Me too ! I come here regularly ! Watching Alice and her talented castmates never fails to make my day ! What a nifty number ! You clearly have xlnt taste ! :-)
Funny, I watched this performance a few times this month....and I was just thinking, what a joy it is to watch. Uplifting, indeed. Wow, Alice was quite the powerhouse! May she RIP.
I remember watching this on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967 when I was nine years old. This piece stuck with me all my life and I finally had the sense to go to You Tube to find it. I'm only sorry that Alice passed before I could let her know that I've thought about this performance hundreds of times. And yes, the Alka Seltzer spot: Sweet and Sour Snails, Yum!
What a treat to find this! And aside from discovering Alice Playten was quite a Broadway belter - do you see who's behind her? Baayork Lee (all of 20) and in the checkered coat at the other end of the Line is... another A Chorus Line original - Priscilla Lopez. Quite a wonderful video on several levels. (Too bad Henry Sweet Henry flopped...)
It is sad that this show flopped, but they got to be in A Chorus Line, arguably the greatest musical ever (my favorite anyway) so I'd say things worked out for both of them. They have both gone on to have excellent careers. Still it's very cool to see them when they were so young.
Choreographer Michael Bennett, music arranger Marvin Hamlisch, and a couple of the dancers worked together again a few years later on a show called "A Chorus Line," which might not have existed if it hadn't been for this show.
I saw Henry Sweet Henry when I was a kid and loved it and loved Alice Playten as Kafritz. It's nice to see material like this survives for such a good singer.
It is so shocking to hear her speak...It isn't until Don and Ed are standing next to her that you realize that she is such a little thing..but man what a huge, rich voice she had. Wonderful clip.
I miss Ed Sullivan, a show like this couldn't make it on television today. She has a huge voice, loving this and all the familiar actresses in the chorus that went to become big stars later. Thank for the upload!!!
Holy Underwear, Batman !! I love coming here every so often to watch this wonderful video !! The late great Alice Playten was an amazing and awesome force of nature !! Plus it's one delightful ditty !! And cool to see a young Pia Zadora !! Thanks again SO much for sharing this bodacious "blast from the past" with us !! CHEERS !! :-)
priceless. Alice Playten and that Michael Bennett touch. That's Baayork Lee in the orange coat and Priscilla Lopez in the checked coat. You can't help but smile when watching this. Alice is missed.
It's amazing to watch both Pia Zadora and Baayork Lee at the beginning of the song (before the dance break)--Zadora is mugging up a storm, trying to take attention away from Playten (impossible!), while Lee is completely into character--a complete professional.
I could not agree more ! I watch this every so often....never fails to blow me away & lift my spirits ! Great song & what a dynamite performer Alice Payten was ! And that's a young Pia Zadora in the blue coat & pigtails ! Thanx for your comment ! CHEERS !! :-)
@@jubalcalif9100 Do you have the cast recording? The only other song I know is Nobody steps on Kafritz .And yes I'd love Mr Peabody ( and Sherman ) to please show up. I think you's be a riot to go to a show with.
@@dthomasco Thanx for another cool comment, Donald ! No, I'm sorry to say I dont' own a copy of the score from "Henry Sweet Henry". I bet that would be a real collector's item ! And like you, the only other song from the show that I've heard (besides "Poor Little Person") is "Nobody Steps on Kravitz". Amazing that in the original movie version (1964's "The World of Henry Orient" - one of my all time fave films !) the character if Kravitz is very small. She's only in one scene (on the school bus) and only referred two in other scene.
Alice was great in National Lampoon's "Lemmings" and on the "Great American Dream Machine," where she sang "Take me when I'm gone to Forest Lawn." And of course "Poached Oysters!" for Alka-Seltzer.
Alice Playten was the only Tony nominee from this show that year (other than for the choreography); I can certainly see why. And is that Pia Zadora with the pigtails and white ribbons in the foreground?!
@MrTominVA Pia is totally off on the choreography from 3:04-3:10. You know she did it to draw focus to herself, but there was no way she could ever upstage Alice Playten.
I was making a movie with my character named Henry Broadway so just to be sure it wasn't taken I looked up the name and and this showed up and I'm quite impressed
My gosh...I was only 11 years old. My my how time flies ! My family watched Ed's show almost every Sunday night (and Lawrence Welk's show on Sat nights).
I come here at least once a month to watch this performance by the captivating Ms Playten which always leaves me feeling uplifted.
Me too ! I come here regularly ! Watching Alice and her talented castmates never fails to make my day ! What a nifty number ! You clearly have xlnt taste ! :-)
i worked with alice…she was a doll!!!!
