Original 1975 production of CHICAGO footage

[ProBetax]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you... I can't thank you enough.

[Bailadiva71]

I'm speechless! This is AMAZING!!!!

[davidreeves101]

Wow - I was 15 and I think the upper stage(i.e. balcony) held the orchestra. I was an amazing performance. Although inexplicabbly my parents let me go to London (400 miles away!!!!) on my own. It was fine. I Came Out add Gay shortly afterwards and they weren't particularly surprised :) Love them.

[BWAY62]

This is the Holy Grail of all footage. Gwen & Chita, original sets, sounds choreography, ect, ect, ect.Thank you so much

[MrCromartie1989]

Was this edited down for Youtube's time constraints, or is this all the footage you've got?

[an7iguy]

@MrCromartie1989 - this is all the footage, I have the clip as well and I wish there was more!

[wendyverdades]

So amazing. thank you for keeping this moment around!

[johnny14773]

This is great footage!thank u very much!

[pudgeuncle]

I am still pissed, 36 years later, that some guy jumped up and snatched the rose out of my hand that Gwen Verdon tossed my way. What a great production, one that should have swept the Tonys. Even sadder than the losses to A Chorus Line is the fact that had Chicago opened just several weeks earlier, it would have grabbed the Tonys over The Wiz, Shenendoah, Mack and Mabel, etc..

[IBetYouWillFemales]

Wow, that'd be awesome if Roxie and Velma still played the sax and drums-but I could see how it'd make casting harder.

[lcowles]

The problem with A Chorus Line and Chicago is that you have two of the best American musicals debuting in the SAME season. How do you pick a favorite? There can only be ONE bride at a wedding and it happened to be ACL that year. They both have themes that are timeless and had stellar casts. I think the edge went to ACL because it was constructed from "real" stories of performers' lives and that resonated with so many people. Everyone could identify with those stories of pain, love and loss.

[hwinkels]

I was 13 when I saw the show in Dec. 76 and was fortunate to see Gwen Verdon right before she left. The show was a treasure. I never understood why it was overlooked and it was not being talked about the way "A Chorus Line" was. Well now the revival has surpassed the original run of "Chorus Line". The themes of "Chicago" reflect populat culture today. Perhaps, the one difference is Gwen, Chita, Jerry are and were talented geniuses. Thanks for posting.

[Eyllek2]

Wow, thank you so much for posting! It always amazes and thrills me that footage like this exists outside of the performing arts library.

[TeressaByrne]

This is amazing, thank you for posting - all love to Ms. Chita & Ms. Gwen, but I think my favorite was the original "Mr. Cellophane" - a great rendition of an unjustly overlooked song.

[talkinbroadway]

Yes, this show was robbed. I saw it twice in one week. Loved the original production at the 46th now Rodgers!

[ProHautbois]

How fantastic to see the original ending of the show before it was changed completely to a dance-only number, too! This footage should be protected and cherished.

[fossegoat]

Most incredible YouTube find ever =)

[Eyllek2]

WOW...thank you so much for posting this! I adored Gwen.

[Salieri1760]

Jerry Orbach!!?!

HELL YEAH

[HCShannon]

I think I remember reading a book, was one the of problems this show wasn't very sucessful when it debuted was of the neon signs!

[hisangelwings]

i love that yew found and posted this because im 15 and take jazz at my school and i love being be able to see the original,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!:))

[Caradog93]

Favourited!

[judesarama]

god what i would do to see a video of the opening and chita doing all that jazz x praying x god this is just the best x love GWEN and CHITA XXXX THE BEST

[judesarama]

god what i would do to see a video of the opening and chita doing all that jazz x praying x god this is just the best x love GWEN and CHITA XXXX THE BEST

[BabyDillGerkin]

GOD BLESS YOU FOR POSTING THIS. I saw this as a 13 year old in 1975 and it set the bar for Broadway musicals. Few have lived up to what went on on that stage. Absolutely AMAZING. And, yes, it was squashed by the giant known as A CHORUS LINE at the Tony's. The 90's revival just didn't live up to this -- how could it? Gwen, Chita, Fosse . . . WOW.

[Gudendevil]

The costumes were VERY different, it's seems an Hippy Production of Chicago!

