Editing Barbra Streisand (section)

=== Beginnings ===
[[File:Barbra Streisand 1962.jpg|thumb|Streisand, c. 1962]]
Living on her own at 16, Streisand took various menial jobs to have some income. During one period, she lacked a permanent address, and found herself sleeping at the home of friends or anywhere else she could set up the army cot she carried around. When desperate, she returned to her mother's flat in Brooklyn for a home-cooked meal. However, her mother was horrified by her daughter's "gypsy-like lifestyle", wrote biographer [[Karen Swenson]], and again begged her to give up trying to get into show business,<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|6}} but Streisand took her mother's pleadings as even more reason to keep trying: "My desires were strengthened by wanting to prove to my mother that I ''could'' be a star."<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|6}}

Streisand took a job as an usher at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater for ''The Sound of Music'' early in 1960. During the run of the play, she heard that the casting director was auditioning for more singers, and it marked the first time she sang in pursuit of a job.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|6}} Although the director felt she was not right for the part, he encouraged her to begin including her talent as a singer on her résumé when looking for other work.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|6}}

Streisand asked her boyfriend, [[Barry Dennen]], to tape her singing, copies of which she could then give out to possible employers. Dennen found a guitarist to accompany her:.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|6}}

{{blockquote|We spent the afternoon taping, and the moment I heard the first playback I went insane ... This nutty little kook had one of the most breathtaking voices I'd ever heard ... when she was finished and I turned off the machine, I needed a long moment before I dared look up at her.}}

Dennen grew enthusiastic and he convinced her to enter a talent contest at the Lion, a [[Homosexuality|gay]] nightclub in Manhattan's [[Greenwich Village]]. She performed two songs, after which there was a "stunned silence" from the audience, followed by "thunderous applause" when she was pronounced the winner.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|7}} She was invited back and sang at the club for several weeks.<ref name="the lion">{{cite web |date=July 1, 1960 |title=The Lion |url=http://barbra-archives.com/live/60s/lion_streisand.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707212334/http://barbra-archives.com/live/60s/lion_streisand.html |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |access-date=August 17, 2011 |publisher=Barbra-archives.com}}</ref> During this time, disliking her name,<ref>{{cite web |date=June 17, 1962 |title=Successful, Yes—Famous, No (Interview) |url=http://barbra-archives.com/bjs_library/60s/62_successful_yes.html |publisher=Barbra Streisand Archives}}</ref> she changed it from "Barbara" to "Barbra".<ref name="the lion" />
In early days of her career, Streisand was repeatedly told she was too ugly to be a star and was advised to get a [[nose job]]; which she declined to do.<ref name="control" />

==== Nightclub shows ====
Streisand was next asked to audition at the Bon Soir nightclub, after which she was signed up at $125 a week. It became her first professional engagement in September 1960, where she was the opening act for comedian [[Phyllis Diller]]. She recalls it was the first time she had been in that kind of upscale environment: "I'd never been in a nightclub until I sang in one."<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|7}}

Dennen now wanted to expose Streisand to his vast record collection of female singers, including [[Billie Holiday]], [[Mabel Mercer]], [[Ethel Waters]], and [[Édith Piaf]]. Streisand realized she could still become an actress by first gaining recognition as a singer.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|7}} From his collection she drew the song that best defined her mission in singing: ''[[A Sleepin' Bee]]'', with music by [[Harold Arlen]] and lyrics by [[Truman Capote]] for the 1954 musical ''[[House of Flowers (musical)|House of Flowers]]''. "The lyrics to that song gave me the three acts of a play that I longed for as an actress," Streisand said. "And Harold was one of those writers who could write these magnificent melodies. That gave me what I needed."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farber |first=Jim |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Barbra Streisand: 'It's the funniest thing to me that people still can't get my name wright' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/oct/23/barbra-streisand-interview-bon-soir-new-album |access-date=October 25, 2022 |journal=The Guardian}}</ref> According to biographer Christopher Nickens, hearing other great female singers benefited her style, as she began creating different emotional characters when performing, which gave her singing a greater range.

Streisand improved her stage presence when speaking to the audience between songs. She discovered that her Brooklyn-bred style of humor was received favorably.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|8}} During the next six months appearing at the club, some began comparing her singing voice to famous names such as [[Judy Garland]], [[Lena Horne]] and [[Fanny Brice]]. Her conversational ability to charm an audience with spontaneous humor during performances became more sophisticated and professional.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|8}} Theater critic [[Leonard Harris (actor)|Leonard Harris]] wrote: "She's twenty; by the time she's thirty she will have rewritten the record books."<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|9}}

