CHICAGO 1976 Tony Awards

Jane Fonda introduces Jerry Orbach in CHICAGO on the 1976 Tony Awards.

[@mariarosebelding5773]

The fact this man’s vocals are so strong is made all the more insane by the fact HE’S GOT A CIGAR IN HIS MOUTH for at least half of it. Still sounds like the soundtrack. Just incredible.

[@carr0760]

I had the same thought. How was he enunciating so well with that cigar?!

[@baz7055]

He is Jerry Orbach. Baby's father in Dirty Dancing and was in Law and Order for a long time

[@JerryOrbachFan]

Jerry Orbach really had it going on. Immensely talented, gorgeous, sexy and by all accounts a lovely gentleman. I would have chosen him over Swayze as my dance partner.

[@sandee3073]

At Jerry’s memorial service, Chita Rivera talked about what it was like working with Jerry in this show. She said they’d all be waiting backstage with jitters but then she’d see Jerry in his suit and that Jerry was the leader of the cast and was so self-assured and easy going that he made everyone feel relaxed and ready to perform.

[@The22on]

The greatest tribute that Broadway can give is to dim the lights in all theaters for a full minute when a theater icon dies. It's only been done a few times. They did this for the incomparable Jerry Orbach.

[@lordalessan]

They did this for Lauren Bacall when I was in NYC.

[@NancySanders-om4ic]

Mr.Orbach played Baby' s father in the movie" Dirty Dancing." He was in the series" Law and Order," for several years,before he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

[@michaelnally2841]

About a week after I saw Wicked on Broadway Angela Landsbery passed and they dimmed their lights to honor the broadway legend

[@astorkitty]

i so appreciate the whole aesthetic in this original production. the costumes in modern productions dont evoke the late 20s early 30s vibe. they look like they're wearing lingeree from the 90s in most modern productions. loved the film...which got the vibe right.

[@Sarah-zr1nj]

I gotta hand it to Renaissance Disney - they were the ones who introduced me to Orbach with his role as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. And for that, I gotta thank them. He was terrific. I recall being very sad when I had heard he died.

[@skelemberry3810]

I had no idea he was in that movie, now I gotta rewatch it

[@jimmystubbs3149]

Wow, these women look EXACTLY like those beautifully grotesque figures in the original poster artwork by Tony Walton. I had no idea they actually looked like that. The posture, the build, the ghostly complexion...

[@reluctanttraveller275]

That was exactly what I thought.

[@tejaswoman]

When I first saw this performance a year or two ago, I honest-to-god thought it was men in drag.

[@irixperson]

@@tejaswoman That's what the stage was all about; women with *lots* of cosmetics piled on. In "Chicago" it was all about capturing what the past had been like, but Broadway actresses really did look like that! I had a couple in my family that were still "living in the thirties."

[@mervyngreene6687]

Is it my imagination or did that opening tableau look reminisce of the Kit Kat Klub in "Chicago?"

[@philcriswell3540]

@@mervyngreene6687 did you mean Cabaret? Same time period, and Bob Fosse choreographed/directed both.

[@bradthompsonuk2011]

Years before his time on Law & Order. Received the highest Broadway stage awards posthumously and they named both a theater and NY street after him.

[@stressmuffin]

RIP Jerry 😪🙏❤️

[@megbennett7098]

@@stressmuffin People don’t believe me when I tell them Jerry made us name in Broadway musicals!!!!!

[@CherylClark7]

The Talented women with Jerry: Sandra Brewer, Cheryl Clark, Fern Fitzgerald, Karen Burke, Pamela Sousa and Michon Peacock! xo CC Original "POP" 1975 "Chicago"

[@edthoreum7625]

i beilieve in loVvvvEee!!!

[@hansvonrittern9168]

Those original women were BRILLIANT - NO ONE ever got the voice inflections as perfect is these original women!! ESPECIALLY "You know how some people have these annoying habits that get you down?" She correctly/ironically says it in the most annoying voice :)

[@infiniteelaine]

I saw Michon Peacock in the Chita role when I saw "Chicago." She was magnificent!

