This wasn't opening night. Her opening night was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation before she opened her mouth! We saw the show and then she broke TV ratings for this fund-raiser. Her return was magnificent! We got the Boy Scout popcorn for this show!
Wow, where has "In the Beginning Woman" been all my life?! As a Wiccan, I have to say, THAT has to become a classic in Pagan/Wiccan circles. What a wonderfully feisty, tongue-in-cheek gem of a song. I love it! Wherever your spirit is now, Eartha, dear lady, wise crone, may you be at peace. Blessed be, witchy woman. )O(
My father always had a crush on Eartha Kitt. When she toured with Timbuktu to San Francisco, I think he was first in line to get tickets! I was 15 years old and he took me and my sister Thirdgirl to the Orpheum Theater for the show. It was a really nice night out.
I was a fan of Eartha Kitt when I was a little girl. I'm glad my parents told me when they were alive, about our different people who sung and danced on Broadway and Hollywood. Eartha Kitt used to make me laugh. She was a beautiful woman. I seen her in an old movie with Nat King Cole and a little boy, who was Billy Preston.
That was deliberate. The Timbuktu audiences (and the general public) knew that LBJ tried to have her blacklisted. This was her comeback...and her smile of triumph. She did it opening night on Broadway and here on the telethon. I don't know if she did it at other times.
Wow what a cool cat...no pun meant. I saw this great lady in this stage production in the late 70s as a young kid. She was soooo awesome. Hats off and U left this world December 25, 2008 (same years as my mother died and both born in the same year and month January of 1927). U died the day of your Signature song...Santa Baby!! Must have been Kismet!!!!!
But can we talk about Mr. Holder's costume design-- and how it didn't win a tony? Eartha's costume has got to go down as one of the best leading lady costumes on Broadway.
Lawd have mercy!! This woman was the best of the best. I remember this play as a kid and remember this on the Jerry Lewis telethon my first time seeing it great, great, great...
I moved to NYC at the end of 78 just after this closed. The three-sheets were still in the display cases and the marquee of the Broadway theater still proclaimed Eartha's star status.
Truly the woman for all women to aspire to be like! She came from the worst of circumstances, and used her accidental fame and fortune to give voice to those who were just like her - outcasts amongst society - be they black, or gay, or any combination thereof! The way the U.S. Government did her back in the day was a crime - literally - and all she ever did was be honest, and uplift those who had no voice... and in the end, her suffering was worth it - she changed the world, and touched so many lives! Her legacy will truly be one that lasts throughout the ages.
Kennedy Center - I was never the same. It was as if my own mother sent her to me. Suffice it to say, my reaction was noted. Those fierce, sparkly eyes!!
It did not run for years. Not even close. This modernization of the score probably greatly contributed to it's failure. It only ran from 221 performances, less than six months.
She could speak French too my great grandpa told me when he lived in France he went to the ertha kit plays in pairs rip papa and before he moved to Montreal Canada
Hi Mr. Eichler, This is brilliant, and an amazing find. Wish I'd seen your post sooner! Thanks to my friend Susan for sending to me, and, of course to you for having uploaded this delightful Eartha treasure! Grateful to you as always! Best wishes, varadero
She's channeling another legend miss mae west who had muscle men in her act .fabulous!! And as jayne Mansfield said ,I'll have a medium steak and the guy on the right🤣🤣🤣
@@aeichler there IS an LP of Timbuktu ! But it is a bootleg,not an official castrecording. I HAVE that LP ! All of the singers on tht LP were not singing in the Timbuktu version Eartha was in.( Johnny Mathis,etc.) But Eartha`s two songs from Timbuktu are on it ! And the sound of the recording is very good.
I know y'all saw how perfectly the light hit her costume when the sound went off at 2:16
Right! lol I noticed that too.
Perfect
Yes! Serendipity!
lol that was kind of magic.
YEP!
Back when entertainers had class and talent!
This wasn't opening night. Her opening night was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation before she opened her mouth! We saw the show and then she broke TV ratings for this fund-raiser. Her return was magnificent! We got the Boy Scout popcorn for this show!
This video clip is from a telethon and there wasn't any audience. It's canned applause.
I was there opening night, the "I'm here!" had so much double meaning.
She was one of our Queens!!!!!
