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1975 TONY AWARDS, THE (TV)

Summary

The twenty-ninth annual presentation of the American Theatre Wing Tony (Antoinette Perry) awards for excellence in the Broadway theater, telecast live from the Winter Garden Theatre in New York. This year's theme is provided by that very location as many of the greatest stars in stage history began their careers at the Winter Garden. The ceremonies open with Valerie Harper discussing the early days of the Winter Garden Theatre and its significance. Then, two early stars of the Winter Garden, "Al Jolson" (as portrayed by Clive Baldwin) and "Mae West" (as portrayed by Carol Channing) perform "It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary," "My Mammy," and "Swanee." Then, Fred Astaire presents the award for Best Supporting Actress, Musical to Dee Dee Bridgewater ("The Wiz"); Joe Smith presents the award for Best Supporting Actress, Play to Rita Moreno ("The Ritz"); and Jack Haley presents the award for Best Choreographer to George Faison ("The Wiz"). Next, "Jolson" returns to perform "If You Knew Susie" and "California Here I Come," before clips from Jolson's film "The Jazz Singer" -- the first film to be screened at the Winter Garden -- are shown. Then, Buddy Ebsen presents the award for Best Actress, Musical to Angela Lansbury ("Gypsy"); Vincent Minnelli presents the award for Best Scenic Designer to Carl Toms ("Sherlock Holmes"); and Eve Arden presents the award for Best Supporting Actor, Musical to Ted Ross ("The Wiz"). Next, Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon present a Special Tony Award to playwright Neil Simon. Then, Julie Harris explains the Tony Awards voting procedures. Next, Milton Berle presents the award for Best Score, Musical to "The Wiz" (the award is accepted by musician and lyricist Charlie Smalls); Carl Reiner presents the award for Best Book, Musical to "Shenandoah" by James Lee Barrett, Peter Udell, and Phillip Rose; Jack Albertson presents the award for Best Musical to "The Wiz" (producer Ken Harper accepts the award); Rosalind Russell presents the award for Best Actor, Musical to John Cullum ("Shenandoah"); Carol Channing presents the award for Best Supporting Actor, Play to Frank Langella ("Seascape"); Ray Bolger presents the award for Best Director, Musical to Geoffrey Holder ("The Wiz"); Jean Stapleton presents the award for Best Actor, Play to (it is a tie) John Kani ("Sizwe Banzi is Dead and the Island") and Winston Ntshona ("Sizwe Banzi is Dead and the Island"); and Cleavon Little presents the award for Best Actress, Play to Ellen Burstyn ("Same Time, Next Year"). Next, Lansbury and company perform more hits from "The Winter Garden Scrapbook" including "Mame" from "Mame." Then, John V. Lindsay presents the award for Best Director, Play to John Dextor ("Equus"). Next, Alexis Smith and dancers perform "The Story of Lucy and Jessie" from "Follies." Then, Clifton Davis presents the award for Best Play to "Equus" (the award is accepted by Peter Shaffer, Kermit Bloomgarden, and Doris Cole Abrahams). Finally, Lansbury revisits "The Winter Garden Scrapbook" one last time to perform with company "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from "Gypsy" before the night's winners join her on stage for a finale of the song. Commercials deleted.

The acquisition and cataloging of The Theater Collection was made possible by The Park Foundation, Inc., and the Verizon Foundation.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: April 20, 1975 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:56:43
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:71675
  • GENRE: Award presentations
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Musical revues, comedies, etc. - Excerpts; Theater Collection, The; Tony Awards - 1975
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1975
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Alexander H. Cohen … Producer
  • Roy A. Somlyo … Associate Producer
  • Clark Jones … Director
  • Enid Victor … Direction (Misc.), Associate Director
  • Hildy Parks … Writer
  • Bob Herget … Choreographer
  • Elliot Lawrence … Music (Misc. Credits), Musical Director
  • Clive Baldwin … Performer
  • Carol Channing … Performer
  • Angela Lansbury … Performer
  • Alexis Smith … Performer
  • Doris Cole Abrahams
  • Jack Albertson
  • Eve Arden
  • Fred Astaire
  • James Lee Barrett
  • Milton Berle
  • Kermit Bloomgarden
  • Dee Dee Bridgewater
  • Ray Bolger
  • Ellen Burstyn
  • John Cullum
  • Clifton Davis
  • John Dextor
  • Buddy Ebsen
  • George Faison
  • Ken Harper
  • Julie Harris
  • Geoffrey Holder
  • Al Jolson
  • John Kani
  • Frank Langella
  • Jack Lemmon
  • John V. Lindsay
  • Cleavon Little
  • Walter Matthau
  • Vincent Minnelli
  • Winston Ntshona
  • Rita Moreno
  • Carl Reiner
  • Phillip Rose
  • Ted Ross
  • Rosalind Russell
  • Peter Shaffer
  • Neil Simon
  • Charlie Smalls
  • Joe Smith
  • Jean Stapleton
  • Peter Udell
  • Mae West