Pearl Bailey "Before The Parade Passes Me By" on The Ed Sullivan Show

[@tarotgarden]

I had the incredible good fortune to see this production when it came to the Kennedy Center for a limited engagement. After Ms. Bailey and the ensemble performed the title number, the audience gave them a standing ovation for 10 minutes. Finally, Ms. Bailey had to step forward and address the audience directly. She said, “I guess if you enjoyed it that much, we’ll have to do it again”. Then they reset the stage, and did the entire number a second time from beginning to end. Another five minute standing, ovation followed, at which point, Ms. Bailey told everyone they were going to have to get on with the show. I have never witnessed such an amazing energy at any other theater performance before or since; I treasure the memory of that experience to this day.

[@yoyodre]

That's awesome

[@callmeonkeshiasphone]

that's showmanship or should I say showwomanship!

[@LannieLord]

What YEAR was it ?????

[@pietrob7420]

Wow!

[@tarotgarden]

@@LannieLord ca. 1977.

[@waynem7634]

In my humble opinion, Pearl Bailey was the best Dolly. She won a special Tony award. Not usually given for a revival but Pearl Bailey was a Legend on Broadway.

[@BrooklynDreaminCG]

I think it was actually a re-cast rather than a revival. And that was what made the award so special. I had the LP of the show with her and her cast when i was a teen. Phenomenal.

[@classicalaid1]

@@BrooklynDreaminCGAs a teen in NYC, I was in the audience for the Pearl Bailey version of Hello Dolly. She was unforgettable. Cab Calloway played her husband, Horace. And sitting behind me was Loretta Young. Ms. Bailey asked Ms. Young to join her on stage for a reprisal of the song Hello Dearie at the conclusion of the performance. That too was an unforgettable moment....Broadway magic! I also saw Ginger Rogers play Dolly before Pearl Bailey. And her energy was larger than life and oh so entertaining. Many years later a friend of mine got to meet Ginger Rogers and I enquired: What was she like? And my friend, with tongue in cheek, said, 'Very Blonde'.

[@KT-sq2ml]

I did not know this, but I can see why she earned it.

[@njwassink]

So impressive how an actress can catch your attention and share her emotion with a single word or gesture..

[@roberthenleynola]

She was totally mesmerizing.

[@evonza4858]

True ❤️🖤💚

[@JonzStoneroadAvalon808]

I am blessed to be old enough to remember seeing her on TV and with that 'let's get this parade started" attitude. RIL Pearl.

[@jonlaurence6097]

Incredible talent and Powerful vocals-- Miss Bailey is an all time favourite-. An American Icon ! ❤

[@springstud]

i agree if you can find books that Pearl Bailey wrote she was a good writer she wrote them by her self

[@johnfulton4061]

I saw Pearl Bailey in Hello Dolly it was one of the greatest performances I've ever seen in a Broadway musical and I'm not easily impressed I'm a serious theater goer!

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

I was alive but I was a baby and not in NYC so... I had to be content with the LP years later.

[@terrycaro2276]

I saw her as well. She was GREAT.

[@callmeonkeshiasphone]

@@terrycaro2276 I am so envious of your memories, the comments are raving about the production so - even decades and decades later, as if its still running. I want to go out and buy tickets. hahahaha. You know louie remarried after PB passed and now her estate is owned or ran by his 2nd wife. Of course the 2nd wife didnt know pearl and I think that's why she doesn't get mentioned very often like the lenas hornes and ma mables. Im very very glad to see that there is a section of youtube singing her praises and remembers her talent

[@francishedges3903]

Pearl Bailey was such a talented and versatile performer and she was a knock out in Hello Dolly. My sister came to see this show while it played at the Minskoff Theater...her leading man was Billy Daniel's and they were perfect together. It was a night I will always remember.

[@williamarndt9465]

I saw Pearl in Dolly in April of 1968, from the front row. I was 20 and it was Spring Break from college. My first Broadway show.

[@KT-sq2ml]

What a magical moment that must have been

[@outtacontrol8387]

every acting professor says that you should empathize with the character and Pearl Bailey manages to always do that

[@KT-sq2ml]

First time I’ve seen the monologue before the song is performed where I’ve cried. She captured the essence of this show, the character of Dolly and the depth behind this song in that performance. I don’t think I’ll soon forget it and will take her words to heart.

[@davidbreedlove8234]

Yes Pearly May! What a voice! Just fantastic 👍❤️👍

[@RobertRauschenbach]

Pearl is having a ball and making every person in that audience smile. God Bless you Pearly Mae

[@fakerating]

I named my cat Ephraim... greatest cat in the history of the world. great clip... thanks for posting

[@CV-Moore]

Damn. This is good camera quality for the 60s. Great to capture such a phenomenal performance.