{{quote box
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| quote = Her name is Barbra Streisand. She is 20 years old, she has a three-octave promiscuity of range, she packs more personal dynamic power than anybody I can recall since [[Libby Holman]] or [[Helen Morgan (singer)|Helen Morgan]]. She can sing as loud as [[Ethel Merman]] and as persuasively as [[Lena Horne|Lena]] or [[Ella Fitzgerald|Ella]], or as brassy as a [[Sophie Tucker]] ... and only Barbra Streisand can turn "[[Cry Me a River (1953 song)|Cry Me a River]]" into something comparable to [[Enrico Caruso]] having his first bash at [[Pagliacci]]. When Streisand cries you a river, you got a river, Sam ... and she will be around 50 years from now if good songs are still written to be sung by good singers.
| source = —Syndicated columnist [[Robert Ruark]],<br />on her 1963 performances at the Blue Angel.<ref>Ruark, Robert. "The Blue's Angel", ''Pasadena Independent'', January 18, 1963, p. 9</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/2TA6LQmP0ec Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20080612015732/http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=2TA6LQmP0ec Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |date=March 27, 2006 |title=Barbra Streisand – Cry Me A River |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TA6LQmP0ec |access-date=November 3, 2018 |via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
}}

==== Early theatre roles and Broadway debut ====
Streisand accepted her first role on the New York stage in ''Another Evening with Harry Stoones'', a satirical comedy play in which she acted and sang two solos. The show received terrible reviews and closed the next day. With the help of her new personal manager, [[Martin Erlichman]], she had successful shows in Detroit and St. Louis. Erlichman then booked her at an even more upscale nightclub in [[Manhattan]], the Blue Angel, where she became a bigger hit during the period from 1961 to 1962. Streisand once told [[Jimmy Fallon]], with whom she sang a duet,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEa_deCZaNA "Jimmy Fallon and Barbra Streisand"], fair use clip {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312122355/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEa_deCZaNA|date=March 12, 2016}}</ref> on the ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon|Tonight Show]]'', that Erlichman was a "fantastic manager" and still managed her career after 50 years.<ref>video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY_LpxYuGg4&t=4m Barbra Streisand on the ''Tonight Show'', 2014]. fair use clip</ref>

While appearing at the Blue Angel, theater director and playwright [[Arthur Laurents]] asked her to audition for a new musical comedy he was directing, ''[[I Can Get It for You Wholesale]]''. She got the part of secretary to the lead actor businessman, played by then unknown [[Elliott Gould]].<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|9}} They fell in love during rehearsals and eventually moved into a small apartment together. The show opened on March 22, 1962, at the [[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert Theater]], and received rave reviews. Her performance "stopped the show cold", wrote Nickens.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|9}}<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|10}} [[Groucho Marx]], while hosting the ''Tonight Show'', told her that 20 was an "extremely young age to be a success on Broadway".<ref>video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoAX-pgMHZI Barbra Streisand on ''The Tonight Show''], hosted by Groucho Marx, August 21, 1962 – fair use clip</ref> Streisand received a [[Tony Award]] nomination and New York Drama Critic's prize for Best Supporting Actress.<ref>video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bQ62sL8JtU Barbra Streisand on the ''Tonight Show'', hosted by Johnny Carson], October 4, 1962 – fair use clip</ref> The show was recorded and made into an album.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|10}}

==== Early television appearances ====
[[File:Barbra Streisand - 1966.jpg|thumb|left|Streisand in 1966]]
Streisand's first television appearance was on ''[[The Tonight Show]]'', then credited to its regular host, [[Jack Paar]]. She was seen during an April 1961 episode on which [[Orson Bean]] substituted for Paar. She sang [[Harold Arlen]]'s "[[A Sleepin' Bee]]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Tommasini |first=Anthony |date=September 27, 2009 |title=Streisand's Fine Instrument and Classic Instinct |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/arts/music/27tomm.html |access-date=April 26, 2010 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> During her appearance, [[Phyllis Diller]], also a guest on the show, called her "one of the great singing talents in the world."<ref>video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DXvLD-pxms Barbra Streisand on the Jack Paar Show, 1961] – fair use clip</ref>

Later in 1961, before she was cast in ''Another Evening With Harry Stoones'', Streisand became a semi-regular on ''[[PM East/PM West]]'', a talk/variety series hosted by [[Mike Wallace]] and [[Joyce Davidson]].<ref name="barbra-archives1">{{cite web |title='P.M. East P.M. West' at |url=http://barbra-archives.com/tv/60s/pm_east_streisand.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707212349/http://barbra-archives.com/tv/60s/pm_east_streisand.html |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |access-date=August 17, 2011 |publisher=Barbra-archives.com}}</ref> Some of Streisand's ''PM East'' segments survive as audio recordings, and still photos survive, but moving images do not.

