Barbra Streisand: My Name Is Barbra
Barbra Streisand's first television special wasMy Name Is Barbra(April 14, 1965), shot shortly after she played inFunny Girl. Shot in black and white, it's a little different from the other variety shows of the day (e.g.,The Judy Garland Show) in that there's no parade of guest stars or dancing girls. That's a good thing, as those are the numbers that get dated very quickly. Instead, we have all Barbra, even if she's more comfortable singing than doing comedy monologues. The show winds its way through an Alice in Wonderland sequence which ends in a plain but magnificent rendition of "People," then has Streisand in a store's fur department. Last is a simple concert setting that includes aFunny Girlmedley with "Don't Rain on My Parade" and "The Music that Makes Me Dance." The closing concert segment would become a staple, and the peak, of all her shows. Previously released as part of the five-discBarbra Streisand: The Television Specials.--David Horiuchi