Barstow, Richard

Richard Barstow (1908-1981) was a director and choreographer, known for his work for the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, for industrial shows, and for stage and television productions. Richard Barstow was born the youngest of seven children in Ashtabula, Ohio, on April 1, 1908; his family relocated to Seattle shortly after his birth. He travelled as part of a dance act with his sister Edith (1908-1960), then, upon her marriage, settled in Chicago where he found work at the Palmer House with Eddie Duchin's revue, learning choreography and directing. After Army service during World War II, Richard Barstow, who had never seen a circus, was offered a job by Ringling Brothers, for whom he worked as choreographer for many years. He served as choreographer for Cecil B. DeMille's 1952 film THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. Richard Barstow died on May 2, 1981.

From the guide to the Correspondence to Morgan James, 1958-1977, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

Choreographer, director, dancer, and composer Richard Barstow was born in Ashtabula, Ohio on April 1, 1908, the youngest of seven children of British immigrants. He began his varied show business career as a dancer, going on to direct and choreograph for the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, industrial shows, and for stage, film, and television productions.

Born with a clubfoot, Barstow was pronounced fully "cured" by the age of six, after surgery and a determined course of physical therapy (including writing with his toes). During his convalescence, Barstow's older sister, Edith (1907-1960), would show him dance steps she was learning in ballet class at a dance school across the street from the family's home, by then in Seattle.

He attended school only through the second grade. By the time Richard Barstow was seven, he was appearing in a vaudeville dance act with his sisters, called "The Five Barstows." The group played the Pantages vaudeville circuit on the west coast. After several years, only Barstow and his sister Edith remained in the act. Until Edith's marriage, the two continued to dance together in such places as Al Capone's saloons in Chicago, in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in Europe. Edith and Richard Barstow would continue to work together on numerous projects, such as the circus and industrial shows, throughout their careers.

Barstow settled in Chicago and found work at the Palmer House with Eddie Duchin's revue, learning choreography and directing. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he played the drums and wrote songs.

Although Richard Barstow had never even seen a circus, he was hired in1949 by John Ringling North of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, to direct and choreograph. He continued in this capacity for twenty-nine years and even wrote a number of songs for the circus. Barstow also staged the circus production numbers for Cecil B. DeMille's Oscar winning film The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).

Barstow's Broadway credits include the choreography and musical staging for Barefoot Boy with Cheek (1947), a musical comedy by Sidney Lippman and Sylvia Dee, Leonard Sillman's revue, New Faces of 1952, featuring Robert Clary, Alice Ghostley, Eartha Kitt, Carol Lawrence, and Paul Lynde. (He also worked on the 1954 film version.) Richard Barstow also choreographed Broadway revivals of Noel Coward's Tonight at 8:30 (1948) with Gertrude Lawrence, and Jerome Kern's Sally (1948).

His other stage work encompasses directing several musicals at the Jones Beach Marine Theatre, including Song of Norway in 1959 and Annie Get Your Gun starring Lucie Arnaz in 1978, staging a Latin Quarter nightclub show (1965), as well as a number of ice shows.

For Judy Garland, Barstow staged and choreographed two of her New York appearances: the first at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1959, the second Judy Garland At Home at the Palace (1967). He also choreographed and staged musical numbers for the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, considered one of Garland's most important films.

Richard Barstow's extensive work for industrial shows includes producing and directing several editions of Motorama in the early 1950s, and Powerama in Chicago, 1955, for General Motors. Barstow, a non-driver, also wrote a song "I Am Not Dreaming," adopted by Cadillac as its theme. Television personalities for whom Barstow worked include Fred Allen, Milton Berle, Eddie Cantor, Dave Garroway, Brenda Lee, Jane Morgan, Ed Wynn, and others.

He also produced and directed M.O. D. (a.k.a. The Rainbow Years ), a star-studded event in 1958, marking the twentieth anniversary of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, i.e., the March of Dimes. Performers such as Don Ameche, Eddie Cantor, Lillian Gish, and Rudy Vallee were featured. Barstow also directed and choreographed the Symphony of Fashion in 1950 in St. Louis, Missouri.

A number of unusual accomplishments--including walking four and a half miles on his toes in 1928 (winning $500), and balancing himself with one toe stuck in a bottle--earned Richard Barstow a record number of mentions in Robert Ripley's Believe It or Not newspaper column. After a series of heart attacks, Richard Barstow died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City on May 2, 1981.

From the guide to the Richard Barstow papers, 1927-1977, 1940-1977, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)

Choreographer, director, dancer, and composer Richard Barstow was born in Ashtabula, Ohio on April 1, 1908, the youngest of seven children of British immigrants. He began his varied show business career as a dancer, going on to direct and choreograph for the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, industrial shows, and for stage, film, and television productions.