Wow, where has "In the Beginning Woman" been all my life?! As a Wiccan, I have to say, THAT has to become a classic in Pagan/Wiccan circles. What a wonderfully feisty, tongue-in-cheek gem of a song. I love it! Wherever your spirit is now, Eartha, dear lady, wise crone, may you be at peace. Blessed be, witchy woman. )O(
My father always had a crush on Eartha Kitt. When she toured with Timbuktu to San Francisco, I think he was first in line to get tickets! I was 15 years old and he took me and my sister Thirdgirl to the Orpheum Theater for the show. It was a really nice night out.
R.I.P Tookie Williams, who held Eartha up at the end. The message is true.
Thank you! She definitely wasn’t singing about a fantasy! She was a majestic little QUEEN! 👑
best entrance EVER!!
Right! I mean that was incredible!!!!
day light it was even more dramatic on the stage!!
This is how I plan on entering my wedding lol!!!!
Hahahaha but the married man go away when he Saw all these muscled man, he Can t compete! Lol
@@messdfedeiudfe2539 😭😭✋
lmbo
I could believe this how Eartha Kitt made all her entrances XD
I was a fan of Eartha Kitt when I was a little girl. I'm glad my parents told me when they were alive, about our different people who sung and danced on Broadway and Hollywood. Eartha Kitt used to make me laugh. She was a beautiful woman. I seen her in an old movie with Nat King Cole and a little boy, who was Billy Preston.
Narvia Williams St. Louis Blues 💙
Unmatched!
i love 1:46 when she smiles at the audience then immediately goes back into character
That was deliberate. The Timbuktu audiences (and the general public) knew that LBJ tried to have her blacklisted. This was her comeback...and her smile of triumph. She did it opening night on Broadway and here on the telethon. I don't know if she did it at other times.
A true goddess from the planet of cats! 💕💕
in the entrance she said "I am Back. A rebuke to Lady Bird Johnson .
@Jeff Webb the uk she worked here we loved her
@@purplepauline Sounds about right. All other countries adore Black people except America
Wow what a cool cat...no pun meant. I saw this great lady in this stage production in the late 70s as a young kid. She was soooo awesome. Hats off and U left this world December 25, 2008 (same years as my mother died and both born in the same year and month January of 1927). U died the day of your Signature song...Santa Baby!! Must have been Kismet!!!!!
But can we talk about Mr. Holder's costume design-- and how it didn't win a tony? Eartha's costume has got to go down as one of the best leading lady costumes on Broadway.
I saw Timbuktu in New York with Eartha, I think it was her first broad way show after she came back from her exile in Europe.
Wowwwww. What a treasured memory.
omg at 2:17 that diamond bling!!! Ding! hahahaha! iconic
Very reminiscent of the Coming to America dance break. I can definitely see the influence.
PLANE JAIN -So true!! I’d expect no less of an introduction for the incomparable Eartha Kitt.
True however she did it 1st
@@iamDavidaRose hence the term "influence"
Lawd have mercy!! This woman was the best of the best. I remember this play as a kid and remember this on the Jerry Lewis telethon my first time seeing it great, great, great...
Speedy Jefferson lawd have mercy is right!
I was amazed when she first came out. I love how talented she and how gorgeous she was. Absolutely brilliant!
Wow! How wonderful having these magic moments available again. Bravo and Brava to Eartha Kitt.
glad your here
I moved to NYC at the end of 78 just after this closed. The three-sheets were still in the display cases and the marquee of the Broadway theater still proclaimed Eartha's star status.
Her eyes----I'm Here!! I've loved her forever! Of course all of the male backgrounders were gorgeous too!!
Her body. Wow.
God bless Jeffrey Holder for bringing her back with this amazing performance
Ohhh so lovely and exotic ,like josephine baker style
That beautiful lady gave the best earth story beginnings that was pure fact. Awesome! Class act!
Truly the woman for all women to aspire to be like! She came from the worst of circumstances, and used her accidental fame and fortune to give voice to those who were just like her - outcasts amongst society - be they black, or gay, or any combination thereof! The way the U.S. Government did her back in the day was a crime - literally - and all she ever did was be honest, and uplift those who had no voice... and in the end, her suffering was worth it - she changed the world, and touched so many lives! Her legacy will truly be one that lasts throughout the ages.
The greatest stage entrance EVER!
RIP, Eartha. To think you once portrayed The Catwoman.
That Entrancement was Everything!
Saw this at The Orpheum Theater San Francisco. She WAS the show!
Eartha the Devine
Sister rosesetta
Wow I'm realising how inspired todays divas are by this kind of performance. The muscilar men, shiny swim-suit type dresses. Nice
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH✊✊✊✊💪🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🎉🎉
The legend that is miss Kitt ❤❤❤❤❤
thank you for posting this. This show is barely remembered but still holds up!
