What a beautiful post!!! When my parents saw the original production with Zero, they bought the recording. Let's just say I took possession of the record and was listening to the recording more than my parents. His voice and style took complete possession of my heart and soul. We were having dinner and I was so excited to know he would be playing Tevye again in 1977 at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway. My parents told me to clear the table, underneath my plate was a envelope. 4 tickets front row center orchestra for the Saturday night performance!! I think I cried!! When I saw it it was pure magic and how I laughed and cried!! It was so fulfilling to see your idol knock it out of the ball park!!! When it was over I was in the presence of greatness!!! I still listen to the recording every day!! Zero I know you are up there entertaining the troops!!! Love my Zero!!!!!

@@user-te7uz4vf1b Another beautiful post!

LOVE coming across new stories like this. I can remember Topol in 1991 doing the same business on his entrance.

Love that story!!!!

Glad to get see this too. My father told me he saw this Broadway run when he was on leave in the Marines, and now I get see Mostel perform.

It was 1976 to may 21 1977 at the Wintergarden theater on Broadway, I went with my parents to see him also. Sadly, he passed in 1977, We are so blessed we got to see him in this performance.

I saw the Saturday matinee in January I'll never forget when he made his entrance the roar of the audience!!! I was kinda loud myself!!!! I was so proud to be there!

Do remember if there were microphones on the cast ?

@@missjanerossetto6880 Probably not. From what I've heard, the last Broadway musical that was completely unmiked was the 1980 revival of 'Most Happy Fella' with Giorgio Tozzi. Oh, to go back to those days!

That's the truth!!!!! Zero Mostel IS Fiddler on the roof!!!

Even being a legend and an immense talent is no excuse for unprofessional behavior (and that applies to Jerry Robbins too).

sha11235, then you should never be allowed to direct anything.

A very complicated and difficult man yes..but totally one of a kind....and those are seldom meek,docile and kind..take it or leave it

Lincoln Libarary I've heard has it but was forbidden to be seen cuz Zero Mostel "misbehaved" by ringing out a milk rag on the orchestra I believe the story goes or something to that extent. I believe you have to be supervised while viewing and probably would need some sort of reason to gain access.

@@auststodI know that this restriction is because of the estate and not equity, but the restrictions on viewing these recordings are lunacy. They’re other archives of recordings of theatrical productions and they don’t have to deal with this bullshit. Why do you need someone to accompany you? It’s like your watching a recording of an execution.

@@auststod Oy, the stories I've heard about Zero's 'misbehaving' as Tevye. At one point, he reportedly reached out and snatched the false beard off the actor playing Perchik. "Aww, did I hurt you, Perchik?" In this 1977 revival, he was said to have ad-libbed remarks about Jimmy Carter. Who else would be allowed to get away with stuff like that?

After covid and some personal stuff ... I will finally be seeing the 1977 film of Fiddler with Zero at TOFT... I was 12 /13 in 1977 young but quite aware of Zero and Fiddler missed the show then he died ... looking forward... haven't been to the research library in decades... haven't taken the Ferry to Manhattan since December 2018 ... been caring for mom.

@@re-huvane5622 I'm going ... it's a process to get approval ... not bad... I did it during covid ... been waiting 30+ years to see this.

Months. He died that September.

There's a 1939 film titled "Tevya" which inspired the musical and predates it and the film. However, Mostel was taken out of consideration for the film by United Artists early in the production process. There was one professional taping of the musical done and it is in the library of congress. It has never been shown or made available to the public intentionally.

@@JesseMaGillOnline Mostel owned the role on Broadway and many say that he died of a broken heart when he was taken out of consideration for the film. I totally believe that.

I'm with you 100% Saw Zero Mostel in 1977 at the Winter Garden Theater he was magnificent!!! To me, the 2 best Tevye portrayals were Zero Mostel and Herschel Bernardi!!!

@@tonyspinnelli730 OMG, I totally forgot about Bernardi. He was absolutely awesome as well!

