Broadway for Peace 1968

Streisand / LIVE 

Broadway for Peace (1968)

New York, Philharmonic Hall
Lincoln Center
New York

January 21, 1968 at 8:00 P.M.
Newspaper ad for tickets to Broadway for Peace concert
In 1968, the Vietnam war was still raging and there was a growing anti-war contingent who wanted it to end.

A special fundraising event was organized called Broadway for Peace 1968, and the money raised went to elect members of Congress up for reelection who were opposed to the Vietnam war.

Carl Reiner was the master of ceremonies that evening, and many celebrities donated their time to appear in the show, including Paul Newman, Tommy Smothers, and Tony Randall. The performers used songs, vignettes and comedy to get their peaceful message across.  Harry Belafonte opened the show with music; Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward spoke; and Eli Wallach and his wife Anne Jackson read anti-war poetry.

David Shire conducted for Streisand, who appeared with a head of curly hair and a black lace dress with a ruffle around her neck.  Vogue reported that when she joined Leonard Bernstein on stage to sing her song she “peered at Bernstein through her diamond lorgnette like a diva soprano looking for her pianist.”

Streisand sang a special song that honored the occasion called “So Pretty.” With music by Bernstein and lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, the lyrics are below.

We were learning in school today
All about a country far away
Full of lovely temples painted gold,
Modern cities, jungles ages old.
And the people are so pretty, their
Shining smiles and shiny eyes and hair.
Then I had to ask my teach why
War was making all those people die.
Then my teacher said, and took my hand,
“They must die for peace, you understand.”
But they're so pretty, so pretty ...
I don't understand.
Leonard Bernstein and Barbra Streisand at Broadway for Peace.
Barbra Streisand and husband Elliott Gould at Broadway for Peace 1968.

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