[MrRainbowquest]

I wish I'd seen this in the 70's. Pity they didn't keep Loopin the loop it looked like a lot of fun

[MrRainbowquest]

Chicago is a brilliant piece of writing. Everybody goes on about Fosse but what about Kander and Ebb??? Their music is fantastic. Chicago is their masterpiece.

[juicyyyx0x]

jerry orbach? from law and order?!

[BalletBabyBoy]

The costumes and production was divine!  Not like that junk on Broadway now...yes the show got robbed of the Tony but if it had opened when planned it would have swept the awards...This was one of the best shows ever!

[CassieClark3]

Original "POP" here, Cheryl Clark. Nobody like the great Barney Martin playing "Amos", "Cellophane"- and in this great Dress Rehearsal footage, Pam Sousa and Cheryl Clark on those "black satin sheets with Paul Solen- all of us shot w/machine gun by the one and only Charlene Ryan "Go to Hell Kitty". We all learned much from Chita, Gwen and Bob (Fosse) ofcourse! And what about those fab men in Roxie:Gene Foote, Chris Chadman, Ron Schwinn, Gary Gendell,Paul Solen and Richard Korthaze! xo Cheryl

[pudgeuncle]

@CassieClark3 CHERYL CLARK!!! The Cassie I saw a gazillion times!!!

[CassieClark3]

@pudgeuncle Hi So glad you saw my Cassie a gazillion times! You can e-mail me at dancesingflowact@yahoo.com and let me know it you saw "ACL" only at the Shubert or other companies I played in. I did do the role over 3,000 performances, and I have interviewed all the Broadway "Cassie's" as a "historian"! It is a very challenging role to turn out 8 times a week. Would love to know you you are! Sincerely, Cheryl

[OolieFlynnSings]

Wow :D

Liking it, what an amazing role!

[TommyBoy249r]

I love Bob Fosse. What a brilliant man.

[quafer]

chicago was ahead of its time--it was a more cynical and formally daring work than a chorus line and as usual with progressive works of art it takes a while for the public to catch up to it.

i ask you though--which musical is more talked about now? i think we can safely say that chicago is getting the last laugh.

[akrukowski1964]

Capricaquarius89 - I think Bob was robbed over the fact that he won Best Director (Oscar's, 'Caberet'), Best Director (Tony's, 'Pippin') and Best Director (Emmy's, 'Liza With a Z') in the same year. The only person to ever win all three in the same year. My favorite movie of all time, 'All That Jazz', is based on the time he was doing Chicago.

[VONRITT]

THIS IS A TREASURE!!!

[DrVivianBell]

oh my!!! I was mesmerized. Thanks for sharing!

[dw070]

i die for 4:08

[5934931]

i have a question..what was so different between the original cast of Chicago and the revival?

like, was what people thought about back then the same way people thought about it for the revival?

[roccoh21]

@5934931 The original show had a great set which rotated and had sets move underneath. And you could not top the two greatest dancers ever on Broadway. The theater was almost dead in the mid 70's and everyone got jazzed about Broadway again with A Chorus Line. I loved both shows and thought Chicago was robbed..but has now been vindicated by it's 14+ year run. It should have won at least half of the Tonys which went to ACL.

[PaulLeary]

Wow -- I've never seen this... FAN-friggin-tastic!

[usernamesboreme]

bring back this version, i say!

[gqblues]

Wow! Thanks for posting!

[madderbass]

Wow, this is great footage! Thanks for putting this up!

[DeanLeonard1]

This is amazing.

[Elksownkthx]

Wow. Thats all I can say.

[WizeguyX]

I feel blessed. what a privilege!

[stanykb]

I can't believe I haven't seen this footage before now! It's really fantastic. I saw the original cast once, then saw again with Lenora Nemetz as Velma, then saw Gwen, Chita & Jerry do the National Tour in L.A. Thank you so much for posting!

[CassieClark3]

Happy New Year 2010 from Original "Pop" here Happy New Year 2010! Nothing like Barney Martin as Amos- and Gwen,Chita,Jerry O., the "Roxie" boys, and Pam, Sousa, Paul Solen and me, Cheryl Clark in bed before the great Charlene Ryan as "Go to Hell Kitty" blasts us! 1975 rehearsal footage! Many changes in previews! Very challenging!! Thank you John Kander and Fred Ebb- angel, and ofcourse, Bob. xo Cheryl Clark "POP"

[VivaZoya]

OMG, this is PURE GOLD, thanks for sharing this!

