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Continental Baths Cross Country Tour
The Divine Miss M Tour Clams On The Half Shell Revue
The Depression Tour An Intimate Evening With Bette
The Rose In Concert 1978 World Tour
Bette! Divine Madness Divine Madness - Pasadena
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Songs For The New Depression Live At Last
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(April 14, 1975 - June 21, 1975)

"Clams On The Half Shell Revue" was Bette's big comeback tour after taking more than a year's hiatus from the business. Producer Aaron Russo, along with writers Bruce Vilanch, Bill Hennessy, Jerry Blatt, and director/choreographer Joe Layton, put together the most extravagant Bette Midler show yet. From the opening spin-off of "Showboat," where Midler emerges from a huge clam shell singing "Moon Of Manakoora," to an elaborate bar scene where she sings "Drinking Again" and "Strangers In The Night," to a hilarious version of "Lullaby Of Broadway" in King Kong's Hand, and ending the show dancing atop a giant, spinning record player while belting out "Higher and Higher," the show was a spectacle to behold...ooh, ahhh!!!  As one could imagine, Bette was full of energy and full of pep. The show premiered at the Erlanger Theater in Philadelphia for a one week test run, and then moved to Broadway's Minskoff Theater where it ran from April 14 through June 21, 1975. Due to overwhelming popular demand, the show was extended thus setting a Guinness Book of World Records for the most tickets sold in the shortest  amount of time. Altogether there were 80 performances at the Minskoff Theater, plus the week in Philadelphia, each show playing to sold out crowds. Bette Midler gave the audiences everything they wanted in a show - pure entertainment! The "Clams" show was a perfect vehicle for Midler's singing, acting, and bawdy wit. Anyone lucky enough to have seen this performance considers it legendary.



-
Set List - Tour Dates - Reviews - PhotosCast & Crew 
Publicity - Ticket Stubs - Souvenir Book - Posters and Ads 


SET LIST BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF:
May 3, 1975 - The Minskoff Theatre 



Oklahoma
(Oscar Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers)
Old Man River
(Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Kern)
Moon Of Manakoora
(Frank Loesser, Alfred Newman)
Clams Overture
The Bitch Is Back  
(Elton John, Bernard Taupin)
Monologue
Delta Dawn
(Jeff Kent)
Audience Chitchat

The Toilet Medley
Why Do Fools In Love / Papa-Oooh-Mow-Mow / Chain Gang 
He's So Fine / Under The Boardwalk / I Will Follow Him 
Mr. Sandman / He's the Greatest Guy / Fun-Fun-Fun
Come Go With Me

Sentimental Journey
(Bud Green, Les Brown and Ben Homer)
When A Man Loves A Woman /
(Calvin Lewis, Andrew Wright)
Ain't No Love In the Heart of the City
(Prince, Walsh)

Bar Segment
Back In The Bars Again / Drinking Again  
(Kay Susan Taylor / Doris Tauber, Johnny Mercer)
Bar Monologue 
Fiesta In Rio 
(Bette Midler, Jerry Blatt)
Strangers In The Night / Do You Want To Dance
(C. Singleton, E. Snyder, B. Kaempfert / Bobby Freeman)
Nanette
(Howard Dietz)
If Love Were All
(Noel Coward)
Friends

(Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart)
I'm Wishing /
(Larry Morey, Frank Churchill)
A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

(Mack David)
Optimistic Voices / Lullaby Of Broadway
(E.Y. Harburg, H. Arlen, H. Stothart  / A. Dubin, H. Warren)



In The Mood / Flying Home
(Joe Garland, Andy Razaf / Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton)
Lionel Hampton's Percussion Set
We'll Be Together Again

(Carl Fischer, Frankie Laine)
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
(Don Raye, Hughie Prince)
Bicentennial
Flushing
(Unknown)
Those Wonderful Sophie Tucker Stories
Golden Slumbers / I Don't Want The Night To End
(John Lennon, Paul McCartney / Phoebe Snow)
Twinkle eyes
Hello In There
(John Prine)
Young Americans / A Day In The Life
(David Bowie / John Lennon, Paul McCartney)
Gone At Last / Higher And Higher
(Paul Simon / Gary Lee Jackson, Carl W. Smith, Raynard Miner)
Chapel Of Love
(Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector)














= audio performance           Titles in italic = Monologue / Spoken Dialogue   


The above set list is based on a specific performance of "Clams On The Half Shell Revue" and does not necessarily represent all shows performed during this tour. 



additions would be extremely appreciated


PREVIEWS SHOWS

March 31, 1975 
April 01, 1975
April 02, 1975
April 03, 1975
April 04, 1975
April 05, 1975
April 06, 1975


