Time Magazine Photo
Barry Dennen met
Barbra Streisand when he took over for an actor who had dropped out of
an off-off-Broadway production of “The Insect Comedy,” a play in which
they both appeared as butterflies.
When Barry recorded
a tape of Barbra singing on his tape recorder, he immediately realized
how wonderful her voice and breathtaking phrasing were and introduced
her to the world of chanteuses and cabaret singers through his vast
collection of singers on records and tapes. And he coached her by
creating an individual character for each of the songs he picked for the
nightclub act he created for her.
They became friends
and then lovers and she moved into his apartment on West 9th
Street in New York City’s Greenwich Village a few months later.
These private tapes
document her first appearance in show business and the very first days
of her incredible, unprecedented career.
In 1997, Barry wrote
a book entitled MY LIFE WITH BARBRA: A LOVE STORY, published by
Prometheus Books, recounting the ups and downs of their relationship in
a personal, intimate, heartfelt way. His book is still in print to this
day.
Even after their
breakup in 1961, Barbra continued to call on Barry to work on her
numbers on her auditions for Columbia Records, her out-of-town radio
shows, “I Can Get It For You Wholesale,” and the “Pins and Needles”
album.
Barry has preserved
these extraordinary and unique tapes for almost 50 years. Now, he
believes, is the time to pass them on to someone who will cherish and
protect them into the future.
M.I.T Memorabilia is
honored to sell these incredibly rare items on his behalf.
Song List
TERMS OF SALE
1. ANYONE WISHING TO BID
MUST SUBMIT A $100,000 DEPOSIT INTO AN ATTORNEY ESCROW ACCOUNT.
THAT WILL ENTITLE THEM TO A PRIVATE SESSION IN WHICH THEY OR THEIR
REPRESENTATIVE CAN HEAR (THROUGH HEADPHONES) A DIGITIZED VERSION OF
THE ORIGINAL TAPES AND INSPECT THE ORIGINAL TAPES. A BANK LETTER OF
CREDIT EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF YOUR TOP BID MUST BE SUBMITTED BY
FEDERAL EXPRESS ALONG WITH THE BID.
2. A BUYER'S PREMIUM OF 20% WILL BE ADDED TO THE
WINNING BID.
3. BY PARTICIPATING IN THE SALE, YOU WARRANT THAT ANY
BIDS PLACED BY YOU OR ON YOUR BEHALF ARE NOT THE PRODUCT OF ANY
COLLUSIVE OR OTHER ANTI-COMPETITIVE AGREEMENT AND ARE OTHERWISE
CONSISTENT WITH BOTH STATE & FEDERAL LAW.
4.THE OPENING BID WILL BE
$1,000,000. BIDS WILL BE
SUBMITTED BY TELEPHONE AND INTERNET ONLY. THE SALE WILL CLOSE AT 10
PM NEW YORK TIME ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2009. THE HIGHEST BIDDER SHALL BE
DEEMED THE WINNER.
5. M.I.T. MEMORABILIA INC. RESERVES THE RIGHT TO NOT
ACCEPT AND/OR TO REJECT ANY BID AT ITS SOLE DISCRETION.
6. IF YOUR BID IS NOT THE WINNING ONE, YOUR DEPOSIT
WILL BE RETURNED WITHIN THREE BUSINESS DAYS OF CLOSE OF SALE. IF YOU
ARE THE WINNER, IT WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE BALANCE DUE. A WINNING
BIDDER WHO DOES NOT PAY IN FULL BY BANK WIRE TRANSFER WITHIN THREE
BUSINESS DAYS OF CLOSE OF SALE WILL FORFEIT HIS OR HER DEPOSIT.
7. THE TAPES ARE BEING SOLD AS A COLLECTIBLE ONLY- NO
COPYRIGHT OR REPRODUCTION RIGHTS ARE ACQUIRED BY THE BUYER. THE
WINNING BIDDER WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A DOCUMENT STATING THAT
BARRY DENNEN IS THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OF THE TAPES AND THE "AUTHOR" OF
THE TAPES AS PHONORECORDS FOR COPYRIGHT PURPOSES. BREACH OF THE
TERMS OF THIS DOCUMENT WILL NULLIFY THE SALE AND LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF
THE ORIGINAL TAPES WILL REVERT BACK TO BARRY DENNEN.
8. UNLESS A LEGITIMATE RESALE CERTIFICATE IS
PRESENTED TO M.I.T. MEMORABILIA INC., THE BUYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO
PAY NEW YORK STATE SALES TAX.
9. ANY DISPUTES ARISING FROM A BREACH OF THESE
CONDITIONS OF SALE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK STATE. SUBMISSION OF A BID
MEANS THE PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE CONSENTED TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS OF NEW YORK.
