Marlene Dietrich, 1968

Performance by Hollywood screen legend: Marlene Dietrich, performing songs which are musically arranged by Burt Bacharach, musical direction and orchestra directed by William Blezard, lighting devised by Joe Davis - performances by arrangement with Aztec Services Pty. Ltd. (Kenn Brodziak - Managing Director) and the 1968 Adelaide Festival of Arts, support act: Twiliters.

The arrival of Marlene Dietrich for the 1968 Festival was front page news, particularly when she was accused of slapping a television reporter.

She appeared before an adoring audience at the Adelaide Teachers College Theatre.

Magnificent in yards of fur and a shimmering form-hugging gown, she sang about love, about war. She sang old songs and new songs. And the audience did exactly as she wanted.
Jeff Turner The News 9 March 1968.

The 1968 Festival was programmed by a committee consisting of Sir Robert Helpmann, John Baily, BLD Coughlan, Wal Cherry, David Galliver and CJ Glover. While Marlene Dietrich was indisputably the Festival's star attraction, other highlights included the Jerusalem Chamber Orchestra, the Salzburg Marionette Theatre, a performance of Mahler's Eighth symphony by the combined South Australian and Melbourne symphony orchestras, opera singers Marie Collier and Tito Gobbi, and Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band.

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