Dark Monday • Nancy Walker Sings Sondheim

In 1973, an event was put on quite unlike most. The line-up of talent was incredible for 'Sonheim Evening: A Musical Tribute', a one-time performance featuring the stars of stage and screen, coming together to celebrate the work of an incredible artist. They all wanted to take part in this event, held at the Schubert Theater in New York City on March 11. Among the many performing was the ginger firecracker Nancy Walker. Walker had begun her career on Broadway, and made the transition to the Hollywood musical in shows like 'Best Foot Forward', 'Broadway Rhythm' and 'On The Town'. Soon Walker began playing character parts, and showed a deft hand with comedy. For many, she is best remembered as the consummate New York mother on 'Rhoda' or the maid name Mildred on 'McMillan And Wife'.  Still others might recall her playing the waitress Rosie when hawking Bounty paper towels, "the quicker-picker-upper." But on that night in 1973, Walker commanded the stage as she sang "I'm Still Here" from the show 'Follies'. Listen to this clip from the live recording.

You can purchase the CD from the show on Amazon.

Dark Monday • Shirley's Still Here

Shirley MacLaine appeared in her first film in 1955, with a star turn in Alfred Hitchcock's The Trouble With Harry. Thirty-five years later, and a career that includes some of the great films and performances of our time, MacLaine returned to the screen in a bravura performance in Postcards From The Edge, Carrie Fisher's semi-autobiographical story about growing up the daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. MacLaine pulled from her vast experience in the entertainment industry to deliver this show-stopping number, I'm Still Here. The song was originally written by Stephen Sondheim for his show Follies. This is Shirley giving it the Hollywood treatment.