I first saw the film of Meredith Willson's "The Music Man" when I was just a kid. I don't recall the exact age I was, but it was probably in the range of 7-10. I remember that even then, at a time when things like "Star Wars" and "Rocky" were predominating the movie world (and of which I was certainly a fan as well), "The Music Man" made a huge impression on me. Looking back on it, I think there were a few factors that made it seem more special to me personally at the time, and helped it to endure in my memory.
First of all, I was very much into playing pool and billiards at the time, and I must have thought it quite a hoot that there was talk of that in the movie, even though it was playfully derogatory.
Secondly, I was involved with my school's marching bands in those years, and I think there was a strong identification with the town's enthusiasm about starting a band for the kids, and I was surely impressed with the big marching scene at the end, and the stop-motion opening credit sequence.
Then there's the characters... Rarely has such a vibrant tableau been created as that of the denizens of River City; Marian the Librarian, Mrs. Paroo, the lisping Winthrop, Amaryllis, bumbling Mayor Shinn and his henpecking wife Eulalie, bad-boy Tommy Djilas and the Mayor's squeaky daughter Zaneeta, the four former enemies and now lifelong friends of the Barbershop quartet, Marcellus Washburn, Charlie Cowell the anvil-salesman... and of course, River City's favorite adopted son, who somehow got his free-wheeling foot caught in the door, the irrepressibly lovable conman Harold Hill.
Most of all, though, it was the music and the words which stayed in my head for so long. I didn't see the movie again for many years after that first time, and yet during the time inbetween, anytime someone said "trouble", I would often think of "with a capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for pool". And if you asked me what state Gary was in, I could have surely sang the answer to you with a few bars of "Gary, Indiana". Although the particular verses and nuances of certain songs may have been soon forgotten after that first showing, I would always remember key phrases like "Maaaaaaaa-rian, madame libraaaaa-rian", and "Oh-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin' down the street", the chirping of "Pick a little, talk a little", the barbershop quartet singing "Lida Rose, I'm home again Rose", and of course those goofy guys on the train talking so funny (the first ever 'rap', perhaps?)... Sure, Marian's songs may have been a bit 'lovey dovey' for my pre-adolescent taste, but every musical had at least a couple of those, so I certainly couldn't hold that against such an otherwise engaging entertainment, now could I?! And as I grew older, the beauty and melody of those pieces overshadowed any resistance to love songs. Finding out that the Beatles covered "Til There Was You" didn't hurt, either...
Yes, "The Music Man" was and is memorable, in a way that few things ever are. There are certainly many musicals that you might enjoy the first time you see them, with a tune or two that sheepishly follow you home like a stray dog, and perhaps with successive viewings and repeated listening to the soundtrack you may gain a deeper love of the rest of the material as well, but "The Music Man" seems to instantly fill you with so many hummable, recognizable, and yet very original hooks and motifs, and also continues to reap new treasures of subtlety with every new look and listen.
Having searched the web and found it lacking in "Music Man" information and celebration, I offer these few pages as a tribute to Meredith Willson and his wonderful vision and talent, especially as it pertains to what he called his 'valentine'- "The Music Man". I appreciate and welcome your responses, and any additional information, facts, pictures, links, etc. that can be added. Much of the information included here is from Meredith Willson's own book called "But He Doesn't Know the Territory". It is a very entertaining read, especially for those who know and love the show, and written with his inimitable comic style. I believe that it is out of print, but I was able to take out a copy from the Buffalo library, so I imagine that some other libraries might have it.
I hope you enjoy the site, and continue to keep the music and joy that is "The Music Man" alive in your hearts...
- Eric Endres
First of all, I was very much into playing pool and billiards at the time, and I must have thought it quite a hoot that there was talk of that in the movie, even though it was playfully derogatory.
Secondly, I was involved with my school's marching bands in those years, and I think there was a strong identification with the town's enthusiasm about starting a band for the kids, and I was surely impressed with the big marching scene at the end, and the stop-motion opening credit sequence.
Then there's the characters... Rarely has such a vibrant tableau been created as that of the denizens of River City; Marian the Librarian, Mrs. Paroo, the lisping Winthrop, Amaryllis, bumbling Mayor Shinn and his henpecking wife Eulalie, bad-boy Tommy Djilas and the Mayor's squeaky daughter Zaneeta, the four former enemies and now lifelong friends of the Barbershop quartet, Marcellus Washburn, Charlie Cowell the anvil-salesman... and of course, River City's favorite adopted son, who somehow got his free-wheeling foot caught in the door, the irrepressibly lovable conman Harold Hill.
Most of all, though, it was the music and the words which stayed in my head for so long. I didn't see the movie again for many years after that first time, and yet during the time inbetween, anytime someone said "trouble", I would often think of "with a capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for pool". And if you asked me what state Gary was in, I could have surely sang the answer to you with a few bars of "Gary, Indiana". Although the particular verses and nuances of certain songs may have been soon forgotten after that first showing, I would always remember key phrases like "Maaaaaaaa-rian, madame libraaaaa-rian", and "Oh-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin' down the street", the chirping of "Pick a little, talk a little", the barbershop quartet singing "Lida Rose, I'm home again Rose", and of course those goofy guys on the train talking so funny (the first ever 'rap', perhaps?)... Sure, Marian's songs may have been a bit 'lovey dovey' for my pre-adolescent taste, but every musical had at least a couple of those, so I certainly couldn't hold that against such an otherwise engaging entertainment, now could I?! And as I grew older, the beauty and melody of those pieces overshadowed any resistance to love songs. Finding out that the Beatles covered "Til There Was You" didn't hurt, either...
Yes, "The Music Man" was and is memorable, in a way that few things ever are. There are certainly many musicals that you might enjoy the first time you see them, with a tune or two that sheepishly follow you home like a stray dog, and perhaps with successive viewings and repeated listening to the soundtrack you may gain a deeper love of the rest of the material as well, but "The Music Man" seems to instantly fill you with so many hummable, recognizable, and yet very original hooks and motifs, and also continues to reap new treasures of subtlety with every new look and listen.
Having searched the web and found it lacking in "Music Man" information and celebration, I offer these few pages as a tribute to Meredith Willson and his wonderful vision and talent, especially as it pertains to what he called his 'valentine'- "The Music Man". I appreciate and welcome your responses, and any additional information, facts, pictures, links, etc. that can be added. Much of the information included here is from Meredith Willson's own book called "But He Doesn't Know the Territory". It is a very entertaining read, especially for those who know and love the show, and written with his inimitable comic style. I believe that it is out of print, but I was able to take out a copy from the Buffalo library, so I imagine that some other libraries might have it.
I hope you enjoy the site, and continue to keep the music and joy that is "The Music Man" alive in your hearts...
- Eric Endres