[@roberthenleynola]

I agree. The closeups were stunning.

[@RobertRauschenbach]

Sullivan Show spared no expense

[@dddddadadad1796]

You say that like the 60’s was the stone ages lol

[@LannieLord]

@@dddddadadad1796 Well, some of those Black & White shows , like the Judy Garland Show look kinda crummy....

[@19ccj65]

@2:06: "Oh, Dolly the world is full of wonderful things." I needed to hear this, today, and will likely need to hear it for some time.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Unfortunately, I don't believe that anymore.

[@dwightpowell6673]

​@@Bigbadwhitecrackerme either.

[@dwightpowell6673]

​@@Bigbadwhitecrackerblame Donald Trump.

[@1dannaa]

she was a great woman that graced this world !!!!!!!!!!may she rest in peace . love her

[@gtlfb]

Yet another clip that shows just how much superb musical entertainment TV offered up to the mid 70’s. The review shows like Ed Sullivan and Hollywood Palace, the dozens of variety shows, the specials - every great entertainer of the time right in your living room. It really was a golden era of entertainment, but we just didn’t realize it.

[@heptameronfsc]

Love this version. I saw Pearl Bailey in this very role on Broadway. What a rich, throbbing voice --it communicates such emotion. Thank you for posting this gem:)

[@anotheryou218]

The only person I would have wanted to see live in this role. Her voice feeds the soul, either singing or speaking. What a gift to us all. And then there was her personality. She just made you feel great. I miss you so, Pearl Baily.

[@susansutton2012]

Wonderful performance.

[@richardgornalle4536]

This is a wonderful clip of this legend. Totally love it.

[@katrinas8128]

Excellent!!!!

[@nikkijamesy]

Even back then there was perfection and attention to detail. Very impressive 👏 👌

[@dddddadadad1796]

Even back then? More like back then there was and now there isn’t

[@Danadop]

jesus her voice is so clean, love it

[@callmeonkeshiasphone]

i mentioned the same thing, her being a performer before mics were widely available really trained her to project and sing loudly like the hollers ma rainey and bessie smith (tho pearl came after them)

[@56Fitguy]

Why did this make me tear up?

[@KT-sq2ml]

Me too!! I’m literally watching it a second time with tears streaming down my face. I think it’s because (1) I was in this show in high school and was too young to understand what this song meant at 15 yrs old and (2) her performance of the monologue REALLY spoke to me - an almost 60 yr old man who has been avoiding life the past six years or so. I’ve seen/heard this song performed many times and this performance finally woke me up to its importance.

[@suzie12385]

This was absolutely breathtaking!

[@hnc52]

Pearl Bailey inHello Dolly was my first Broadwayshow. I stillremember it so clearly. Pearl was a force!

[@johnfulton4061]

Yes she was I remember my grandmother saying to me when the show was over HONEY SHE'S A WIZARD!!!!

[@xwalzerx]

Ich habe "Hello Dolly" mit Pearl Bailey on Broadway erlebt, es war ein Traum !!!!!

[@ShirleenMixon]

Y you're absolutely amazing I love your stage presence

[@hanschristianbrando5588]

The show was starting to look a little tired (it had been on for three years, which was a good long run in those days) and looked like it was about to close until David Merrick put in Pearl Bailey and the Black cast and made the show a hit all over again. This clip partly shows why.

[@christineostwald5366]

Super! Wonderful! I love it! Amazing!

[@geraldcalcagno6969]

She is amazing! Love her legendary voice....

[@bigmouth33]

She is wonderful and a hundred other superlatives.

[@jaz0270]

So Amaaaazing! I'm obsessed now. 😭😍😍😍 so sorry it took so long but just rn I've came across her & im now obsessed so it counts just as much.

[@susankaesler5516]

She does the very best SO LONG DEARIE

[@carontownsend9890]

what a lovely voice

[@haydenharris3059]

What a fabulous voice.

[@amiefortman7220]

"Hello, Dolly!" was one of the first shows I ever performed in as a kid, and our director used the cast recording with Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway as a temp track so we could learn the choreography without the pianist. To me, she will always be the one and only Dolly Levi.

[@willsil2893]

Very happy to know that a black woman was Dolly. Great Peal Baylei. I feeling good now!

[@princepeterwolf]

Beautiful performance and cast!!

[@Oper905]

1967, wow! How glorious!