[@bobbiemooney2100]

Hans Von Rittern 0

[@holarc]

yes, the women were talented, he was not. poor choice of scenes for the tony awards.

[@saradecapua3264]

I'm so fortunate to have seen Jerry twice on Broadway. The best.

[@njatty]

Jerry Orbach was the first and best Billy Flynn. Also the funniest.

[@mervyngreene6687]

Jerry will always be "El Gallo," from "The Fantasticks."

[@Tracymmo]

What a voice! And such charisma and presence.

[@janedoe805]

OMG Jerry Orbach! I had no idea he could sing! 😳♥️♥️♥️

[@carolynzaremba5469]

He was in the original cast of The Fantasticks in the 1960s.

[@zeldafan1942]

If you've seen "Beauty and the Beast", you'll remember that the guy actually did sing "Be Our Guest" in the role of Lumiere the candleabra!

[@RafaelPReyes]

Thanks for posting this! Oh, to have seen the original production of "Chicago". So extravagant, so hard and cynical, so sexy. The revival and the film can't seem to compare. Jerry Orbach, on this clip, is the bomb,

[@edthoreum7625]

child, n0thing like THE original ,then again time never stand still, only in a kodak moment?

[@carolynzaremba5469]

Jerry Orbach was brilliant in this role.

[@JerryOrbachFan]

He was brilliant in everything in every way.

[@katielawrence5420]

I love Jerry Orbach, Sandra Brewer, Cheryl Clark, Fern Fitzgerald, Karen Burke, Pamela Sousa, and Michon Peacock.

[@quinnhen2325]

What a voice!!!!!

[@cards0486]

Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, Jerry Orbach, Kander & Ebb. This show could not possibly lose! 1976 TONYS. Except it had a little competition named A CHORUS LINE. But CHICAGO got her revenge. It’s been running on Broadway for years, is always playing somewhere, and made a much better movie. Hello, Oscar. I saw CHICAGO with Bebe Neuwirth. I had simply died and gone to heaven. Every Fosse dance gives me tingles to my toes. CHICAGO can play forever. “Come on, Babe. Why don’t we paint the town? And all that jazz...”

[@barbiecrocker7420]

There was definitely a rilvary but ACL has also played in many countries on tour and in revivals too. Not as Chicago on Broadway that’s for sure. One thing Bennett did is make sure his dancers in the workshop got residuals or a piece of the back end in ticket sales and they still do.

[@rosemimi973]

I love Jerry Orbach!!! One of the greatest!!!

[@roslynaronson8791]

Niroki Itisme Adorable man! and terrific voice. Fantasticks, too. ☺️

[@maggiegarber246]

After watching him on TV dramas, I had no idea he could sing!

[@Budcat101]

have seen so many different Chicago productions and film and still enjoy ... completely

[@billyflynn2]

Shout out to these amazing women. The style is beautiful, so much better ( just my opinion ) than the many revivals on both Broadway and the West End.

[@jawtek82]

Who knew that Briscoe had such mad skillz! What a talented man.

[@jonathanheath2132]

Oh, how I love Jerry's presentation of this song and character. It's the one I emulate every time I sing it. The world may now see Richard Gere as the model for the character of Billy, but it will always be Jerry for me.

[@SueDNim]

I'm embarrassed that I never heard of Chicago until the 2002 movie musical. I was impressed with Richard Gere mostly because I had no idea he could sing. Had I only known that the incomparable Jerry Orbach created the role on Broadway! Oh, to have seen this on Broadway. Good Lord.

[@KariIzumi1]

Sue D Nim Richard Gere has a history in theater IIRC. He already knew how to tap dance, which is why that was added to the trial in the movie.

[@SueDNim]

+KariIzumi1 Yeah, I think I read that. It was a treat to watch. I think Richard Gere only gets better with age.

[@StevenTorrey]

I thought the movie was great too!

