When Eartha Kitt passed away, I'm convinced this is how she entered Heaven.

being from 1978 we should be grateful there's a clip at all

It was the Pantages theatre. I was there, opening night, 1978. I was fifth row, center. I was 16 years old reviewing it for my high school newspaper. Years later, doing one of my many interviews with Eartha, I would have her sign that review. I found this clip because I am sharing the story as part of the Pantages 90th anniversary. Incredible, I have remembered this night for 42 years and now, here is the clip of that very moment I knew I had to be...a DIVA!

I will never ever..forget the huge muscle black man first Black Mr. Univers...with this tiny queen of Egypt, Africa, draped in glittering sparking pure white Fabric that was almost the length of the stage.And the roar from the audience on their feet..it was a breath taking return of this Great Lady back where she belonged on center stage...it was so joyful i remember thinking how lucky l was to be 3rd row there, age 15 in that moment to witness this entrance of Love... Crated by the theatrical genius of Goeffery Holder for his Eartha..she is eternal, a real Black American Treasure! Im so glad for this recording!

I saw this live and must say that was the best entrance I ever saw.

A great performer and a fearless speaker has left us. Given her treatment by the US after speaking her mind, she was all but banished. Eartha never bit her tongue!

this is timeless and still is an amazing effect! long live the theater!

I'm so thrilled this footage exists.

I saw Ms. Kitt at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis MO...I was about 12...wished I could appreciate her background and talent but I was a kid....however looking back she wasn't the "lead" in the story line but once she showed up the house rocked...great memory for a young person..knowing now much more about Ms. Kitt as a person; FEW I would say were grounded: too many are FULL of their "stardom"...I salute you..as a person and being a performer is only icing on the cake of life. Peace Ms Kitt. :)

I Was ! Blessed ! To ! Have !!! Witnessed !!! EARTHA ! In TINBUKTU !! In Miami Beach ! In979 !!!❤❤

My knowledge of this show is limited, but they spent some two full minutes of a limited time allotment just for Eartha Kitt to enter, and her entrance required her to ride in on a Mr. Universe and required another man to let her use his body as a step stool, and the audience made three rounds of ovation in this process -- and yet for Ms. Kitt this all feels appropriate and perhaps even understated and lacking. What a legend.

I won a pair of tickets on a radio show (they used to things like that back in the day. I won a lot) to watch this production in 1982. No one that I knew would go with me to watch it at Long Beach Terrace Theater. Not one of my college frat brothers, no one in my family. Not even my then girlfriend. Zilch! So I went alone. The production values, sets, lighting, stage props and live animals were great. But every time Eartha would step on stage, everyone would start to scream, applaud, yell her name and would also stand up giving her a great but annoying ovation that would stop the entire cast and orchestra from continue. So however long this production would run you could ad another half + hour to it. Also whenever she would Roll Her "R's" in her dialogue, a loud and boisterous crowd would try to do the same, to a miserable end. So I was very frustrated and almost walked out a couple of times. But I knew this would be the last time I would have a chance at seeing her and possibly meet her after the show for an autograph (no cell phones in those days kids, so no photos). I did end up getting her autograph afterwards. I promise very young theater aid some money if he took my Eartha "Batman" photo to her. He did, I got my autograph, he got $10 and all became right with the world. Unfortunately my X- Monster tore it up and tossed it when she left me out of spite. Oh Well. Such is life 😢

Iiiiiammmmmmmmmmmmmmmm heaahhh!..... Simply Fierce! Love it!!!

I saw her do this production at fox in st. Louis. An earlier blocker made the comment, paraphrasing................."and that my friend is what we call an introduction".....wow how correct he was. Hats off Ms. Kitt.

Absolutely fabulous! Ms. Eartha is everything.

LIKE A BOSS!

WOW!!!!!

💐💐💐💐I ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE "TIMBUKTU" I WAS 18 YEARS OLD WHEN THIS PLAY WAS OUT. 🔆EARTHA KITT👼🏾🥀🔆 WILL BE GREATLY MISSED🔆💐💐💐💐

Hello gab90069! I agree with you regarding Eartha having been "banished" for as long as she was. Also, you're correct regarding President Carter who welcomed her back during your run in "Timbuktu!" Thanks so much for having cleared this up! Promise to get back to you to further clarify some other outstanding issues regarding the general run of "Timbuktu." Meanwhile, grateful to hear from you! Though a little late, "Happy New Year!"

