President Lyndon Johnson's Inaugural Gala
D.C. Armory
Washington, D.C.
January 18, 1965
Now a star on Broadway six days a week in Funny Girl, Barbra performed for President Johnson at the National Armory in Washington, D.C.
For the special performance, Donald Brooks (the award-winning costume designer for Broadway, television and film) created Streisand's lotus blossom gown with caviar beading.
The Inaugural show was produced and staged by Richard Adler — who co-wrote The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees, and who staged and produced numerous Presidential entertainments as White House Consultant for the Arts.
(Above & Below: Don Gunderson provided photos of the Inaugural Gala invitation and program. Below, you can see that Johnny Carson preceded Streisand on the stage that evening.)
Columnist Dorothy Kilgallen wrote about the evening:
Barbra Streisand came on and sang flawlessly, moving her arms sinuously, using her hands with maximum effect, turning her elaborate beehive wig toward all parts of the auditorium as she made “People” sound like the most important song next to the National Anthem...
Other performers that night included Woody Allen, Carol Channing, Carol Burnett and Jule Andrews, and Mike Nichols and Elaine May.
Legendary artist Al Hirschfeld sketched all the stars who attended Johnson's inauguration. From left to right, below: Elaine May and Mike Nichols, Carol Channing, Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews, Carol Burnett, Bobby Darin, Richard Adler (Director), Alfred Hitchcock, Johnny Carson, Ann Margret, Woody Allen, Harry Belafonte, Margot Fonteyn.
(Below: More photos of Streisand singing that night in her Donald Brooks gown.)
End.
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