[evans54]

only Lucy couldnt sing

[Loner2240]

The proof of that is in the I Love Lucy show.

[olivia1ohh3]

i think lucille ball wouldve been a good roxie

[evans54]

Lucy couldnt sing

[groovygirl23]

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!! Thanks a million.

[lag3227]

Thanks you so much for posting this. This is Broadway history being made.

[chorus8]

WOW..Thanks for posting this. Gwen and

Chita were the best. Saw them both in

Sweet Charity years ago, Gwen in NY and

Chita in Boston, twice. Saw Chita in CHICAGO, in Vegas 10 or 12 years ago.

She was sensational with the body of an

18 year old. Ben Vereen was also in that

production, and great too...

[smile678]

i am sorry those gays are not classy like the ones in the moive i like the classy ones everything else is good

[porterhouse1974]

Gwen and  Chita.....nothing like them ever!!!

[Lockemeister]

Well, actually off Broadway in the 46th St theater.

[Lockemeister]

I saw Chicago on Broadway in 1977. Thank you SO MUCH for posting this film footage from the original play.

[cocacolaoso]

OH MY F GOD! This is a world treasure!!! I've never ever thought I could watch footage of the original broadway production. This is gold!

Thanks for uploading it!

[MuzicCorner]

the last scene just awesome!!! please if you can post all the Loopin' the Loop

[wfurtwangler]

This is an absolute treasure!! When Rivera spoke during "A Dancer's Life" about how Gwen Verdon was the greatest that she will ever work with, this is the proof!!!!!!!!

[orvgg]

Chita is just amazing. Bless your heart for posting this amazing video. Thank you! Thank You! Thank yOu!

[powerfulpowerzz]

awesome! now if only someone could find footage of the 1957 west side story cast..

[powerfulpowerzz]

great but....i dont understand these costumes. for ex. what is gwen wearing in the beginning? it looks like a regular 70s outfit rather than a 20's getup

[orvgg]

She's wearing a regular 70s outfit because this is rehearsal footage.

[powerfulpowerzz]

than how come everyone else is in costume????? all the pictures ive seen of this show have her in that costume

[livuali]

no...that was the actual costume...

[calhounman]

I saw the original production of CHICAGO three times and each time it blew me away! Gwen, Chita, Jerry, Barney et al were absolutely the best cast ever to appear on a Broadway stage!!!! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for sharing this clip

[CassieClark3]

Thank you for the great memories! I am the original Liz- "POP" in this production. Bob Fosse let me do my thing, and also had me cover the greatest -Chita! Also, the three of us in this footage (in bed sequence) w/ the great Charlene Ryan GoTo Hell "Kitty" are Pam Sousa, our Angel, Paul Solen, and me, Cheryl Clark. I missed that bit in the revival. Fantastic to see Gwen, Chita, and the best Amos ever- the brilliant- Barney Martin, the Angel of Angels!

xo Cheryl Clark Liz/POP

[johnyzero2000]

Was the whole show filmed or videotaped? I believe all Broadway shows have to be preserved instead of being lost to history.

[jesmadonna]

this is thw greatest Youtube treasures!!

Thanks for this!!

absolutely amazing.

[mykeybabay]

i love you for this. BROADWAY nostalgic AMAZING history!!!!!!

[SA88w]

Just wonderful!!!!!!

[BalletBabyBoy]

There has got to be more of this somewhere...Fosse was crazy to not allow filming of these shows...so much is lost!

[319FBMZ319]

This is the best musical the original cast is an unbelievable cast

[Capricaquarius89]

Now I think "A Chorus Line" is a great musical, but does anyone else think that "Chicago" was completely robbed at the Tony's that year? I mean, eleven nominations, and not a SINGLE win...I thought at the very least Chita Rivera should have taken home a Tony for Best Actress that year

[MarieTherese821]

@Capricaquarius89 Over Donna McKechnie? No way.  It's a close call, but I'd definitely pick Donna.

[thegaythespian]

@Capricaquarius89 I agree Chita is excellent, she certainly gives Donna a run for her money, but the thing you have to understand is that A Chorus Line is a performer's show. Everyone on broadway knows what it is to be in that position, Cassie's line about all her friends who she fears are just fans telling her she's great after she's run out of talent, that's something that almost any actor can relate to. I'm not saying it's right, but it totally makes sense. People love what affects them

[Broadway1408]

@Capricaquarius89 Very true. Sadly, the Tony's is bull crap. ALOT of times its not about talent in these award shows, its all about popularity which is backwards. . .