@@michaeljj43 Worked in what?
Funny, I watched this performance a few times this month....and I was just thinking, what a joy it is to watch. Uplifting, indeed. Wow, Alice was quite the powerhouse! May she RIP.
It's worth it as much to see the incomparably inventive Michael Bennett choreography as it is to hear and see Playten's showstopping performance.
So well said and so well put !! :-)
I remember watching this on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967 when I was nine years old. This piece stuck with me all my life and I finally had the sense to go to You Tube to find it. I'm only sorry that Alice passed before I could let her know that I've thought about this performance hundreds of times. And yes, the Alka Seltzer spot: Sweet and Sour Snails, Yum!
Poached oysters!
Stuffed Dumplings!
Marshmallow meatballs!
What a treat to find this! And aside from discovering Alice Playten was quite a Broadway belter - do you see who's behind her? Baayork Lee (all of 20) and in the checkered coat at the other end of the Line is... another A Chorus Line original - Priscilla Lopez. Quite a wonderful video on several levels. (Too bad Henry Sweet Henry flopped...)
It is sad that this show flopped, but they got to be in A Chorus Line, arguably the greatest musical ever (my favorite anyway) so I'd say things worked out for both of them. They have both gone on to have excellent careers. Still it's very cool to see them when they were so young.
Also Pia Zadora is there too
Neva Small, who played Chava in The Fiddler on the Roof Movie is also in there.
God, I wish this entire show had been recorded!!!!
Me too ! Would love to see whole musical. The basis for the show (the 1964 film "The World of Henry Orient) is one of my all time favorite movies.
Choreographer Michael Bennett, music arranger Marvin Hamlisch, and a couple of the dancers worked together again a few years later on a show called "A Chorus Line," which might not have existed if it hadn't been for this show.
I love her reaction when gets NO money from an audience member...LOL
comic genius!! As well as one of the great Broadway belters of all time.
I saw Henry Sweet Henry when I was a kid and loved it and loved Alice Playten as Kafritz. It's nice to see material like this survives for such a good singer.
How I wish I could have seen this show during it's original Broadway run ! Lucky you !! Thanx for sharing ! :-)
It is so shocking to hear her speak...It isn't until Don and Ed are standing next to her that you realize that she is such a little thing..but man what a huge, rich voice she had. Wonderful clip.
How right you are ! This is one of my all time fave videos here at RUclips !!
A great performer. Thank you for posting this memory of her.
Ditto !! :-)
I miss Ed Sullivan, a show like this couldn't make it on television today. She has a huge voice, loving this and all the familiar actresses in the chorus that went to become big stars later. Thank for the upload!!!
I agree 100 per cent !! :-)
Holy Underwear, Batman !! I love coming here every so often to watch this wonderful video !! The late great Alice Playten was an amazing and awesome force of nature !! Plus it's one delightful ditty !! And cool to see a young Pia Zadora !! Thanks again SO much for sharing this bodacious "blast from the past" with us !! CHEERS !! :-)
Thanks! Now I have visions of Alice-as-Cafritz as one of Batman's archest nemeses.
@@WhiteCamry You're welcome ! Thanx for your follow up comment ! I like the way you think ! :-)
R.I.P. dear Alice Playten. What a wonderful lady.
Yes ! Such a powerful voice & gifted performer !!
priceless. Alice Playten and that Michael Bennett touch. That's Baayork Lee in the orange coat and Priscilla Lopez in the checked coat. You can't help but smile when watching this. Alice is missed.
little miss iron lungs with many broadway credits
It's amazing to watch both Pia Zadora and Baayork Lee at the beginning of the song (before the dance break)--Zadora is mugging up a storm, trying to take attention away from Playten (impossible!), while Lee is completely into character--a complete professional.
flipsyboy This is a totally loaded statement. How do you know Pia's intentions? Have you spoken to her?
I complimented Baayork on this and she said, "We were just dancers. In those days, we knew NOTHING about acting!"
Friends, if you ever want to steal a show..that is EXACTLY how you do it. Wow.
I certainly have a notion to second THAT emotion !!
from Oct. 29, 1967 (as the bottom left shows)
pia zadora totally screwed up the unison stepping bit
alice playten is AWESOME
Alice left us much too soon. What a gifted talent she was !
"...I say you're fine damn the 39 just march..." - The Unforgiven (from the Song I'm A Loner on their only album the Eponymous Release)
Pia Zadora was a creepy child. Or was that just her stage personae?
