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Chita Rivera, who died on Tuesday at the age of 91, was known for her extraordinary art. However, it is difficult to understand the full extent of her talent because, like so many Broadway performers of her generation, much of her best work was not captured on screen. Her Anita in the historic 1957 Broadway production of “West Side Story”? Rita Moreno took care of it in the Hollywood adaptation. Rose in the 1960 hit “Bye Bye Birdie”? That role went to Janet Leigh in the film. It was not until 1969 that Rivera made her film debut, in “Sweet Charity,” almost two decades after her Broadway debut. Fortunately, we have variety shows, television specials, and unofficial fan videos to help us create a compelling video portrait. Her life force explodes with every second.
Here’s a look at some of those indelible moments.
1962
Although this song is closely associated with its writer, Steve Allen, Rivera made it his own in this appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1962. The dancers welcome him by singing “Hey, Chita! Wow! and that sums it up. Rivera didn’t need a whole show to make an impact: he could deliver a knockout blow in just a few minutes. The variety shows of the era not only provided perfect stages for these independent gems, but also introduced them to a national audience.
Rivera easily held her own against the best, including Judy Garland. The two women performed a duet of this song from “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” on Garland’s variety show in January 1964. In that same episode, Rivera also blew the roof off the studio with ““I have a lot of nuts,” a “Porgy and Bess” number reimagined as a va-va-voom dance performance choreographed by Peter Gennaro.
1965
Threefold threat? Make it quadruple, because Rivera possessed the elusive quality known as charisma that is necessary to propel cabaret acts and variety shows. That’s where she could fully experience his explosiveness as a pure artist, where she coincided with elite figures like Ann-Margret and Liza Minnelli. Devised by Jack Cole, whom Rivera called “the quintessential West Coast choreographer,” this intoxicating performance appeared in a 1965 episode of ABC’s “The Hollywood Palace.” (Rivera “Pretty to me” three years later on the same show, it ranks among the most fabulous camp numbers ever seen on television.
1969
In retrospect, it seems incredible that it took Rivera this long to be cast in a film. After playing the lead role during the first national tour of “Sweet Charity” in 1967, she was not entirely happy to be cast in the supporting role of Nickie for Bob Fosse’s adaptation two years later. But something was something, and she even led a large number on the roof. In this classic barn, best friends Charity (Shirley MacLaine), Helene (Paula Kelly) and Nickie dance their dreams of escaping their current reality as taxi dancers. The number is so exciting that by the end you are convinced that absolutely nothing could stand in its way. And, of course, it is Rivera who leads the charge.
Rivera and Gwen Verdon sang a two-song medley from “Chicago” on “The Mike Douglas Show” in June 1976. By then, they had been playing Velma and Roxie (roles they originated) for a year and knew the characters and Fosse movements. Inside out. This is pure, unadulterated Broadway fabulousness – enjoy it. (Be sure to stay for the post-performance interview.)
1982
Brent Carver staged Rivera’s big number at the 1993 Tony Awards, where they performed Kander and Ebb’s musical “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” This was an appropriate setting since, Rivera wrote in her memoir, Carver helped her find her character, a fantastical diva who turns out to be a figment of her character’s imagination. The show marked Rivera’s triumphant return to Broadway after seven years away, and she won her second Tony.
2000
Rivera had a long association with Kander and Ebb, but this song from his solo act is actually not from one of his shows, much less one he appeared on. Rather, it’s from the movie “Funny Lady,” which means she had to leave. against the memory of Barbra Streisand. No problem! This is just a great illustration of Rivera both performing a number and singing it. The song speeds up in the most exciting way and Rivera accepts the challenge.
2003
Rivera adopted a French accent in 2003 to play elderly showgirl Liliane La Fleur (created by Liliane Montevecchi) in a revival of Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit’s musical “Nine.” Naturally, she capitalized on this nostalgic ode to a faded era of entertainment and glamour.
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