue is quite moving, assisted by lush orchestral backing.

[@ret2rick]

@artsavant Quite frankly, I do think that the casting was not the best. On that note, surprisingly, I do agree. And I do wonder the producers wisdom in thinking that Lansbury (at the time) was not famous enough to reprise the role. That's what I find unusual. So, yes, on this note, I agree that the movie's casting was uninspired.

[@treesny]

Ironically, before creating the musicalized Mame on Broadway in 1966, Angela Lansbury had had a strong movie career in which her singing voice was always dubbed by someone else.

[@adrianshepherd-gawinski3858]

the whole plantation's singing your name?? YOU MAKE THE COTTON EASY TO PICK???????????

[@maryreinhardt8661]

Yes. Wow!!!! That would not work today. 'Twas a different time and place.

[@FolliesFan-yu8mf]

@@maryreinhardt8661 I don't see why that would be the case. The entire premise of the Burnside estate scenes, and in particular the title song, is that it is a spoof of and on the old South. There is nothing politically incorrect about it.

[@cherylhentz5198]

@@maryreinhardt8661 We have to stop being so overly politically correct. It's getting ridiculous. True, cotton today is picked by machines - much more efficient. But back then slaves picked the cotton, among other things. Slavery may not have ever been right, but back then in the time period this was set in, it was legal and that's the end of it. Not to mention this was a spoof about the Old South.

[@kamwrites]

@alphaecho100 Hardly.

[@invisigrl]

Actually Lucy started out as a stage performer didn't she?

[@bobchretien7104]

How how did Angela not get the movie version of MAME instead of talented but NOT A SINGER Lucille Ball???? One oh Hollywoods biggest mistakes.

[@iluvmusicals21]

Bob Chretien Hollywood didn't think she could carry the picture, stupid cretins.

[@robsieger1886]

Forget it. Lansbury was lucky not to have been involved in that disaster. Ball was a main drawback but it might have bombed anyway despite an otherwise great cast. Let it go.

[@echocheck]

I have also heard that Ball put up part of the money for the film.

[@ret2rick]

@artsavant Interesting... I don't see your show still in syndication decades later... But I guess you don't have the professional chops for that. Talent is in the eyes of the beholder, and it is a product of the time that person dispenses the skill. Casting choices are debatable and people are entitled to their opinion, but don't go around splitting hairs about talent. Savants would know better and a savant you are not.

[@pwthcim]

Thanks for showing your maturity. Typical

[@realfredwithtires]

Oh please! Look at your comments...really look at your comments! Not just here but everywhere you spew your blather and then come back and talk to me about "maturity" and what is "typical" as opposed to your heightened bigotry when told exactly who and what you project yourself as.

[@bulldwang1931]

Very very poor quality :(