Born with a clubfoot, Richard Barstow was pronounced fully "cured" by the age of six, after surgery and a determined course of physical therapy (including writing with his toes). During his convalescence, Barstow's older sister and future professional partner, Edith, born in 1907, would show him dance steps she was learning in ballet class at a dance school across the street from the family's home, by then in Seattle. (Thomas Barstow, Richard and Edith’s father, had been killed in a railroad accident while Richard was still an infant.)

Richard Barstow attended school only through the second grade. By the time Barstow was seven, he and Edith were appearing in a vaudeville dance act with their sisters, called "The Five Barstows." The group played the Pantages vaudeville circuit on the west coast. After several years, only Richard and Edith remained in the act. The two continued to dance together in such places as Al Capone's saloons in Chicago, in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in Europe and Australia, until Edith left the act planning to be married. (It is unclear if the marriage ever took place.) Edith and Richard Barstow would continue to work together on numerous projects, such as the circus and industrial shows, throughout their careers.

Richard Barstow settled in Chicago and found work at the Palmer House with Eddie Duchin's revue, learning choreography and directing. Both Barstows also choreographed for the Merriel Abbott dancers. Barstow also served in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he played the drums and wrote songs.

Although Richard Barstow had never even seen a circus, he was hired in 1949 by John Ringling North of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, to direct and choreograph. He continued in this capacity for twenty-nine years and even wrote a number of songs for the circus. Until her death in 1960, Edith also assisted her brother in staging and directing the circus. Richard Barstow also staged the circus production numbers for Cecil B. DeMille's Oscar winning film The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).

Barstow's Broadway credits include the choreography and musical staging for Barefoot Boy with Cheek (1947), a musical comedy by Sidney Lippman and Sylvia Dee, Leonard Sillman's revue, New Faces of 1952, featuring Robert Clary, Alice Ghostley, Eartha Kitt, Carol Lawrence, and Paul Lynde. (He also worked on the 1954 film version.) Edith Barstow assisted with the choreography for New Faces of 1952 . Richard Barstow also choreographed Broadway revivals of Noel Coward's Tonight at 8:30 (1948) with Gertrude Lawrence, and Jerome Kern's Sally (1948).

Barstow’s other stage work includes choreography for numerous summer theater productions, including a summer (1948) at the Municipal Opera in St. Louis, Missouri, directing several musicals at the Jones Beach Marine Theatre on Long Island, including Song of Norway in 1959, and Annie Get Your Gun starring Lucie Arnaz in 1978.

The Barstows’ work in nightclubs included staging a Latin Quarter nightclub show (1965) and acts for numerous performers such as Janet Blair, George Jessel, and Lisa Kirk. They also staged ice shows as Champagne on Ice (1953) for the British skating star Belita, as well as Icelandia (1949).

For Judy Garland, Richard Barstow staged and choreographed several of her concerts, including two of her New York appearances: the first at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1959, the second Judy Garland at Home at the Palace (1967). He also choreographed and staged the musical numbers for the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, considered one of Garland's most important films. Richard Barstow also staged the dances for The Girl Next Door (1953), a film with June Haver and Dan Dailey.

Richard and Edith Barstow's extensive work for industrial shows includes producing, directing, staging, choreographing, writing, and composing for several editions of General Motors’ Motorama in the early 1950s, and Powerama in Chicago (1955). Richard Barstow, a non-driver, also wrote a song "I Am Not Dreaming," adopted by Cadillac as its theme. The Barstows also choreographed for The Best of Broadway, a television series in 1954, including an episode featuring Ethel Merman in Panama Hattie by Cole Porter. Television personalities for whom Richard Barstow worked include Fred Allen, Milton Berle, Eddie Cantor, Dave Garroway, Brenda Lee, Jane Morgan, Ed Wynn, and others.

Edith Barstow’s television work included working as choreographer and staging director for Garroway-at- Large with Dave Garroway. She also did the choreography for Frankie Laine Time (1956).

With Edith, Barstow also produced and directed M.O.D. (a.k.a. The Rainbow Years ), a star-studded event in 1958, marking the twentieth anniversary of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, i.e., the March of Dimes. Performers such as Don Ameche, Eddie Cantor, Lillian Gish, and Rudy Vallee were featured. Richard Barstow also directed and choreographed the Symphony of Fashion in 1950 in St. Louis, Missouri.

A number of unusual accomplishments--including walking four and a half miles on his toes in 1928 (winning $500), and balancing himself with one toe stuck in a bottle--earned Barstow a record number of mentions in Robert Ripley's Believe It or Not newspaper column.

After a series of heart attacks, Richard Barstow died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City on May 2, 1981.

From the guide to the Richard and Edith Barstow papers, circa 1907-1980, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)