Tony Awards 1970

Streisand / Television

The Tony Awards (1970)

  • SHOW CREDITS
    • Aired: April 19, 1970 on NBC
    • Hosts: Julie Andres, Walter Matthau, Shirley MacLaine
Logo for The 1970 Tony Awards
Barbra Streisand holds her Tony Award next to show producer Alexander H. Cohen.
Only a few artists have won all four of the entertainment industry's top competitive honors: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. These artists are called "EGOTs" and when the American Theatre Wing's Tony nominating committee gave Streisand a special “Star of the Decade” award in 1970, Streisand joined that special EGOT club.

Introduced by television personality David Frost, Streisand's speech was brief and humorous:

Thank you. Oh, God. Imagine being in a Hall of Fame. Imagine being in a hall at all, the trouble I've had getting an apartment, I tell ya. [ laughs; applause * ] That's another story. This award means a great deal to me because it was on a Broadway stage that my career really began. So to receive this honor takes me back to where I came from, and it feels kinda nice. I must say that although it is wonderful to hear an audience applaud, it is especially gratifying knowing that the talented and dedicated people who make up our profession are among those applauding. Thank you very much.

* Barbra Streisand was turned down twice when she tried to buy cooperative apartments on the east side of New York City.  The wife of one of the co-op directors told the press Streisand was turned down “because she is a flamboyant type.” 

It's interesting to note that two future Streisand co-stars won a Tony Award that evening:  Lauren Bacall for the musical Applause; and Blythe Danner for Butterflies are Free.
Streisand gives out the award at 57:30.
End / The Tony Awards 1970 on NBC
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