From Broadway to Jones Beach- 1970 Sampler Beattie- A Musical Life

You're on the air with Roger Ramsey- on the Long Island Sound. The question of the day is a Long Island historical one. Three kids from the South Shore suddenly in the limelight. They begin their musical lives at the Long Island 1970 CYO Talent contest, which begins at the parish level. Three kids from Oakdale, compete at St. Mary's in East Islip on January 24, 1970. In early 1970, Richard, Ronald and Barbara Beattie win the St. Mary's competition and move on in February to win the Suffolk County competition in the Junior division. They are in the semi-finals in March of 1970 and win that competition to go to the finals. People still remember the performance - of songs from Oliver. And they win the grand prize. All Long Island loves the Beattie's - headlines in local papers call them "UnBeatable." Howard Lord writes in the Long Island Catholic, that the Beattie's are auditioning for Guy Lombardo's production of "The Sound Of Music." The audition at the Riverside Plaza in New York is a cattle call- hundreds - perhaps a thousand kids with Broadway Credits are there to audition. At the end of two days of auditions Richard as Kurt and Barbara as Gretel, are part of the seven Von Trapps with John Michael King as the Captain, Constance Towers as Maria. Ronald has to change his name, since there is another Ronald Beattie in Actor's Equity. He changes his stage name to Charles, the name of their Scottish Grandfather, who passed away in November. Ronald, now Charles is his brother's understudy and a villager. While this is a blow to the young man, he cheers up, when he finds out that understudies make more money!  A main inspiration for the Beattie's to be where they are in an unlikely place given the competition. Open lines on this Long island Memory- 

Joe from Canarsie - you're on the air with Ramsey. 

Hi Roger- my family went to see the shows at Jones Beach. Richard played Kurt- for two seasons. Barbara Ann played the youngest kid-Gretl in 70 and 71, they were a big part of the show. 

Roger- That's right and Charles is cast as the older brother Fredrich in 1971. The Beattie's turn out to be three of the 7 Von Trapp kids the second year! 

Joe: After winning the CYO talent contest , the Beattie's did benefits during the school year. From 1970 to 1978, they played at Catholic Hospitals, Schools and Nursing Homes as Ambassadors. They also were part of the 10:30 Folk Mass at St. John Nepomocene for years. 

Roger: Richard wrote a lot of songs for that Mass. He had been singing with the 10:30 Mass since 1969. His older brother Bob played guitar for the 10:30 Mass. Thanks for your call Joe. We've got Rich from Colorado on the line- Rich you're on the air with Roger Ramsey. 

Rich: I saw something in the Suffolk County News in Ancient History, about all the interviews and performances they did in Oakdale and the South Shore for Catholic Charities. And there was a Long Island History Project show that had Richard Arnold Beattie. He has been digitizing and remastering the shows at Jones Beach. 

Roger: Really? What a legacy! Do you know any of the Beattie's? What's your connection? 

Rich: I am Richard Arnold Beattie. 

Roger: It is an honor to meet you. Are you back on Long Island? 

Rich: For my 50th High School Reunion- The Class of 76 from Connetquot High School. 

Roger: and 56 years from the time you made your professional debut. 

Roger: Happy Birthday, and thanks for calling. 

On July 1rst 1970, the show opens. It is Richard's 12th Birthday. He makes his Broadway/off Broadway debut. At Vanderbilt's Wharf in Oakdale on July 1st 2026, Richard Arnold Beattie throws a Birthday Party- with family and friends. Ron Beattie has a gift for his brother. It is the CYO Talent Show First Place Trophy. (Song: A Musical Life) 

In cooperation with Sound Century Academy, the University of Colorado and The Harry Tuft Collection. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 2:00

When you read, you begin with rainy. When you read, you begin with already. The first three months just happen to be Lorraine. I'll make it easier for you. Along a way to run. So a needle pulling bread. I know to fall a song. I drink a janit breath that will bring us back to Joe. A dear baby male, a dear ray, a drop of golden sun. A name I call myself. But a love I'm going to love. So I need a funny ray. I get to have a sun. That will bring us back to a deer, a female deer, a tropical sun. I call myself another way to run the food on the soul.

SPEAKER_03 3:54

She will bring the channel bread that will bring us back to door.

SPEAKER_01 4:13

Is that what you call a song? Dorani Paso and so on.

SPEAKER_02 4:16

No, Dorani Paso and so on are only the tools we use to build the song. Once we have these builds in our heads, we can think of the different things. One word for every note. Yes, that's right. Well, sometimes we do that. Now altogether ahead.

SPEAKER_05 6:05

You can sing me. So a dear female dear.

unknown 6:16

Pray a double sons. Me, I name my both my chest.

SPEAKER_03 6:27

So your brain loves See, I think we can eat me.

SPEAKER_02 7:06

Let's eat. That was the voice of the lonely goat herd lay on a lay on a lay. Last sea and clear from the goat hurts through a leg. Oh lady honey. Oh lady honey. Oh lady honey on a pitch on the bridge of a castle moat, lay on a leg on a leg. Then on the road with a low child, lay on a leg on a low. Then in the midst of a top little turtle lay on a leg on a leg. And pretty with a full turtle leg on a lady for the video. Oh lady for the video One girl with a pale pink gold hurt lay on a leg on a leg. She got a bag. Come on with a clean closer. One other one for a girl and go hurt play with a leg.

SPEAKER_00 12:08

What's that? Who's singing? Your children. My children singing.

SPEAKER_02 12:18

I wanted them to sing for prostrated when they met her.

SPEAKER_06 14:07

Now you must do that to all the guests. Come along, children. The party is starting.

SPEAKER_02 14:27

Oh, sir. Robert Trader asked me to let you know that he would join you in a few minutes.

SPEAKER_00 14:33

Oh, you might see whether she likes this glass of rest.

SPEAKER_02 14:35

Yes, sir. I haven't danced the winter since I was a little girl. Oh, you remember it, John. Oh, really? I haven't danced in. Come. You said the left hand behind the back. Well, that's right. But first the boy and girl meet. Yes. And then they go for a little stroll.

unknown 15:21

That's my shot.

SPEAKER_02 16:37

Well uh well, that's that's the way it's done. But I guess I'm not very used to dancing. Well, hello there. Good evening, Frother Schrader. I hope you're feeling better, Front Schrader. Yes, thank you for it. Oh, the way they did it for me. It was so sweet.

SPEAKER_00 16:58

No, not in brother straight.

SPEAKER_06 17:02

Okay, on for me, please. Resto Two.

SPEAKER_02 17:06

Max, you're just in time. Children.

SPEAKER_04 17:11

Now there's a bad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall. And the bells in the steeple, too. And up in the dirty and a third little bird. It's puppy and to take a bird.

SPEAKER_00 17:49

So long farewell, happy to say good night. I hate to go and pretty side.

SPEAKER_05 18:02

So long farewell, happy to say I to ya and ya and ya.

SPEAKER_02 18:15

So long farewell, I'm happy to say, I'd like to stay and taste my first champagne.

SPEAKER_05 18:28

So long farewell, happy to say goodbye. I leave and eat but try and say goodbye. Goodbye.

SPEAKER_01 18:42

I'm glad you go. I cannot tell a lie.

SPEAKER_04 18:49

I flip, I float, I flee, flee, flee, I fly to fetch on my time.