When Marlene opened at the Sahara Hotel's Conga Room in May 1959, she gave 'em legs -- and feathers. Her dress, a beaded Jean Louis number with a thigh-high slit, was topped with extravagant yellow plumage. (The costume also came in sedate black, but photos of Dietrich wearing it in actual performance are hen's teeth).
She sang her usual suspects but included an odd repertoire choice: Johnny Cash's "Don't Take Your Gun To Town".
In 1959, Marlene also announced her TV debut. Press were told that her upcoming performances in Paris would be filmed in colour, directed by Orson Welles. In the end, the special -- a French-language performance filmed for an American TV audience -- didn't happen, but Marlene did make her TV debut that year, without fuss, while on tour in Brazil.
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| Marlene Dietrich at the Sahara Hotel, 1959. |
She sang her usual suspects but included an odd repertoire choice: Johnny Cash's "Don't Take Your Gun To Town".
In 1959, Marlene also announced her TV debut. Press were told that her upcoming performances in Paris would be filmed in colour, directed by Orson Welles. In the end, the special -- a French-language performance filmed for an American TV audience -- didn't happen, but Marlene did make her TV debut that year, without fuss, while on tour in Brazil.
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| Marlene makes her TV debut on Brazil's TV Tupi. With host, Jayce Campos (1959). |
The show, on the TV-TUPI channel, was presented by Jayce Campos. Dietrich appeared in her top hat and tails to sing "The Boys in the Backroom" and "Falling in Love Again". After some chat, she changed into a dress for a final number.
Although it is a studio recording with overdubbed applause, the LP, Dietrich in Rio gives a good representation of the material Marlene sang on her South American Tour.
South American exuberance gave way to Parisian jubilation when Marlene performed at the Théâtre de l'Étoile in November. Orson Welles came for the opening, as did Jean Cocteau and Noel Coward. Coward thought Marlene too brassy, but liked her rendition of "One For My Baby":
(The entire performance, including Maurice Chevalier's introduction, is available as a digital download on itunes. Although the sound quality is sub-par, it is an interesting historical artifact.)
wow thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to see her in that french tv appearance! I like her modest dress, she is charming. I don't speak french but I love listening to her anyway.
I wish there where more video's of tv performances. I'm so greatful for the Marlene Dietrich at Berns 1963, what a gem!
I never saw the photo in the yellow dress, great las vegas extravaganza and ofcourse beautiful legs!
One for my baby including the photo's in the video, very nice!
Marlene was singing in Paris (02/12/1959) when the dam of Malpasset, near Fréjus, collapsed : 423 victims. She explains that she added a new concert for helping the survivors with the money. Her dress was dark and modest because it was a sad occasion. I rade that it was her first appearence on TV.
DeleteThe first lady is the great actress Madeleine Renaud.
Pierre Tchernia was a popular journalist. He's still alive.
I hope you'll understand my English, Karine.
Fabrice.
Fabrice, your English is loud and clear. Very kind of you to share your knowledge and provide the insight on this interview, merci! I think it is great to see once more that Marlene knew how to dress impeccable at any occasion, the dress is a perfect example.
DeleteFabrice, Thank you for providing the context. Love the latest updates to your blog.
DeleteKarine, Missladiva, you are very kind !
DeleteMy last upload shows Marlene with the incredible yellow plumage. A bird of paradise...
Karine, Thanks for your comment! It is nice to see Marlene, without all the stage wigs and makeup on that French TV clip, rather chic. The Berns show is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHey. Great post as usual. I go to Las Vegas on an annual basis for the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender. Vegas has ZERO since of history! They're demolishing all of the mid-century / Atomic-era casinos one-by-one to make space for more lucrative bigger atmosphere-free mega-casinos. I can't remember whether The Sahara has been torn down yet, but it's cerainly due to be. The Congo Room in The Sahara is where La Dietrich launched the second half of her career as a stage chanteuse in the early 1950s and they used to have a gigantic portrait of her in the foyer. Shame!
ReplyDeleteThe brief clip from French TV is fascinating -- the audio was pretty muffled and my French is basic anyway, but she looks devastatingly chic.
Thanks for your comment! I'd read the Sahara had shut down (perhaps you should *ahem* gently remove the portrait from the foyer on your next visit ;))
DeleteDo the Tropicana and Riviera still operate, or have they too been demolished / closed?
Wonderful post, adore that yellow ensemble, haven't heard her do this number thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteQuite an eye-popping gown! Thanks for stopping by!
Deletemissladiva, I've missed your posts here, and this is exactly why. Aside from delighting in the content, I squawked over your fowl humor.;) Too bad there aren't photos of that black feathered frock flapping about--it would be like Shanghai Lily in full bloom. By the way, I swear I hear someone shush that emphysemic audience member around 0:59 of "One For My Baby"!
ReplyDeleteFabrice, thank you, too, for the summary of that French clip, which I could barely hear!
Perhaps Marlene got the idea for this costume while visiting Rudi on his VAST chicken ranch!
DeleteJoseph, I listened again and I think you're right! What a jittery audience.
There is a studio shot by Engstead of the black outfit somewhere on the blog -- I'll just have to find it!
DeleteFound it
http://lastgoddess.blogspot.com/2011/06/studies-in-light-and-dark.html
That yellow gown is astounding. I would not have imagined Marlene wearing such a shade, be she wears it well.
ReplyDeleteLady Eve, this was a new photo to me as well, and I had only seen an image of the gown in Marlene Dietrich: Photographs and Memories. I thought the same as you--and Maria's caption indicated that she didn't think yellow flattered her mother either--but after seeing missladiva's post, I'm quite convinced that Marlene could have pulled off every color of the rainbow.
DeleteFabrice has posted another shot of Yellow Marlene at his blog: http://marlene-dietrichcollection.blogspot.fr/
DeleteThanks for this link and the above one with the black feathers! Now, what I'd like to see is a photo of Marlene wearing that yellow feathered hat in Marlene Dietrich: Photographs and Memories!
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