[@Muttonchop_USA]

Another role created by Jerry Orbach. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXa6YnlvoL9gi6c

[@jboao]

KariIzumi1 Actuslly the tap dance scene is in the play, just not in that part that it is in the movie

[@WillScarlet16]

Much as everybody loves Lumiere, watching this makes me think Jerry could have been an excellent Gaston.

[@gardensenglishandbeauty]

The dancers are phenomenal!

[@manolis.799]

Perfection!

[@liliilani]

I remember seeing this show... amazing!!

[@artistphx]

Jerry Orbach-a legend in his own time!

[@artistphx]

no question about that!

[@ingriddubbel8468]

To Hell with Dirty Dancing and Law and Order, TIS IS JERRY ORBACH.

[@farapipsqueek636]

Nah. Lenny Briscoe FTW

[@stressmuffin]

It’s sad that Jerry died. Now Ann Reinking died last month. RIP Jerry & Ann 😪🙏

[@BernardProfitendieu]

Chicago stood the test of time better than A Chorus Line

[@johnsax1445]

And very telling that the movie version of “A Chorus Line “ was a Bomb while the movie version of “Chicago” won The Academy Award for Best Picture. Enough said.

[@Eclectic999]

Jerry Orbach: Such a treasure!

[@Fetterbone]

Absolutely! He was one of a kind.

[@clutzykanine]

Bruh that was hella slick

[@weileongloh9527]

So... this is the early Mr Billy Flynn! I'm totally impressed. The current versions are somewhat... sanitised... no good!

[@carolynzaremba5469]

@@skelemberry3810 I agree.

[@tashkay5389]

Sucks it got overshadowed by A Chorus Line at the Tonys that year

[@kennethbrady]

Chicago may have been a little too truthful. Vietnam, Watergate everyday on TV. Lies and deceit and political theater. Chicago doesn't seem to sugarcoat anything. Maybe hard to stomach compared to ACL? Though more artful and important, perhaps.

[@tejaswoman]

@@kennethbrady There's also the fact that in the pre-OJ trial years, the concept of glamming up murderers and making a spectacle of the trial was viewed quite differently.

[@ouidaevans2611]

When I played this for my boyfriend, he couldn’t believe this was Lennie Briscoe, of Law & Order!

[@alfiepo1]

WE WANT BILLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Lee-xs9ee]

I can just hear the audience going "What the?"

[@ingriddubbel8468]

Law and Order must have been such a breeze. He was the best Celebrity Jeporday contestant; a dubious honor but he was smart, talented and loved New York.

[@lindas.martin2806]

Amazing, and fantastic! The actor ended up playing a serious detective, but what a musical talent!

[@stressmuffin]

I heard that Jerry would sing Broadway show tunes with the guy, who played the original Colin from Rent, Jesse.... oh Damn! Forgot his last name. Those 2 would sing show tunes between takes. ❤️ them!

[@aneamarlivana172]

@@stressmuffin Jesse L. Martin.

[@megbennett3550]

But before he was Lennie Briscoe. He was on Broadway almost 30 years!!!!

[@lotteweill]

Musical comedy never got better than this, very funny , very smart, perfectly performed number.. And the rest of the show wasn't so bad either, just sayin'. Saw the original company 3 times.

[@redique]

Seriously, they went with All he cares about. Should have been Both reached for the gun, All that Jaz, cell block tango all before this.

[@TheRedPhoneVideos]

Or Nowadays.

[@ajdc88]

I assume they chose this song because it didn't require one of the female leads (who'd probably prefer to dress, preparing for possibly winning a tony, etc)

[@holarc]

yes, the women were talented here, he was not. poor choice of scenes for the tony awards.

[@TamannaDas]

@@ajdc88 But many leading actress nominees also perform at the Tonys, right?

[@blameitoncapitalism]

They went for the one with the male lead singer, of course.

[@juliestrickland2145]

Gah love so much!!

[@sabbie_stat]

Can't believe this is the same guy from Law & Order SVU 😮

[@JerryOrbachFan]

Physical love with Jerry Orbach sounds like it would have been wonderful. 😊

[@themermaidstale5008]

The ladies look like they work in a Cabaret.

