I Love Liberty

Last updated

I Love Liberty was an American television special broadcast on ABC on March 21, 1982, as a patriotic variety show. The event was filmed in the Los Angeles Sports Arena on February 22, 1982, and was promoted as being a part of the commemoration of first U.S. President George Washington's 250th birthday. [1] Created by Norman Lear and his organization People for the American Way, [2] [3] [4] it was billed as a "salute to freedom".

Former U.S. Lady Lady Bird Johnson and former U.S. President Gerald Ford served as the event's co-chairs. [5] Celebrity guests included Dionne Warwick, Helen Reddy, Desi Arnaz Jr., Kristy McNichol, Patty Duke, Jane Fonda, Burt Lancaster, Walter Matthau, Mary Tyler Moore, [6] and Christopher Reeve. [7] Segments included The Muppets offering a comic reenactment of the Second Continental Congress [8] and Barbra Streisand performing "America the Beautiful" with the U.S. Air Force Band; [9] [4] however, this was taped separately in England. [4] Another notable moment from the special was a monologue Robin Williams delivered where he impersonated the U.S. flag. [4] [10] Washington Post television critic Tom Shales described I Love Liberty as "America's first left-wing patriotic rally". [4] However, influential conservative Republican Barry Goldwater was also among the guests at event, having the role of introducing a production number which was performed by 1,600 people, including baton twirlers, unicyclists and five marching bands. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">America the Beautiful</span> American patriotic song

"America the Beautiful" is a patriotic American song. Its lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates and its music was composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey. The two never met.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbra Streisand</span> American singer and actress (born 1942)

Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success across multiple fields of entertainment, being the first performer awarded an EGOT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Williams (songwriter)</span> American composer, singer, songwriter, recovery advocate and actor (born 1940)

Paul Hamilton Williams Jr. is an American composer, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is known for writing and co-writing popular songs performed by a number of acts in the 1970s, including Three Dog Night's "An Old Fashioned Love Song" and "Out in the Country", Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World", Biff Rose's "Fill Your Heart", and the Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days and Mondays". He also wrote "Cried Like a Baby" for teen idol Bobby Sherman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People for the American Way</span> American progressive advocacy group

People For the American Way, or PFAW, is a progressive advocacy group in the United States. Organized as a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, PFAW was registered in 1981 by the television producer Norman Lear, a self-described liberal who founded the organization in 1980 to challenge the Christian right agenda of the Moral Majority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People (Barbra Streisand song)</span> 1964 single by Barbra Streisand

"People" is a song composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Bob Merrill for the 1964 Broadway musical Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand, who introduced the song. The song was released as a single in 1964 with "I Am Woman", a solo version of "You Are Woman, I Am Man", also from Funny Girl.

<i>The Main Event</i> (1979 film) 1979 film by Howard Zieff

The Main Event is a 1979 American sports romantic comedy film starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal, written by Gail Parent, directed by Howard Zieff, and produced by Jon Peters and Streisand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Way We Were (song)</span> Song by Marvin Hamlisch with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman

"The Way We Were" is a song by American singer Barbra Streisand from her fifteenth studio album of the same name. It was released as the album's lead single on September 27, 1973, through Columbia Records. The 7" single was distributed in two different formats, with the standard edition featuring B-side track "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?"; the Mexico release instead included an instrumental B-side. The song was written by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Marvin Hamlisch, while production was solely handled by Marty Paich. "The Way We Were" was specifically produced for the record, in addition to three other tracks, including her then-upcoming single "All in Love Is Fair" (1974).

Evergreen (Love Theme from <i>A Star Is Born</i>) 1976 single by Barbra Streisand

"Evergreen" is the theme song from the 1976 film A Star Is Born. It was composed and performed by American singer, songwriter, actress and director Barbra Streisand with lyrics by Paul Williams, and arranged by Ian Freebairn-Smith. The song was released on the soundtrack album to A Star Is Born.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal Gabler</span> American journalist (born 1950)

Neal Gabler is an American journalist, writer and film critic.

<i>Guilty</i> (Barbra Streisand album) 1980 studio album by Barbra Streisand

Guilty is the twenty-second studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand released on September 23, 1980, by Columbia Records. It was produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees and his group's regular production team of Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson.

<i>My Name Is Barbra</i> 1965 studio album by Barbra Streisand

My Name Is Barbra is the first of two studio album tie-ins by Barbra Streisand for her debut television special of the same name, which aired April 28, 1965, on CBS-TV. Boosted by the critical acclaim for the broadcast, the album was certified gold and peaked at #2 on the US charts; by 1966, the album sold over one million copies worldwide.