@@ayokay123 on KZfaq there is a 55 minute performance of the show with Benardi watch it it shows how ABSOLUTELY perfect he was as Tevye!!! He is incredibly perfect. When he does Tradition and Rich Man and the dream sequence it just shows his genuis!!!! I was lucky to see him do it in 1981 I was 15 and what a spell I was under with him. I met him after the show, he was so gracious and kind!!! It was a perfect night!!!! Enjoy the clip, I know you will!!!

I saw him in this production!!! He wasn't in trouble He was INCREDIBLE!!! 15 MINUTE CURTAIN CALL!!!!

@@tonyspinnelli730 Hey there thanks for the comment. I wrote that comment a year ago and I think I was auto corrected into something weird. I’m going to guess and say that I meant “a legend! I heard he was incredible but I can see he is truly the genuine article.”

@@chocolatesouljah you are a class act!!!!!!!!!!!!°

@@tonyspinnelli730 Why thank you! I am glad you caught me that. I would never wish to be a detractor of Mr. Mostel. I love what you said about the audience responding with a 15-minute standing ovation. I'll be sure to share that with my young theatre students when we return to school in the fall. Again thank you for your kind comment! And theatre history.

@@chocolatesouljah you are a pure class act!!! Thank you for being so nice and informed!!!!! Stay healthy and safe!!!!

Whaaaat...?! Wow! Can you let us dream a little? Do you see any way mr Robbins’ heirs might let us see it? This is a treasure: it’s a comedy, not some gritty slice of life like Jewison’s film. Topol was scary, had domestic abuse symptoms, and was the only character with a thick foreign accent amidst all the beautiful American Jewish accents: I would be in heaven to see zero’s version...!

@@unclejohnthezef Topol elevated the work, but Zero had a very unique take as well. Would love to see the full show.

@@unclejohnthezef I’m actually going to disagree. I loved Topol’s performance. I think him being so grounded and authentic in his performance is what takes the audience on the emotional roller coaster ride that is so necessary for a production of Fiddler to be successful. Yes, Zero was very talented and certainly established a lot of unspoken rules I and many others have followed in bringing the character to life (the dance shown at the end of Rich Man being a great example. That’s not written as a direction in the script but everyone does it anyways because it’s that iconic). I’m sorry this is so wordy but what I’m trying to say is that Topol had incredible moments in the movie, and when I performed the role, the two Tevye’s I borrowed the most from were Chaim Topol and Danny Burstein (2015 revival).

I can't imagine that'll hold forever. If it exists and the demand and interest is high enough, somehow it will be made available. Just hope it's in my lifetime!

@@kennethwayne6857maybe in the year 2064 when the copyright has expired. Those who hold power over recordings are crazy!

Unfortunately not at the moment.

Ok thanks

He was rehearsing Merchant in Philly (I think Philadelphia) when he died suddenly. I just saw the 1977 film at Lincoln Center... the film is dark ... Zero was great ... he was Zero after all.

"Mr. Robbins" was Jerome Robbins, the original director, and choreographer, whose early shaping and research helped shape "Fiddler" into the great show that it is. He also cast Zero Mostel in the show, which was an issue as Robbins had participated in naming some names in a government-sponsored "communist hunt" and Zero Mostel was one of the actors who suffered because of this kind of testimony. Although Mr. Mostel did not appear in the film version, his casting made the show go in a certain, and productive direction, so Mr. Robbin's casting choice among many others was influential. Including Mr. Robbin's insistence that the opening number suggested to the writers to talk about what the show was about. This direction ended up giving us the song "Tradition." Lastly, among many other of Mr. Robbins' influences, it was a trip that Robbins took to a local New York City wedding Hasidic wedding/reception where he saw the inspiration for what is now the well know, "Bottle Dance."

Chocolate Souljah thanx, I know Jerome Robbins but I didnt know this sub story about Zero Mostel and the communist hunt! I am always learning !

@@JorgeAl Hello, I love it! I too like to see myself as a lifelong learner. As I get older I find it even more important for me to try. Nice to hear from you - cheers from Berkeley California.

Chocolate Souljah Greetings from Athens Greece 👋

@@JorgeAl jerry Robbins was a horrible man!!!! Zero Mostel hated him!!!

I have been saying that always!!!! I wish he did the movie!!!!!