[Capricaquarius89]

@Capricaquarius89 To clarify, I really do think Donna McKechnie deserved to win a Tony that year... just not for Best Leading Actress. To me, her part is very much a supporting one, and I think her award should have reflected that. A Chorus Line is very much an ensemble show while Chicago depends on two strong female leads. So Best Lead Actress to Chita and Best Featured Actress to Donna.

[pudgeuncle]

@Capricaquarius89 I saw the original CHICAGO 7 1/2 times [snuck in for Act 2 once] and saw A CHORUS LINE 27 times....but I was always of the mind that CHICAGO is a superior show.  The score is better, and RIvera, Jerry Orbach and and Barney Martin should have won. With the current Broadway production of CHICAGO just becoming the longest running American musical of all time on Broadway [yeah it was helped by some stunt casting] and the recent ACL flopping, I feel vindicated.

[Capricaquarius89]

@pudgeuncle It's ironic that it just surpassed A CHORUS LINE's original run to receive that distinction. Interesting how everything turns out!

Of course a show's longevity has nothing to do with it's quality. I mean, look at how long MAMMA MIA has been running!! (I kid, I kid, well sorta).

[pudgeuncle]

@Capricaquarius89 Phantom of the Opera and Cats are the hours of my life I most want back and they are running/ran forever. I do think that Chicago's longevity is largely due to it being a well written, entertaining show with a very strong comment about America's obsession with celebrity. This revival lacks the brilliant production values of the original, which was NOT overproduced as some critics claimed to cover their asses for understimating the original show.

[VickAdam27]

THis is great.... whoever posted this thanks a lot!!

[adknorth]

This is history! Thank you so much for posting this vid, and all the vids that you have up. It's like rediscovering all these performances that only really existed in memory. This is just absolutely priceless. And wanted to let you know also - I totally recognize your name, C. Brown! Awesome.

[45309]

Beautiful. You can see so clearly that the dancers worked with Fosse himself. Even in these short segments. So clear and musical and not about constantly doing "tricks" like the "Fosse" revue. You always feel that the dancers could do more, but he holds them back, which is brilliant. He was a master of subtlety.

[appassio]

YOU MADE MY DAY!!!!!

[jugjob]

this is vintage!

[UveBeenLuPwned123094]

yikes. i hate this staging. thank god for the rival.

[jv92]

Oh gosh. Can't say I agree with you their. You can't beat Fosse's original, in my opinion.

[magicmike96]

i cant stand the revival with the band taking up half of the stage...there is so much more that could have been done...

[clevm002]

YOu even got the cut song,.. AHH i love it! I dunno if it was always in the original... but i know it was cut... Loopin the loop.

[Tuesnbach]

Someone asked why Gwen sounded minnie mouseish. I believe that the speed is off. It can be difficult to transfer film to video and maintain the correct speed. I saw this production twice in 1976 and bought the cast album in between the two shows. I didnt find that the cast album differed from the show. Jerry Orbach in this clip sounds like a tenor, much higher than his normal range at this age. A+ for the effort at bringing this rare footage out for us to enjoy!

[newrochellephoenix]

I too wondered about Gwens voice.I thought it was an early rehearsal try for character.On the recording her voice is lower ,natural and better.

[ktmeinyc]

liza minnelli saved this show they say replacing her reviving the play

[salonkommunist]

thaaaaank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[unclealand]

And all we get these days is the concert version where everybody's all in black. If only we could see a fully mounted version like this one.

[robertspeck]

Too much perfection.

[jugjob]

I'm floored! I've been trying to see footage of the original production for years! You can see how different it was. Not at all streamlined like the revival. Very quirky, very innovative, very produced! Thank you!!!

[classicfilmbroad]

WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?!?! I am in love.

[CBAAM]

Just so you know where this came from, I was an original chorus member and I took this with a little super8 Kodak. I had no idea it was on you tube. C. Brown

[melio0892]

do you know any place on the net where i can find pics of the original production

[CBAAM]

Sorry, I don't. Martha Swope was the official photographer. She may be selling them.