[@chrissi2810]

That's the intention and satire about the whole thing. While the show plays in a prison, the whole original set was a night club with the cast representing cabaret acts.

[@njatty]

@@chrissi2810 Actually, it was performed as if it were a vaudeville show with most of the numbers recalling the vaudeville acts of performers of period, e.g, Texas Guinan (All that Jazz), Helen Morgan (Funny Honey), Ted Lewis (All I Care About), the female impersonator Julian Eltinge (Little Bit of Good), Sophie Tucker (When You're Good to Mama), Bert Williams (Mr Cellophane). The costuming for Mr Cellophane in the original also recalled that of Emil Jannings in the film THE BLUE ANGEL; Jannings played the cuckolded husband of cabaret singer Marlene Dietrich.

[@altagriffin1044]

Greatest

[@jws1948ja]

Not just physical love. . .

[@guinpen4604]

Finally Im here

[@rafterscott]

What's funny is this song also describes his future Law & Order character Lennie Brisco.

[@sussycathal]

THE FACT HE WAS ACTUALLY SMOKING DURING THIS TOO HOLY COW????????

[@carolynzaremba5469]

I smoked a cigar in a musical in the 70s, too.

[@JerryOrbachFan]

He smoked cigarettes which is surprising since smoking damages your voice.

[@dxmxo9427]

Chicago ? darn that play was in the 1970s NICE,So surreal,LOVING THE Authentic 1920s makeup and costumes. Also the women in this clip look so Androgynous like Drag queens Luv it haha

[@guineapiggirl400]

The reason they look androgynous is because the "boyish" figure was VERY popular in the 1920s. The ideal female figure was one without any waist and short flapper style hair. Its very comparable to 1940s war time womens fashion. Which also took a very masculine approach albeit for a different reason.

[@TheClassictvfan]

Is that the guy from Law & Order?

[@patmurphy8345]

yup

[@stressmuffin]

In between takes, oh shoot! I forgot the original actor, who played Colin in Rent & Jerry used to sing Broadway show tunes on the set of Law & Order.

[@farapipsqueek636]

​@@stressmuffin Jesse Martin as Detective Green

[@stressmuffin]

@Fara pipsqueek Thanks! Damn brain fart!

[@brendacshea]

What wasn't Jerry Orbach in?

[@patfulton7746]

ITCJon As it should have been.

[@Muttonchop_USA]

The Women

[@jndiaz76]

detective Lennie Briscoe!!!

[@splinky45]

so much better than the current revival and the movie.

[@directedbydae]

splinky45 no it’s not..

[@raymundoyanez3282]

YES ! The ORIGINAL ! FOSSE ! Concept !.. was Way More CREATIVE ! 'SURREAL ! SENSUALLY RAW !!! GHOSTLY And ORIGINAL !.. than The SCALED DOWN ! TONED DOWN !!👎 90's COLORLESS!!! Revival !!!!!

[@chk1230]

Times were simpler then. The theater has become more complicated to the detriment of the art

[@elphbwckd212]

In some instances, yes. People have gravitated toward big show musicals. But those have always been around. Evita, Cats, Phantom, Sunset Boulevard, Pippin. All huge productions. And there are plenty of shows these days that are smaller and simple like this. The Chicago Revival, Cabaret Revival, Fun Home, The Band's Visit etc. There are plenty of those shows on Broadway. And some of the big spectacles are still beautiful art in themselves.

[@carolynzaremba5469]

Times weren't simpler then. I was in my 20s and also an actor/singer in the 1970s. We were hipper than kids nowadays will ever be.

[@ethanhval9593]

Daddy . Yup

[@JillGr]

Lumiere!

[@andrewrannellslostchapstic5141]

what's the name of the host

[@farapipsqueek636]

Jane Fonda

[@carolynzaremba5469]

Young people today are so ignorant.

