had the great good fortune to see this with the original cast. Incredible performances - I can remember moments of this show like it was yesterday. Great to see it in video, but there is nothing - NOTHING- like having seen it live.
"Purlie is a musical with a book by Ossie Davis, Philip Rose, and Peter Udell, lyrics by Udell, and music by Gary Geld. It is based on Davis's 1961 play Purlie Victorious, which was later made into the 1963 film Gone Are the Days! and which included many of the original Broadway cast, including Davis, Ruby Dee, Alan Alda, Beah Richards, Godfrey Cambridge, and Sorrell Booke."
Purlie was the first musical I ever saw live. And who would know that use later she would be down the block neighbor LOL such a lovely lady and most definitely one of the most talented to ever hit the Broadway stage with a voice that is truly Unforgettable
MELBA IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST VOICES OF ALL TIME. I LOVE HER ON THE STAGE OR BIG SCREEN. WHEN EVER I SEE HER, I SEE A AWESOME GIFT. GOD'S GIFT TO THE WORLD. LOVE HER....
Very few people realize that Sherman Hemsley was a B'way performer before The Jeffersons, Cleavon Little before Blazing Saddles, Melba Moore needs a B'way show written for her with Maurice Hines, and forget it... LINDA "entertainer personified" HOPKINS!!! There isn't a voice to match her technical abilities!!! Sing Mama!!
Yes! Not only Hensley, but Isabel Sanford was a Broadway trained actress who was in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." Roxie Roker had received an Obie Award for her performance in "The River Niger." She was also a brilliant singer. And Franklin Cover was a Shakespearean actor with MFA. A lot of the stars during that period were incredibly talented.
Thanks for posting. Saw the soundtrack album lying on the sofa on my babysitter's couch when I was 9. I read the liners and became intrigued. Wish I was older so I could have seen this in its heyday.
My very first Broaday play at the age of 10 and I fell in love. I’ve had a Broadway love affair since that I began sharing with my son at the age of 5 and he is now 32!
We did Purlie my 8th grd year @ Beckman Jr. High school in Gary, IN . Aaahh yes, the good ol days. Around 82...83. Wowww!!! This is my 1st time seeing this! Phenomenal! I've always loved Melba! She's truly unsung!
As an added footnote, Shirley was the person who announced Melba's number, PURLIE's opening dance scene, and Cleavon Little'z Best Actor-Musical Tony. She was genuinely excited and pleased that he won...
Must everything be seen as what it wasn't? If it were racism, then why did Jack Cassidy bend over backwards to fix his mistake and award Melba properly? And why was Shirley MacLaine so pleased and excited that Cleavon won that she hugged and kissed him on stage as she handed him his Tony, even if she did mispronounce his name? Folk are quick to point out the slightest perceived injustices rather than take pride in the overall fact that doors were being opened back then and strides were being made. Why aren't folk worrying today about their own individual self-respect rather than continuing to comment about what seemed to be a supposed neglect of someone else's, especially if we don't really know? Let's face it, many of our forebears may have borne their real injustices with a lot more dignity than folk these days may seem to do with their individually perceived ones. Yes, Floyd, Garner and many others are real injustices that affect us deeply as a race; but those are real and don't need refreshing, especially if we share each families' grief. Are those of us who are left choosing to live our lives with unassailable dignity, or are we choosing to find whatever insignificant reason we can to toss a stone at a glass house?
@@terencedove5047 we agree, but some people get their worldview of a diet of despair and portraits of pessimism from parents or grandparents that were scarred and embittered for life from the Jim Crow experience. And when a person is constantly told something on their youth without reading things that will broaden their thinking, they are trapped in the same mental prison of their elders.
@@Themaddprof …if that isn’t the truth, I don’t know what is. But let’s also agree that willing enlightenment shouldn’t change history, but improve it. Granted, society is far from perfect; but our time might be better spent remembering, celebrating and improving what we have achieved individually and collectively rather than continually condemning what we have yet to achieve (or, in some cases, abolish). When meeting and concurring with others such as yourself, one tends to breathe a little easier. Thank you for that. And please forgive me for my expressed frustration in my first comment…
![PASULOL รามเกียรติ์ ตอนที่ 4 นนทกพบรัก [Ramakien Ep.4: Nonthok in love]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tMUQgmZzf_A/mqdefault.jpg)
I saw this as a child in 72'....her voice is unstoppable. ..no one sings like Ms. Moore.
I was so excited her as Mama Morton in Chicago a while back. She was amazing. Still a great talent.
had the great good fortune to see this with the original cast. Incredible performances - I can remember moments of this show like it was yesterday. Great to see it in video, but there is nothing - NOTHING- like having seen it live.
These notes! SO MUCH TALENT !!!
Some of the most unbelievable singing....ever....
It is also a clinic on how to show off an extraordinary voice while staying in character.
I was there when it was on Broadway. It was beautiful.
"Purlie is a musical with a book by Ossie Davis, Philip Rose, and Peter Udell, lyrics by Udell, and music by Gary Geld. It is based on Davis's 1961 play Purlie Victorious, which was later made into the 1963 film Gone Are the Days! and which included many of the original Broadway cast, including Davis, Ruby Dee, Alan Alda, Beah Richards, Godfrey Cambridge, and Sorrell Booke."
Now that was and is important information, historically speaking. Thank you for sharing...
My favorite show!!💯💯💯 love me some Melba ❤️❤️👍🏾
Purlie was the first musical I ever saw live. And who would know that use later she would be down the block neighbor LOL such a lovely lady and most definitely one of the most talented to ever hit the Broadway stage with a voice that is truly Unforgettable
2024, This is when people knew how to behave and remain professional.
