Explore colleen_oeris1's 64825 photos on Flickr!
When career opportunities for black women began to increase on television and in the movies during the 1960s, beautiful singer/actress Barbara McNair, all but forgotten today, was one of the fastest rising young African-American talents. After getting a break appearing on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts in the 1950s and working her way up through the show biz ranks, in 1962 McNair took over from Diahann Carroll, the original lead, in Richard Rodgers’ Broadway musical No Strings—an interracial love story set in Paris where a black fashion model falls in love with a white novelist. (During the show’s run, she endured obscene phone calls and hate mail.) In 1965, a New York Times writer declared that the “strikingly beautiful” McNair “does not have to depend on looks alone. She is a highly knowledgeable performer who projects an aura of beauty, a warm personality and an appealing sense of fun.” She also possessed a phenomenal voice. McNair—a serious babe as you can tell from the photos—recorded for Motown (who never seemed to know what to do with her) and other labels. She continued appearing on Broadway and in a number of television variety shows of...
Barbara Mcnair
Tumblr Blog
A photo of Barbara Mcnair
Singer, actress Barbara McNair. She was the host of her own syndicated variety show, "The Barbara McNair Show," from 1969 to 1971.
27 years old french guy, Soul addict. I play guitar in a band called What Eve Wishes, which you can find on youtube, soundcloud or facebook. I do not own any...
When career opportunities for black women began to increase on television and in the movies during the 1960s, beautiful singer/actress Barbara McNair, all but forgotten today, was one of the fastest rising young African-American talents. After getting a break appearing on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts in the 1950s and working her way up through the show biz ranks, in 1962 McNair took over from Diahann Carroll, the original lead, in Richard Rodgers’ Broadway musical No Strings—an interracial love story set in Paris where a black fashion model falls in love with a white novelist. (During the show’s run, she endured obscene phone calls and hate mail.) In 1965, a New York Times writer declared that the “strikingly beautiful” McNair “does not have to depend on looks alone. She is a highly knowledgeable performer who projects an aura of beauty, a warm personality and an appealing sense of fun.” She also possessed a phenomenal voice. McNair—a serious babe as you can tell from the photos—recorded for Motown (who never seemed to know what to do with her) and other labels. She continued appearing on Broadway and in a number of television variety shows of...
27 years old french guy, Soul addict. I play guitar in a band called What Eve Wishes, which you can find on youtube, soundcloud or facebook. I do not own any...
Barbara McNair performs on "This Is Tom Jones" TV show on December 25, 1969 in Los Angeles, California .
Photo of Berry GORDY and Barbara McNAIR; In the Motown recording studio - Berry Gordy second from left and Barbara McNair, right
The talented Barbara McNair was one of the country's most popular headliners in the 1950s and '60s. She was a favorite guest on TV variety shows, such as 'The Steve Allen Show,' and created headlines with her role in the gritty film If He Hollers, Let Him Go in 1968. But in 1969, Barbara McNair made history as the first African- American woman to host her own TV variety show with 'The Barbara McNair Show,' featuring an all- star guest cast of some of the best singers and performers of the time, including B.B. King, Johnny Mathis, the Righteous Brothers and Della Reese. Sit back and enjoy over 12 hours of Barbara's beautiful voice, charming personality and the performances of her many talented guests in this never-before-released collection of the best episodes of 'The Barbara McNair Show!'
