Summary: Maya Foo, researcher at NPG, discusses a portrait of Bette Midler by artist Richard Amsel. Richard Amsel, an emerging talent who had recently won a nationwide contest to design the poster for Hello, Dolly!, caught Midler's energy and flair in his 1973 poster. Midler's accompanist, Barry Manilow, who produced her first and second albums, admired Amsel's work, and Midler agreed he should design the cover and advertising art. Amsel's stylized strutting figure graced Midler's second album, promoted a national tour, and here announced her appearance to sold-out audiences at New York's Palace Theater in December 1973. A similar image was reused for later albums and tours. This poster was on view in the exhibition "Ballyhoo: Posters as Portraiture," view the online exhibition at: http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/ballyhoo/index.html . Recorded at NPG, February 5, 2009. Image info: Bette Midler/ Richard Amsel, 1973 / Color photolithographic poster/ National Portrait Gallery; gift of Jack Rennert/ Copyright Richard Amsel
