Sammy Davis Jr. Performs Before SPAC Crowd of 6,000

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, September 8, 1970

The only disappointing aspect of Sunday afternoon’s final performance of the fifth season of Saratoga Performing Arts Center starring Sammy Davis Jr., was the small crowd of 6,000. The show was sensational, patterned after his club act, complete with 19-piece orchestra, dancers, m. c., singer and comic and Davis himself proved conclusively why he is called the complete entertainer.

The show started on time, exactly 3:30 p.m., with George Rhodes’ orchestra playing several tunes, before Motown singer, Miss Blinky Williams, came on stage.

Daughter of a Baptist minister, she possesses quite a voice and did everything from spirituals to rock. She was followed by comic Timmie Rogers, who did a half-hour comedy routine with song.

No Introduction

Following intermission, Davis walked onstage without introduction and explained he tries to be “an honest performer,” not adhering to the big build-up introductions.

Alluding to his recent hospital bout with pneumonia, he kidded about this and about the doctor’s warning he cut down on his three packs of cigarettes a day to two cigarettes per show.

The songs were all excellently arranged in production form with the drummer, Del Blake, particularly important in carrying the beat. Davis sang the gamut from “I’ve Got to Be Me” and “You Make Me So Happy” to “Didn’t We?” and “What Kind Of Fool Am I?”, even throwing in some country and western and hard rock, although acknowledging that on the latter he’s finding it a bit difficult to relate to this type of music at 44 years of age.

It was a well-rounded complete show, the type one finds in the better supper clubs in metropolitän cities and a show rarely packaged for amphitheatre presentation, so those attending Sunday afternoon got a special treat.

Standing Ovation

He got a standing ovation, acknowledged this quietly, then proceeded to do some encores which found him playing the drums, vibes and piano and lending with four gal dancers, including his wife of four months, putting the discoteques to shame.

He was immediately whisked off and away and another season had ended at SPAC. Although official figures are yet
to be announced, it appears that the 1970 fifth season of SPAC will prove to be its best from many directions.

Already announced are the sharply increased attendance figures for the New York City Ballet with George Balanchine
during July and the Philadelphia Orchestra with Eugene Ormandy for August. The specials, too, have drawn good crowds, with Chicago, of course, establishing the new record of nearly 23,000.

The cross-section of entertainment offered in the specials this year covered the total theatre spectrum from country and western to hard rock and musical comedy.

Davis will be appearing with Peter Lawford in “One More Time” Wednesday Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, sponsored by the Warren County Women’s Republican Club.

For the fashion-minded, Davis wore a brown/beige patterned knit jumpsuit with wide belt and buckle, flared pants, gold neck medallion and brown suede fringed and beaded jacket. He started the show with dark glasses and discarded them about midway through the performance.