It was reworking of "Kismet" and "Kismet" is timeless.
I remember seeing this live in Washington, DC. you don’t forget that entrance.
Kennedy Center - I was never the same. It was as if my own mother sent her to me.
Suffice it to say, my reaction was noted.
Those fierce, sparkly eyes!!
This is an absolute treasure! Thank you for sharing!
Vod KaStinger
your welcome
what an entrance!!!
Eartha Kitt was the real life Norma Desmond we actually got to have
Eartha didn't live in the past and she certainly wasn't reclusive, constantly traveling all over the world.
Fun Fact the dancer in the light purple is Sanaa Lathan mother Eleanor McCoy
This was on Broadway for many years and I never got to see it. Go ahead Eartha Kitt BEAUTIFUL -TIMBUKTU
It did not run for years. Not even close. This modernization of the score probably greatly contributed to it's failure. It only ran from 221 performances, less than six months.
_Eartha Kitt was a one iconic queen even she plays as Yzma_
That's my favorite 😂😂
@@jermainethomas1570 🥰🥰🥰
She could speak French too my great grandpa told me when he lived in France he went to the ertha kit plays in pairs rip papa and before he moved to Montreal Canada
she actually spoke 5 languages fluently and sang in 11
The divine Miss K. Miss you much!
Hi Mr. Eichler,
This is brilliant, and an amazing find. Wish I'd seen your post sooner! Thanks to my friend Susan for sending to me, and, of course to you for having uploaded this delightful Eartha treasure! Grateful to you as always!
Best wishes,
varadero
They dont make badass chicks like this anymore
Truly One of a KIND!
Beautiful!!!
Before Coming to America
Gifts from GOD 🙏🏽
Eddie Murphy’s Coming To America inspiration 😊
I saw this on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. But I remember Eartha perched between the shoulders of 2 body builder for her entrance.
I saw thus show in LA... she was a-maze-ing!!
Probably one of the best opening numbers you could have.
Wow! AMAZING Eartha Kitt performance here.
Lovely star rest peace
Mesmerizing
RIP Eartha Kitt!😂💀🪦💔
Man Thanx!!! I watched Batman.. My Mother took me to see my EARTHA!! on her due date with my lil sister. I miss u EARTHA!!!!
The Personification of ......DIVA!!!!
How could people be racist against such beautyful people
I remember seeing Timbuktu when I was 14 at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles.
I’MMMMM HERE!!!!!!
Thé freedom she carried whoaaa
Iconic
She was fantabulous.
I am putting this back on Broadway with Raquel Chavis from Alvin Ailey
If you're serious, I'd love to talk to you about it. I worked with it for two years and was associate producer.
Actress here. I pray you do actually do it.
Thankful for this!
Queen
Queen of all queen.
A true Diva !!! ❤
I’m in the band (trumpet)
So beautiful
sHE WAS VERY FAMOUS TO ME AS A KID ,i WOULD NEVER HAD GUESSED SHE WAS AMERICAN
Absolutly.... The number 1.....
wooooooooooooooooooooooow Eartha mio dio con quei bonazzi!
Absolute genius!
🔥🔥🔥🔥
She's channeling another legend miss mae west who had muscle men in her act .fabulous!! And as jayne Mansfield said ,I'll have a medium steak and the guy on the right🤣🤣🤣
Iconic.
Beautiful smile
LOVELY
MAGIC!!!!
Where they find all then fine men at😍😍😍
Prrrfect.
WOMAN!!!
I'mmmmmmm-Ah Here! ABSOLUTE BEST...! Lol
That was one Black Adonis of muscle
Tony Carroll, a former Mr. Universe.
Goddess😻😻😻
👏👏👏
ABSOLUTE Q U E E N
Yzma vibes
Is there a soundtrack for the musical.I saw it in LA in late 70s and have been looking for a sountrack ever since.
Unfortunately, they never did a cast album.
@@aeichler there IS an LP of Timbuktu ! But it is a bootleg,not an official castrecording. I HAVE that LP ! All of the singers on tht LP were not singing in the Timbuktu version Eartha was in.( Johnny Mathis,etc.) But Eartha`s two songs from Timbuktu are on it ! And the sound of the recording is very good.
3:19 LOL He almost fell down:)
Batmàn brought me here. Eartha Kitt was definitely a cat in another life
I thought this was "Coming to America"
Gorgeous muscular Guy mmm i love 💗