[@arkantika3927]

Nobody puts baby in a corner

[@misssparkles7520]

love it better when they did the revamp, where its all black costumes for the ladies and black tux for billy

[@raymundoyanez3282]

😝😝😝😝😝😝😅😅😅👎

[@raymundoyanez3282]

In The SCALED DOWN !!! 90s STRIPPED DOWN Version !!!!😝😝😝😝They Totally ! DRAINED ! The Show !!! Of ALL The Color !.. and Bizarre RAW !Sexuality!.. of the ORIGINAL ! FOSSE ! Concept!!

[@yaspermcglott3403]

У них у всех акцент русский:ГЫВ АС БЫЛЛЫ. БЫ АЙ ДАБЭЛ ЭЙ ВАЙ

[@Surfer041]

Baby's father.

[@cfomahm]

Thanks for sharing. Jerry was great! Should cut out the introduction - the lady is not well liked by many.

[@kdragon530]

And others do like her

[@colt4667]

Kim Shaw Anti-Americans like her.

[@swarzeoz2550]

+randall williams Oh grow up.

[@edthoreum7625]

wow, chicago is on broadway, not a chorus line ,41 years later!

[@maxaustin3377]

randall williams oh is that why I like her?

[@moniquemacnaughton9032]

Nice to see some real choreography. All dancers seem to know how to do these days is twerk.

[@Jacksonseymore]

I love Chicago. I don't like Jane Fonda

[@IceAintNice]

Jackson Seymore no one cares

[@stuartlee6622]

Hanoi Jane TRAITOROUS BITCH.

[@jillpiazza4397]

Cant watch it. Hanoi Jane is in it

[@carolynzaremba5469]

I like her because she was Hanoi Jane. She's boring now.

[@unowen334]

Stupid hats and garters do not a great play make.

[@raymundoyanez3282]

What an ASSHOLE ! Comment??????😝

[@barbelley7906]

hanoi jane creep

[@tongolele12]

worst casting ever: richard gere in ths movie!!!

[@Tracymmo]

Wha?! Jerry's a much better singer

[@KenDanieli]

It's pretty boring.

[@raymundoyanez3282]

Yes ! For The Microwave! Mtv ! Crowd !!!!😝

[@holarc]

the women were talented, he was not. poor choice of scenes for the tony awards.

[@lisagillette-martin2247]

holarc Wth were you watching?? Jerry had an amazing voice, he was a Broadway mainstay, and he was a 3-time Tony nominee, including for this part (he won for Promises, Promises).

[@holarc]

@@lisagillette-martin2247 just didn't like him in this

[@lilchicklets]

You're seriously saying Jerry Orbach is not talented??

[@JerryOrbachFan]

Jerry Orbach was immensely talented.

[@arnoldstollar5375]

Dumb story

[@BalletBabyBoy]

I know many of these FABULOUS women!

[@Analblockage]

Funny how the original was a flop but the revival became a hit. I guess it just opened at the wrong time.

[@jonldn]

The original musical production ran for over 900 shows on Broadway and 600 shows in London. Are you referring to an earlier show?

[@brendacshea]

Ran for 2 years.

[@violapastuszyn1349]

It wasn't a flop at all; are you thinking of a different show?

[@lilchicklets]

It just got overshadowed by A Chorus Line.

[@ruelnicholas8317]

A Chorus Line and Chicago..the same year...I forgot..my gosh...that’s why Chicago had to come back as a revival to get its Tony..back then competition was stiff

[@sgtpppr]

My first boyfriend had landed in Charleston as a charismatic big city hustler from the Windy City With a toothy smile and a twinkle in his eye he'd seduce you with his charm. I'd fallen hard for the performance, completely captured by the theatrics. He took me to my first Broadway show. It was called Chicago, just like he was from Chicago, and when he sang Razzle Dazzle to me in the car on the way home it was his song; a fast talking con man and it was larger than life. How can they see with sequins in their eyes? Oh, brother! What chintzy schmaltz! Kander & Ebb. Fosse. Gwen. Chita. Jerry. Joel. Absolutely brilliant genius. Yeah it's a shame it didn't take home the Tony, but the was the price for living during an era of sensational talent.