Gaslight Square in St. Louis, Missouri, was a thriving entertainment district—the Greenwich Village of the Midwest. It had live jazz, beat poetry and its restaurants were full of bohemians. Jay and Fran Landesman established the Crystal Palace in 1958. Jay had an eye for talent and booked many up-and-coming performers at the Palace, including Lenny Bruce, Mike Nichols and Elaine May, Woody Allen, Phyllis Diller, the Smothers Brothers and Dick Gregory.
Comedian Lenny Bruce called the Crystal Palace “a church gone bad.” And Jay Landesman said it was a “cross between a church and a movie palace, without the reverence.” The 300-seat room had large, brass chandeliers with crystals, a sizable stained glass mural, and ornate wooden paneling. Its walls were painted fire engine red.
Barbra wrote home to a friend while she was there, saying, “You would love the Crystal Palace — stained glass windows, antique chandeliers, red velvet. I'm mad for it. They gave me an apartment above, all done in old washed down woods, marble sinks, enamel fire place, sliding doors — really great!”
Streisand played the Crystal Palace for four weeks in 1961 in a variety revue called “Caught in the Act,” which was staged by John Kelso. Advertising the performers “from the Jack Paar Show,” Streisand was billed with the comedy team, the Smothers Brothers and an Irish-American comic Mark London.
Barbra's agent at the time (Irwin Arthur) had to sell Jay Landesman on the concept of Barbra Streisand “She's just your style, crazy, and cheap, and I'll give you options when she's a star. Get her now while she's available,” Landesman recalled in his memoir.
The St. Louis Globe-Democrat called Streisand a “chic singer with vocal prowess unusual for a girl of 18.” Also, according to that review, Barbra opened the show with the song “Soon It's Gonna Rain,” next sang “Sleepin' Bee,” and concluded with “When the Sun Comes Out.”
From the reviews, it sounds as if each performer on the bill had their own slot in the show, with Streisand going on first.
The St. Louis Dispatch said of Streisand that “her technique and finish show proficiency. She is especially good on the sultry ballad, the nostalgic, lingering, bittersweet touch.”
For its third and final week at the Crystal Palace, “Caught in the Act” was performed at 8:30 and 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday; three shows were presented on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., 9:30 and 11 p.m.