[@LannieLord]

The Beatles Sgt. Pepper album just came out that last summer.

[@treesny]

The correct title of the song is "Before the Parade Passes By."

[@robstockton911]

I noticed that too, they didn’t even get the song’s title right.

[@ton4347]

Why are there so less viewers for this song this is beautiful

[@yaycoffe123]

This cast looks amazing 😍

[@lonestarfriend]

What a production. 🙂

[@toddbonin6926]

That was moving!

[@CliffordXHA1]

She makes the part her own and is in nobody's shadow.

[@lisablack8804]

The Beautiful Miss. Pearl Bailey thank you and Mr.Bellson one of the world’s best drummers.

[@ZoraNH.dusttracks1891]

Love this...”Hello Dolly” has been one of my favorite movies. Didn’t know Pearl Bailey performed in the Broadway production.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

CAN'T STAND that movie (or Mame), but both are two of my favorite musicals. They just don't lend themselves to film.

[@richardmayora1289]

@@Bigbadwhitecracker. You are incorrect to assume that the properties themselves did not lend themselves to being films.

[@klieglamp]

Great American talent, Pearl Bailey!

[@xwalzerx]

1967 in New York Meine beste "Dolly" !!!

[@glenngill8716]

Just sheer brilliance by Pearl Bailey

[@sharitastinson109]

I'm so glad to see this!

[@CrystalClearNews]

i want to see the entire version of this play

[@brianeduardo1234]

Really great and boy can she sing - lovely production too

[@nastashadefranco3211]

What a voice

[@hueyahumana]

Magnificent! So, inspiring

[@EHH246]

At a time when it was hard for black performers to get cast in roles for Broadway shows, it must have been great to hear that the hit musical, Hello Dolly, would be doing an all-black version of the show for a time and that they would working with legends like Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway on top of that!

[@michaelkays9801]

WOW.

[@haydenharris3059]

Great production ❤

[@howardcash8301]

Ed! I have NO WORDS! Yerah!

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Funny how I found an old LP from 1960ish at a thrift store that she did on a budget label just the other day. It's such a budget label (Diplomat is the name, if you can find it) that she has to share the album with another unknown cabaret singer of the day - who is equally as good as Pearl - named Margie Anderson. This was a common practice for this label so they don't have to pay the bigger star more money. And then this video pops up. KZbin is reading my record collection apparently. Anyway I recommend the album which is called "Singing and Swinging">

[@groovygirl23]

Pearlie Mae! She was magnificent.

[@markbraunstein58]

Magnificent. Dolly's depth of feeling for her late husband has never been clearer. Booth and Channing played it a bit more like schtick

[@ah7910]

No. Watch Carol’s bootleg videos, her acting is unrivaled. You’ve probably just seen her rushed Tony Awards performance… when Carol performed the monologue in an actual show… she broke hearts.

[@ashleybailey3125]

She sounds haunted she plays it really well

[@diddymuck]

Bomb! The Japanese have just flashed Pearl Baily!

[@amfm889]

Please correct the title: "Before the Parade Passes By." Thank you!

[@kchrules775]

Morgan Freeman at 4:20 under the barrel

[@PRETTYWYV]

Woah! Thanks for pointing him out!! This was his debut, how amazing!!

[@christopher3386]

Except the name of the song is, "Before the Parade Passes By".

[@dwightpowell6673]

This episode with an All Black Cast is stupendous

[@LannieLord]

WAS that Thalmus Rulasa back there ??????? 2:05 He was a VERY BUSY black actor in the 1970s on TV. He was on the show What's Happening and Good Times.,

[@michaelmcgee8543]

I thought Pearl baileys version started in 1971

[@leeinvegas]

Watch her hands . She uses her hands …..

[@callmeonkeshiasphone]

you saw that too. that last tremble, snap, pop reverse on before the paradddddeee Passes by

[@User-tt9ow7c9e]

That was 11 months after ginger rogers hello dolly!

[@maddishouts]

2:20

[@howardmarren3199]

She was terrific. Always, particularly as Dolly. But, if you are posting a video, at least get the title of the song correct. It is NOT "Before the Parade Passes Me By." The correct title is "Before the Parade Passes By." There is no "me."

[@kentgash7686]

MORGAN FREEMAN in the stage right trio of men...

[@robstockton911]

Hey “The Ed Sullivan Show,” you got the name of the song wrong.🙄

[@sergeypozdnyak7021]

Спаибо.

[@fanorama1]

Bette Midler can't even come close to Miss Pearl Bailey. And fix the title.. lol