BROADWAY
April 14, 1975
April 15, 1975
April 16, 1975
April 17, 1975
April 18, 1975
April 19, 1975  (2)
April 21, 1975
April 22, 1975
April 23, 1975
April 24, 1975
April 25, 1975
April 26, 1975  (2)
April 28, 1975
April 29, 1975
April 30, 1975
May 01, 1975
May 02, 1975
May 03, 1975  (2)
May 05, 1975
May 06, 1975
May 07, 1975
May 08, 1975
May 09, 1975
May 10, 1975  (2)
May 12, 1975
May 13, 1975
May 14, 1975
May 15, 1975
May 16, 1975
May 17, 1975  (2)
May 19, 1975
May 20, 1975
May 21, 1975
May 22, 1975
May 23, 1975
May 24, 1975  (2)
May 26, 1975
May 27, 1975
May 28, 1975
May 29, 1975
May 30, 1975
May 31, 1975  (2)
June 02, 1975
June 03, 1975
June 04, 1975
June 05, 1975
June 06, 1975
June 07, 1975  (2)
June 09, 1975
June 10, 1975
June 11, 1975
June 12, 1975
June 13, 1975
June 14, 1975  (2)
June 16, 1975
June 17, 1975
June 18, 1975
June 19, 1975
June 20, 1975
June 21, 1975  (2)


Erlanger Theater 
Erlanger Theater 
Erlanger Theater 
Erlanger Theater 
Erlanger Theater 
Erlanger Theater 
Erlanger Theater 



Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre
Minskoff Theatre


Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA



New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY

(2) two shows performed


click on thumbnails to view photos









Starring
Guest Star
with the

The Harlettes



Produced by
Associate Producer
Settings and Costumes by
Lighting Design by
Sound by

Musical Director
Associate Choreographer
Orchestrations by
General Management

Production Coordinator
Director
/ Choreographed by

Personal Management
General Management

Production Coordinator

Stage Manager
Special Material


Additional Lyrics

BETTE MIDLER
LIONEL HAMPTON
M
ICHAEL POWELL ENSEMBLE

ROBIN GREAN
SHARON REDD
CHARLOTTE CROSSLEY

AARON RUSSO
RON DELSENER

TONY WALTON
BEVERLY EMMONS
STAN MILLER 
for Stanal Sound, Ltd.
DON YORK
ANDRE DE SHIELDS
JIMMIE HASKELL
BRIAN AVNET / 
MARVIN A. KRAUSS
FRITZ HOLT
JOE LAYTON

AARON RUSSO
BRIAN AVNET
MARVIN A. KRAUSS
ASSOCIATES
FRITZ HOLT
GEORGE BOYD
BRUCE VILANCH
BILL HENNESSY
JERRY BLATT
JERRY BLATT
BETTE MIDLER

Management Associates

Assistant to the Producer
Assistant to Mr. Walton

Production Carpenter
Production Electrician
Production Propertyman
Wardrobe Supervisor
Orchestra Coordinator
Hairdresser

Asst. Carpenters
Flyman
Master Electrician
Electricians


Asst. Propertyman
Ass. to Mr. Miller
Dresser for Miss Midler
Music Preparation 
Assistant to Miss Midler
Associate to Mr. Delsener
Assistant to Mr. Delsener

Press Representative


Advertising

Logo Art and Design

DAVID WYLER
ROBERT GOLDBERG
JERRY WYNN
JOHN KASARDA
MARGE KELLOGG
FRED GALLO
LOWELL SHERMAN
CHARLES ZUCKERMAN
SYDNEY SMITH
EARL SHENDELLL
TERRY FOSTER
GLEMBY INTERNATIONAL
LOU GALLO
WALTER DAZILO
IRVING MILLER
DON BECK
CHARLES BELLIN
HAROLD LARKIN
MUNRO GABLER
CRAIG THOMESEN
FRAN FRANK
WALTER DUNBAR
PATRICK MERLA
JONATHAN SCHARER
HARRIETTE DETJEN
KATHY GORRINGE
CANDY LEIGH
TOMORROW/TODAY
HOWARD ATLEE ASSOCIATES
WILLISON-FRISSORA INC.
ADRIENNE GOLDMAN
RICHARD AMSEL


PRINTED MATTER 
newspaper and magazine articles

MULTIMEDIA
audio interviews & reviews

Sunday News, April 13, 1975
The Very Odd Couple  - Robert Wahls 
The Advocate - April 23, 1975
Exclusive Bette Midler Interview - Vito Russo
People Magazine - June 30, 1975
Returns In Tacky Triumph - Patricia Burstein 
In The Know - June 1975
Bette Midler: The New Taste - James Spada
Bette Midler Interview - 1975
Bette talking about her comeback tour.
Show Review 01 - 1975
An audio review of Clams On The Half Shell
Show Review 02 - 1975
An audio review of Clams On The Half Shell 



Minskoff - April 25, 1975 Minskoff - May 3, 1975
Minskoff - May 9, 1975 Minskoff - June 21, 1975 (closing night)



Concert Poster New York Times Ad Minskoff Window Poster
Thank You Ad Erlanger Theater Playbill







 


Next Tour
The Depression Tour (1976)
Corresponding Album


Special Thanks To
Bob Scott, Nancy Barr Brandon, Mike Gillespie