MELBA IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST VOICES OF ALL TIME. I LOVE HER ON THE STAGE OR BIG SCREEN. WHEN EVER I SEE HER, I SEE A AWESOME GIFT. GOD'S GIFT TO THE WORLD. LOVE HER....
BLACKNIFICENT 🙏🏾✍🏾🔥✅👍🏾
One of the best musicals ever!!!
Yes! Agreed on Melba. And let's don't be forgettin' Linda Hopkins in the gospel number. Her voice soars!
Yes lord 🙏🏾🙏🏾
The great Linda Hopkins. A favorite of Johnny Carson.
@@keeblerholleyrealtorkeller7350 I didn’t know that! Nice to hear!
@@ritarichardson6222 Amen!
Very few people realize that Sherman Hemsley was a B'way performer before The Jeffersons, Cleavon Little before Blazing Saddles, Melba Moore needs a B'way show written for her with Maurice Hines, and forget it... LINDA "entertainer personified" HOPKINS!!! There isn't a voice to match her technical abilities!!! Sing Mama!!
Yes! Not only Hensley, but Isabel Sanford was a Broadway trained actress who was in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." Roxie Roker had received an Obie Award for her performance in "The River Niger." She was also a brilliant singer.
And Franklin Cover was a Shakespearean actor with MFA.
A lot of the stars during that period were incredibly talented.
I remember Bonnie Franklin once was talking about her Tony Award Nomination. She deadpanned "I lost to Melba Moore." It was a"what can you do" look.
Thanks for posting. Saw the soundtrack album lying on the sofa on my babysitter's couch when I was 9. I read the liners and became intrigued. Wish I was older so I could have seen this in its heyday.
I saw her stop the show on Broadway right before she won the Tony! AWESOME VOICE!!!!
My very first Broaday play at the age of 10 and I fell in love. I’ve had a Broadway love affair since that I began sharing with my son at the age of 5 and he is now 32!
Am I the only one that wants to see this show get a revival when Broadway finally does reopen?
well I was close it was a non-musical version of Purlie Victorious
Thank you for posting this.
We did Purlie my 8th grd year @ Beckman Jr. High school in Gary, IN . Aaahh yes, the good ol days. Around 82...83. Wowww!!! This is my 1st time seeing this! Phenomenal! I've always loved Melba! She's truly unsung!
Me too. We gave her four standing ovations for this number. Just wouldn't let her off the stage.
Luv these inspritual songs that helped me live my life in love.
WOW! Fist of all, I knew Melba won,but until now,I didnot know that Clevon also won. Nor did I ever realize how very sexy he was.
Thank you.
I got to see the original cast on Broadway. It was a terrific show, long overdue for a revival.
thanks, miss novella and all!
My cousin Laura Cooper played Missy I would love to find more videos with her
She so beautiful
Wow!
Am I the only one who saw Sherman Hemsley in the last performance?
Jackie Brown I saw him here in Atlanta!
Yes, that was him. The future George Jefferson.
BRAVO
But which one is Sherman Helmsley? I didn't recognize him. I thought I saw James Earl Jones in the choir, though...
front row, left side
@@josephroberts8596 , I'm partially blind, sorry to say. What color is he wearing? I might be able to tell that way...
Cassidy took off his much needed glasses& screwed Melba Moores names, called her Melissa Moore
i love how he knelt to apologize though. In that era, half the south must have gotten the vapors seeing a while kneel before a black woman.
The whole crowd cringing as the white presenter lady (who is she??) hugs and kisses Cleavon.. 💀💀💀 #WeAreNotRacist
That person, believe it or not...was, and still is, Shirley MacLaine...
As an added footnote, Shirley was the person who announced Melba's number, PURLIE's opening dance scene, and Cleavon Little'z Best Actor-Musical Tony. She was genuinely excited and pleased that he won...
Wow. "Melissa" Moore and "Cleveland" Little. No respect.
That no-so-subtle racism ~
@tommytimp It wasn't no respect. Jack Cassidy was an alcoholic. He was probably drunk.
Must everything be seen as what it wasn't? If it were racism, then why did Jack Cassidy bend over backwards to fix his mistake and award Melba properly? And why was Shirley MacLaine so pleased and excited that Cleavon won that she hugged and kissed him on stage as she handed him his Tony, even if she did mispronounce his name? Folk are quick to point out the slightest perceived injustices rather than take pride in the overall fact that doors were being opened back then and strides were being made. Why aren't folk worrying today about their own individual self-respect rather than continuing to comment about what seemed to be a supposed neglect of someone else's, especially if we don't really know?
Let's face it, many of our forebears may have borne their real injustices with a lot more dignity than folk these days may seem to do with their individually perceived ones. Yes, Floyd, Garner and many others are real injustices that affect us deeply as a race; but those are real and don't need refreshing, especially if we share each families' grief. Are those of us who are left choosing to live our lives with unassailable dignity, or are we choosing to find whatever insignificant reason we can to toss a stone at a glass house?
@@terencedove5047 we agree, but some people get their worldview of a diet of despair and portraits of pessimism from parents or grandparents that were scarred and embittered for life from the Jim Crow experience. And when a person is constantly told something on their youth without reading things that will broaden their thinking, they are trapped in the same mental prison of their elders.
@@Themaddprof …if that isn’t the truth, I don’t know what is. But let’s also agree that willing enlightenment shouldn’t change history, but improve it. Granted, society is far from perfect; but our time might be better spent remembering, celebrating and improving what we have achieved individually and collectively rather than continually condemning what we have yet to achieve (or, in some cases, abolish). When meeting and concurring with others such as yourself, one tends to breathe a little easier. Thank you for that. And please forgive me for my expressed frustration in my first comment…
the winner is a N______!!! (Blazing Saddles reference....lol).
NOT FUNNY!
❤❤❤❤