The New York Times reported that “the Times Square block was turned into a miniature tent city, a yellow and white striped landscape on a parking lot in the heart of the theater district [...] A song in the movie provided the inspiration for the supper menu, catered by Restaurant Associates. The chicken liver pâté was a loose translation of lyrics that mentioned ‘chopped liver’ and the sliced sirloin of beef came from the line ‘how many girls become a sinner while waiting for a roast beef dinner?’”
Funny Girl’s New York opening was covered on two television shows. Nationally, Kraft Music Hall, hosted by Don Rickles, showed a film clip of Barbra singing “Don't Rain On My Parade,” then cut to a live segment in which New York Mayor John Lindsay interviewed Barbra at the premiere.
In syndication (mostly airing the next evening on New York channels), Spangler Television produced an hour-long special from the Times Square premiere, hosted by William B. Williams. The special advertised “Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, and dozens of their friends and top-drawing celebrities.”
After the film, an opening night party was held in a tent on the grounds of the Astor Hotel.