@Edgar Carrasco It wouldn't surprise me if she was out of step deliberately, so she could steal focus on national TV.
Playbill.com just told me that's Ilene Kristen (Grease, Ryan's Hope) as the blonde in the red coat next to Pia. And yup, it is!
THE LOST SAUCER & "Marshmallowed Meatballs".
Choreographed by a very young Michael Bennett.
RIP, Alice.
I can't stop watching this. What a great number. THAT'S Broadway.
I could not agree more ! I watch this every so often....never fails to blow me away & lift my spirits ! Great song & what a dynamite performer Alice Payten was ! And that's a young Pia Zadora in the blue coat & pigtails ! Thanx for your comment ! CHEERS !! :-)
@@jubalcalif9100 I am so glad I'm not alone in this. I had never heard of this show but I need to get in a wayback machine and see it.
@@dthomasco Maybe we can convince Mr Peabody to lend us his "Wayback Machine" ! :-)
@@jubalcalif9100 Do you have the cast recording? The only other song I know is Nobody steps on Kafritz .And yes I'd love Mr Peabody ( and Sherman ) to please show up. I think you's be a riot to go to a show with.
@@dthomasco Thanx for another cool comment, Donald ! No, I'm sorry to say I dont' own a copy of the score from "Henry Sweet Henry". I bet that would be a real collector's item ! And like you, the only other song from the show that I've heard (besides "Poor Little Person") is "Nobody Steps on Kravitz". Amazing that in the original movie version (1964's "The World of Henry Orient" - one of my all time fave films !) the character if Kravitz is very small. She's only in one scene (on the school bus) and only referred two in other scene.
I believe what Clive Barnes said was "...like a little toy Merman."
TRUTH.
Indeed !!
what a voice!!!! alice !!!!!
How very true !! She was a true "force of nature" !! :-)
Alice was great in National Lampoon's "Lemmings" and on the "Great American Dream Machine," where she sang "Take me when I'm gone to Forest Lawn." And of course "Poached Oysters!" for Alka-Seltzer.
And _Legend._
That wonderful GFY look at 4:27.
Alice Playten was the only Tony nominee from this show that year (other than for the choreography); I can certainly see why. And is that Pia Zadora with the pigtails and white ribbons in the foreground?!
I verified my suspicion by checking www.ibdb.com, a sort-of Broadway version of the Internet Movie Database. It's terrific, by the way.
Yes, that is indeed a young Pia Zadora ! How cute & original she was...and she still is ! You have a good eye ! :-)
She should have canned her agent. Alice should have a much bigger career.
I heartily concur. Such a huge talent. She left us much too soon.
@MrTominVA Pia is totally off on the choreography from 3:04-3:10. You know she did it to draw focus to herself, but there was no way she could ever upstage Alice Playten.
nbianco No, I don't know that. How do you?
You can't stop a train... or a Mike Tyson punch... or a performance by Alice Playten. When it came to stealing scenes she was like Bonnie AND Clyde.
You got that right !!
RIP Alice.
May she rest in eternal bliss. She left us much too soon.... :-(
I was making a movie with my character named Henry Broadway so just to be sure it wasn't taken I looked up the name and and this showed up and I'm quite impressed
Michael Bennett is probably still mad about this slightly off choreography from beyond the grave.
Yeah, Michael Bennett yelling "PIA!!! YOU SHOWBOATING LITTLE BLANKETY-BLANK!!!!"
I'm not a fan of musicals, but that was amazing.
So very true ! Amazing and awesome !
Does anyone know how to get the sheet music for this?
Which one was Pia Zadora?
Blue coat, dark hair in high pigtails with white bows.
NOBODY Expects Don Amche!
As I do when I take off my hat, you make a good point !
THAT'S how you stop a show.
Indubitably !! :-)
Airdate October 29, 1967
My gosh...I was only 11 years old. My my how time flies ! My family watched Ed's show almost every Sunday night (and Lawrence Welk's show on Sat nights).
Sullivan obviously thinks the 20-year-old Playten is a schoolgirl...
narphizoid In all honesty, both her and Baayork Lee really do look like they’re in their teens in this even though both were in their 20’s.
@@bradleyscarton3931 Well said and well put !
Ed talks to them like they’re Munchkins 🤪
Good old days😘
That's for sure !! :-)
That's Pia Zadora in the blue coat.
She was and is strictly from cutesville !!
All due respect: this show seems terrible.
I don't see how you can judge a show from one number. I was lucky enough to have seen the whole show and I loved it.