That must have been amazing to watch in person! She was such a great performer...

Once more, you're right on the money! I love classic entrances, and this holds up against of the best of them! I love people who can be "heard!" I mean to say there really aren't any body mikes required for them. They can be heard in the 3rd balcony. Two that come to mind are amazing Brian Stokes Mitchell and lovely Audra McDonald. Their voices are so beautifully trained, and yet so forceful that you could hear them 3 blocks away! Best to you, and thanks once again!

such a presence there never was before nor sense...she will be missed!

My dad took me and sister Thirdgirl to the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco to see this show. Eartha was amazing. Grrr!

I was there!!!!

Not a bad way to make an entrance, on the shoulders of Tony Carroll, 1977 Mr. Universe! Always a class act; Eartha is irreplaceable! Thank you!

I just can't get over these treasures you keep giving us! I was a high school senior (ie: broke) and ached to see this. I had to console myself with the TV commercial and the Tony awards telecast. Very excited to see this. Merci!

........and THATS how you do an entrance!!!! Anywhere!

I saw this as a kid and to this day when I enter a room I'll use this as inspiration. LOL

Eartha always ruled! Wish it were a clearer clip, but what an entrance! Thanks again!

Oh yes! 1978? We were there and THEN we got a VHS (with a wire to the remote cuz bbb sucked) and recorded the Telethon! After the Tut exhibit, I'd never seen anything more magical than this moment.

I stand corrected!

I was very sad to hear that she'd left us; what a unique talent! I saw this show 2x, and was amazed. My favorite among the performers was young Gilbert Price as the prince! I'm a huge fan of his. Please check out the number "Rahadlakum" with Eartha. It's much sharper, sexier and very funny! Thanks so much for writing!

i saw her do this in sf in the 80's. every word she said or sang lets you know there was only one catwoman, EVER!

Again the other person below my other comments was RIGHT...THAT WAS A TRUE ENTERANCE...seen lots of other broadyway production for entertainment but this one was always my first but also best...not even realizing at the time how legendery she was. Sad so many performers today are so bland/homogenized.....boring entertainment today since EVERYONE has their own "reality" show. Love the originals so much more...they were and will always be the best to me.

@tarotbear Long time ago, but you're so right! I remember it the same way; very exotic, superb voices, and beautiful stars! Thanks so much for your comment!

Fisher Theater, Detroit, Fall 1978.

OMG! Was it really in 1978? I saw this production. It was very sensual.

Join Eartha Kitt's fan at earthakittimstillhere to celebrate the legend. See ya there!!

God bless this man or women with his potato camera from 1978!

My mother had taken us to see this as children in order to expose us to the Arts and EArtha!

This is the way to make an entrance! Might try it at Club Noir.

omfg it's YZMA :D

Anyone come here after Drunk History??

honey, Ms Kitt WAS...NOT....PLAYING...GAMES, with y'all kids, honey. GET INTO EARTHA, HONEY.

@baronochs HI! Not familiar with Club Noir, but suggest you'd be a hit! Thank you so much for your comment; Ms. Kitt will always be, plain and simple, " A Legend!"

I love how deliciously petty she was with this entrance lol

One thing I just found out is that one of the dancers is actress Jackie De Rouen. Great performance

I was there!

Yes Gawd

A slight clarification: It was the incident at the White House with Lady Bird Johnson (not Pat Nixon) that made it difficult for Eartha to work in the US. Eartha showed me the dossier which the LBJ administration had ordered. It was Jimmy Carter who officially welcomed Eartha back at a reception at the White House (we were playing the Kennedy Center in Timbuktu).

Kind Tubularvalleydude, Can you send me some more info on the actress Jackie De Rouen? I saw this show 2x, but I'm kinda slow on the uptake, and don't really remember her. Either way, I'm honored to hear from you on this "less than recent" clip! Best wishes!

Their footage is amazing considering it’s from 1978

I think the person that comes close to this is Mariah Carey as far as in performance wise