[barneysfriend09]

Barneys' widow gave me many pics and musical scores from Chcago. If you are really interested let me know

He passed away five years ago, we all miss him.

[iodine125]

good thing you filmed this! Great.

[jv92]

Did Fosse know you were doing this? I know he was notorious for not allowing his stage work to be filmed. It's wondertful that you preserved some of this fabulous original production!

[oohcool]

I don't know why, but the original always annoyed me.

[riche1w]

i know!

[4MaryAnna]

Gwen's voice is kinda Minnie Mousie....maybe that's why?well,that's my reason.

Hopefully people can refrain from all the thumbs down,just because we have a different opinion.

[riche1w]

how good is this. truly amazing!

[jadenbobaden]

perfection.

[norfboi757]

Absolutely amazing. A treasure. Thank you so much.

[midtowner]

One of the best things I have ever found on youtube, and I owe you so much thanks for so many goosebumps. Has there ever been anything on Broadway to match the sheer joy of Verdon and Rivera dancing together at the end of the show? Absolutely priceless.

[czahnie]

THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!

[folliesfanatic]

I saw the show pre Broadway in Philadelphia. The finale with the sax and drum along with them singing after "Nowadays" was cut there along with the part of the agent, Henry Waxman and his great number, "Ten Percent".

[pattimylove]

hank you! i love this!

[babbagecabb]

the voices all sound a bit high!

[judesarama]

wow wow wow i AM IN SHOCK SO COOL HAVE WANTED TO SEE ORIGINAL FOOTAGE FOR YEARS, MORE MORE MORE HOW DIVINE XXXX THANKYOU

[jonnbristow]

God bless you!!

This is trully AMAZING

[flagler88]

My two favourite dancers. I would love to have seen this production, this and Chita in West Side Story and Gwen in Redhead. Well honestly I would love to see footage of everything they ever did. You can add Fosse to that list of course.

[wc213]

Did you buy this DVD from sunsetblvd79? That's the only place I've ever seen it listed...

[ryanglitter]

nope! I don't believe in buying or selling...a generous soul sent it to me :)

[wc213]

Ahh...I understand. ;)

[NapoleonDfan]

OH MY GOD!!! Thank you SO much!

I have been looking for original footage for so long!

[sallydurant]

Thank you!! So wonderful to see the ORIGINAL choreography and costumes (not to mention the performers). All so deliciously sleazy yet not a second of it unintended. Unadulterated Fosse! (A word about the costumes - this was before everyone thought black costumes on a black set were the height of style - some of us still don't!)

[airborne8282]

You can hear the sound of the projector... the footage is being played slightly too fast, resulting in all the keys, tempos and voices being a step or so higher than they were... fun to hear Fosse's voice calling things out here and there.... this is truly amazing. When the entire set started revolving during "Razzle-Dazzle..." -- Broadway Heaven.

[airborne8282]

This is from before the Broadway opening, by which time the whole last sequence with the song "Loopin' The Loop" -- Chita on drums and Gwen on Sax -- had been replaced with the song "Nowadays," (solo for Gwen), with their "act," consisting of a slowly-danced hat-and-cane version of "Nowadays," the whistle dance (called "R.S.V.P." in the program), and "The Hot Honey Rag" -- all in new white-sequined costumes "Loopin' The Loop" remained as the song heard in the Overture all these years.

[EricMontreal22]

This is *amazing*! thanks so much for putting it up

[Mathewism]

Can't believe this footage is over 30 years old... great acquisition! The costumes are very... bizarre to say the least... and thankfully Gwen and Chita didn't continue their Sax and drum careers =)

[ryanglitter]

are you saying honking and banging doesn't pay off? :P

[Mathewism]

i digress.... point taken =)

[DannyHiggs]

Of course, the drum/sax bit was written into "I Can't Do It Alone" and was kept in there. ("First I... boom, bash, drums. Then she... wah, wah, wah, saxophone.")

[iamupforallfun]

The original was suppose to be like one big vaudeville act, hence why the costumes look that.

[jv92]

OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!

Ahhh! I've died and went to heaven! Thank you!

[ryanglitter]

that was pretty much my reaction to :P

[an7iguy]

Very cool! Thank you for sharing!

I will still for the life of me never understand the costumes from this show...

[ryanglitter]

I actually kinda like how garish the costumes are...the show was dark, there's gotta be some brightness somewhere!