In early 1962, she went into the Columbia Records studio for the cast recording of ''I Can Get It for You Wholesale''. Also that spring, she participated in a 25th anniversary studio recording of ''[[Pins and Needles]],'' the classic [[popular front]] musical originated in 1937 by the [[International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union]]. Reviews of both albums highlighted Streisand's performances.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mann |first=William J. |url=https://archive.org/details/hellogorgeousbec0000mann_c6n6/page/213 |title=Hello Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-547-36892-4 |location=Boston and New York |pages=[https://archive.org/details/hellogorgeousbec0000mann_c6n6/page/213 213–214, 245]}}</ref>

In May 1962, Streisand appeared on ''[[The Garry Moore Show]]'', where she sang "Happy Days Are Here Again" for the first time. Her sad, slow version of the 1930s upbeat Democratic Party theme song became her [[signature song]] during this early phase of her career.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|10}}

[[Johnny Carson]] had her on the ''Tonight Show'' half a dozen times in 1962 and 1963, and she became a favorite of his television audience and himself personally. He described her as an "exciting new singer".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAS8BDDV8uM Barbra Streisand on Johnny Carson's ''Tonight Show'', 1962] – fair use clip</ref> During one show, she joked with Groucho Marx, who liked her style of humor.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|10}}

{{quote box
| quote = She did three or four songs, and she was beyond brilliant – so amazing.
| source = —[[Elliott Gould]], about their first play together in 1961<ref>{{cite web |date=May 12, 2016 |title=Elliott Gould on His Past Marriage to Barbra Streisand – "We Still Love Each Other" |url=http://www.closerweekly.com/posts/elliott-gould-barbra-streisand-marriage-101979 |access-date=November 3, 2018 |website=Closerweekly.com}}</ref>
| align = right
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In December 1962, Streisand made the first of a number of appearances on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]''. She was later a cohost on ''[[The Mike Douglas Show]]'', and also made an impact on a number of [[Bob Hope]] specials. Performing with her on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' was [[Liberace]], who became an instant fan of the young singer. Liberace invited her to [[Las Vegas]] to perform as his opening act at the [[Riviera (hotel and casino)|Riviera Hotel]]. He is credited with introducing Streisand to audiences on the West Coast.<ref>Thomas, Bob, (1987) "Liberace, The True Story." (London, Weidenfeld and Nicolson).</ref> The following September, during her ongoing shows at [[Harrah's Lake Tahoe|Harrah's Hotel]] in Lake Tahoe, she and [[Elliott Gould]] took time off to get married in [[Carson City, Nevada]]. With her career and popularity rising so quickly, she saw her marriage to Gould as a "stabilizing influence".<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|11}}

==== First albums ====
When she was 21, Streisand signed a contract with [[Columbia Records]] that gave her full creative control, in exchange for less money.

Lieberson relented and agreed to sign her. Nearly three decades later, Streisand said:<ref>Barbra Streisand. ''Just for the Record...'' Columbia C4K 44111, 1991, [[liner notes]].</ref><ref name="control" />

{{Blockquote|text=The most important thing about that first contract – actually, the thing we held out for – was a unique clause giving me the right to choose my own material. It was the only thing I really cared about. I still received lots of pressure from the label to include some pop hits on my first album, but I held out for the songs that really meant something to me.}}

She took advantage of this several times during her career.<ref name="control" />

Columbia wanted to call her first album, in early 1963, ''Sweet and Saucy Streisand''; Streisand used her control to insist that it was called ''[[The Barbra Streisand Album]]'', saying "if you saw me on TV, you could just go [to the record shop] and ask for the Barbra Streisand album. It's common sense".<ref name="control" /> It reached the top 10 on the ''Billboard'' chart and won three [[Grammy Award]]s.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|11}} The album made her the best-selling female vocalist in the country.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|11}} That summer she also released ''[[The Second Barbra Streisand Album]]'', which established her as the "most exciting new personality since [[Elvis Presley]]."<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|11}} She ended that breakthrough year of 1963 by performing one-night concerts in Indianapolis, San Jose, Chicago, Sacramento, and Los Angeles.<ref name="Nickens" />{{rp|11}}

==== Return to the stage ====
Streisand returned to Broadway in 1964 with an acclaimed performance as entertainer [[Fanny Brice]] in ''[[Funny Girl (musical)|Funny Girl]]'' at the [[Winter Garden Theatre]]. The show introduced two of her signature songs, "People" and "[[Don't Rain on My Parade]]." Because of the musical's overnight success, she appeared on the cover of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''. In 1964, Streisand was nominated for a [[Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical]] but lost to [[Carol Channing]] in ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly]]!'' Streisand received an honorary "Star of the Decade" Tony Award in 1970.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 19, 2009 |title=Tony Awards Drop Competitive Special Event Category |url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2009/06/tony-awards-retire-competitive-special-theatrical-event-category.html |access-date=February 3, 2014 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

In 1966, Streisand repeated her success with ''Funny Girl'' in London's West End at the [[Prince of Wales Theatre]]. From 1965 to 1968 she appeared in her first four solo television specials, including the [[Emmy Award]]–winning ''[[My Name Is Barbra (TV program)|My Name is Barbra]]''.