<i>Up the Sandbox</i> 1972 film by Irvin Kershner

Up the Sandbox is a 1972 American comedy-drama film directed by Irvin Kershner, with a screenplay by Paul Zindel, based on the novel of the same name by Anne Roiphe. The film stars Barbra Streisand as a young wife and mother in Manhattan, who slips into increasingly bizarre fantasies to escape the predicament of her pregnancy. The film's supporting cast includes David Selby, Paul Benedict, George S. Irving, Conrad Bain, Isabel Sanford, Lois Smith, Jacobo Morales as a character who closely resembles Fidel Castro, and Stockard Channing in her film debut.

<i>The Movie Album</i> (Barbra Streisand album) 2003 studio album by Barbra Streisand

The Movie Album is the thirtieth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released on October 14, 2003, by Columbia Records. Overall, her sixtieth release with her record label, it was executively produced by Streisand and her manager, Jay Landers. A concept album, it contains twelve songs from the singer's favorite films ranging in release from 1935 to 1988. While curating the album, Streisand was inspired by her marriage to actor James Brolin to record songs about love and relationships. To better fit her needs, songwriting duo Alan and Marilyn Bergman were commissioned to add lyrics to several of the songs Streisand had chosen to record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woman in Love</span> 1980 single by Barbra Streisand

"Woman in Love" is a song performed by Barbra Streisand and taken from her 1980 album Guilty. The song was written by Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, who received the 1980 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. It is her fourth of four Platinum records, and is considered her greatest international hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Don't Bring Me Flowers</span> 1978 single by Barbra & Neil

"You Don't Bring Me Flowers" is a song written by Neil Diamond with Alan and Marilyn Bergman for the daily TV sitcom All That Glitters. The song was intended to be the theme song, but Norman Lear, the show's creator, changed the concept of the show and the song was no longer appropriate. Diamond then expanded the track from 45 seconds to 3:17, adding instrumental sections and an additional verse. The Bergmans contributed to the song's lyrics, which tell the story of two lovers who have drifted apart while they "go through the motions" and heartache of life together.

<i>A Happening in Central Park</i> 1968 live album by Barbra Streisand

A Happening In Central Park is the first live album by Barbra Streisand. It was recorded at a live concert in Central Park in New York on Saturday, June 17 1967 in front of an audience of 125,000 people. The special aired on CBS channel in 1968, with selected moments from the live show that in its entirety featured thirty three songs. From the show Streisand developed a stage panic that caused her to perform rarely in subsequent years. According to Streisand: "I forgot the words in front of 125,000 people-and I wasn't cute about it or anything", "I was shocked; I was terrified. It prevented me from performing for all these years". She said to ABC News that: "I didn't sing and charge people for 27 years because of that night ... I was like, 'God, I don't know. What if I forget the words again?'"

<i>Yentl</i> (film) 1983 film by Barbra Streisand

Yentl is a 1983 American romantic musical drama film directed, co-written, co-produced by, and starring American entertainer Barbra Streisand. It is based on Isaac Bashevis Singer's short story "Yentl the Yeshiva Boy".

<i>One Voice</i> (Barbra Streisand album) 1987 live album by Barbra Streisand

One Voice is the third live album released by Barbra Streisand. Her first full-length concert in twenty years, One Voice began as a benefit performance at Streisand's Malibu, California home on September 6, 1986. The concert was broadcast on HBO in December that year, followed by the album's release in April 1987.

<i>Classical Barbra</i> 1976 studio album by Barbra Streisand

Classical Barbra is the eighteenth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released in February 1976. It was recorded in 1973 and consists of songs by classical European composers and includes tracks sung in English, French, Occitan, German, Italian and Latin. The music is performed by the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Claus Ogerman.

<i>Love Is the Answer</i> (album) 2009 album by Barbra Streisand

Love Is the Answer is the thirty-second studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand released on September 29, 2009. The album consists of jazz standards and was produced by Diana Krall and Tommy LiPuma. It also features Krall on piano and orchestral arrangements by Johnny Mandel, Anthony Wilson and Alan Broadbent. A deluxe edition contains a bonus disc featuring versions of the songs with just Streisand's vocals and Krall's quartet.

References

  1. ↑ Winship, Frederick M. (January 31, 1982). "Nation remembers Washington's 250th birthday;NEWLN:Stamp, coin, exhibits". UPI. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Norman Lear's 'I Love Liberty': patriotism and family fun; Also, British invade US sitcoms with the sometimes-witty, early 1900s adventure series 'Q.E.D.'". Christian Science Monitor . March 19, 1982.
  3. ↑ "TV Weekend: Lear's 'I Love Liberty' Leads Specials" . New York Times . March 19, 1982.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shales, Tom (March 20, 1982). "Miss Liberty's Left Hand". Washington Post . Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  5. ↑ Norman Lear — Part II In the Moment Ability Magazine, February 2016 issue
  6. ↑ "I Love Liberty (1982)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
  7. ↑ "I Love Liberty". TCM. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  8. ↑ The Muppets Reenact the Continental Congress on YouTube
  9. ↑ Barbra Streisand "America the Beautiful" on YouTube
  10. ↑ Robin Williams as the American Flag on YouTube


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.