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| Author | Topic: lincoln center library |
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stella985
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6/30/2006 | posted: 7/1/2006 at 10:13:03 AM ET
I've heard that at Lincoln Center they have filmed recordings of most Broadway plays (although I've never varified this for myself), so I was wondering if anyone had ever gone to check out if they had any of Bernadette? I'd really love to see some of her old performances like Mack and Mable.
| Karen
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5/3/2002 | posted: 7/1/2006 at 11:42:01 AM ET
I never have, but a fair number of people here have discussed going to watch the tapes.
It's by appointment only and you need to provide a research purpose (they're not strict about checking your reason though).
Here's an article about the collection.
Theatre on Film and Tape Archive
|  Jean
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6/7/2003 | posted: 7/1/2006 at 11:50:43 AM ET
I think this is most of what the TOFT has for Bernadette:
New York Public Library Bernadette Collection
and here is a FAQ from another site on the general rules for viewing:
talkinbroadway FAQ
and finally, an article from playbill:
playbill.com
(When I get some time, I think I'll add this to our FAQ's--ok, Kevin?)
| Karen
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5/3/2002 | posted: 7/1/2006 at 12:05:50 PM ET
Thanks, Jean.
Am I missing something though? I don't see a catalog entry for Song & Dance, and I know that people have viewed it there. Not a complete listing?
| Jean
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6/7/2003 | posted: 7/1/2006 at 12:08:41 PM ET
This is completely from memory, so please will the people involved chime in:
if you go to the desk and ask for Song and Dance (or maybe just phone) they will set it up for you. They do have it, it's not listed for some strange reason.
(Thanks to graceanne, moljul, and someone else..)
| Karen
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5/3/2002 | posted: 7/1/2006 at 12:18:30 PM ET
So, I wonder, are there others you can ask for by name but that aren't listed in the catalog? The only ones in the catalog are Gypsy, AGYG, and Sunday in the Park with George. Kind of weird.
| jmslsu01
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6/9/2003
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northern VA | posted: 7/1/2006 at 12:36:12 PM ET
If there are tapes of her previous shows beyond SITPG, it might be very difficult to be granted permission to view them. Or they just might not exist-I don't know.
Speaking of a non Bernadette show-requests to view A Chorus Line are rarely granted. I think the quality of the tape is one reason-quite fragile at this point.
Jenn
| Karen
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5/3/2002 | posted: 7/1/2006 at 12:38:51 PM ET
Wouldn't the technology exist now to clean up and remaster those tapes? Or is it just cost prohibitive?
| jmslsu01
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6/9/2003
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northern VA | posted: 7/1/2006 at 12:39:48 PM ET
Cost prohibitive, I'll bet. Funding for the NYPL libraries-public and research-shrinks every year, and they were cut again this year (and salaries are not competitive,so staffing is an issue). Restoration is very expensive, and maintenance of the other recordings takes money. And that's just the theatre recordings.
Jenn
|  Sister Rose
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5/4/2004
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NYC | posted: 7/1/2006 at 12:52:03 PM ET
Noah explained to me that to see any Michael Bennett productions, such as "Ballroom"* and "A Chorus Line", you must obtain permission from the Michael Bennett estate prior to viewing it at the library. And of course, this fall, the original "A Chorus Line" will not be available at all due to the Broadway revival.
I have watched "Song & Dance" which really put the recording into perspective for me. Bernadette really did give a Tony-winning performance. She IS the show and is unbelievable - it's not just her singing, but her
acting that really brought the show alive. I also saw "Annie Get Your Gun" there and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I can see why she stayed with the production for so long - clearly she was having a good time.
I have heard that the library has videos from as early as 1970, but there must be some sort of criteria for taping a show because not every from the last 36 years performed on Broadway or off-Broadway is there. The tapes are pro-shot and are amazingly good, but the rules about viewing the videos are ridiculously strict and the library limits viewing hours and even seating availability.
*Any other Dorothy Loudon fans here? Did anybody ever see her perform live?
http://sarahbsadventures.blogspot.com/
| Jean
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6/7/2003 | posted: 7/1/2006 at 1:00:24 PM ET
Thanks, Sister, for the details about the TOFT. I thought that I had read that about the Bennet estate, but wasn't positive about the details.
(I saw Dorothy Loudon in 2 productions, both at the Kennedy Center: Noises Off, in pre-Broadway, and Annie 2, pre-Broadway but, I think it never opened.)
| stella985
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6/30/2006 | posted: 7/1/2006 at 1:22:15 PM ET
Thanks so much everyone! I guess Mack and Mable is out but I really want to see Song and Dance, so I guess I'll have to come up with a research paper idea for next semester that relates to it, although that shouldn't be that hard,I mean there has to be some benefit to being a drama major, right? 
| jmslsu01
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6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 7/1/2006 at 1:35:11 PM ET
quote:
but the rules about viewing the videos are ridiculously strict and the library limits viewing hours and even seating availability.
You know, I may be alone in stating this, and that's okay. But each viewing puts a strain on the recording, and archival maintenance is immense (and the theatre recordings are only a small part of the LPA's archives, which is just one part of the entire archives of the NYPL system). The system-branches and research libraries- is underfunded and understaffed, and the LPA is no exception. And given the requirements you need to have in order to work at the LPA, it's not easy to find staff.
The collection's access was supposed to be for theatre professionals, theatre students, and researchers, but they don't press the issue.
The rules may seem ridiculously strict from the patron's point of view, but they're not there because they thought it would be fun to annoy people.
(Just, ya know, a little plea of consideration!)
Jenn
| Karen
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5/3/2002 | posted: 7/1/2006 at 2:13:22 PM ET
You'd think with all those billions Warren Buffett is giving to charity, he could have earmarked a grant to the New York Public Library for some of these purposes.
I know that's maybe a frivolous thought, but I know if I were rich that's what I'd do!
| jmslsu01
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6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 7/1/2006 at 2:47:55 PM ET
Funding for the NYPL research libraries is mostly from donors-they don't get a lot of money from the city or state (so they could always use a Buffet!). The branches get the government money that hasn't been cut from the previous year (library funding from the city is doled out-not equally- among NYPL, Brooklyn Public, and Queens Public-all massive systems with major needs. New York libraries also get some from the state.).
When donors give money to libraries, it's usually to the ones they use, their children/grandchildren use, etc, so public libraries/programs are usually the beneficiaries when people decide to give. Bill and Melinda Gates are turning out to be the modern day Carnegies, for instance.
Jenn
| PTM
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6/26/2003 | posted: 7/1/2006 at 3:46:05 PM ET
I'm pretty sure the Goodbye Girl was not taped for TOFT. I've always thought that someone (maybe one of the creators) wouldn't sign the release. Given the people involved in that production, I would think TOFT would have wanted to add it to the collection.
Viewing does put a strain on the tapes, but the originals are not being used. There would be some small cost involved in creating a new viewing copy that had been worn out, but after the initial cost of taping the produciton, the big expense for tape archives will be the need to migrate all those original masters before they deteriorate or the formats become obsolete. And demonstrated high demand for certain services can also help with obtaining funding, and perhaps the more a particular person's work is requested, the more likely future projects will be considered of higher priority or importance to record. I can't remember if over there you're only allowed to view a particular tape once -- ever.
PTM
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