When I was a child, I used to watch almost every classic musical from the 1950s and 1960s. Being the only girl out of four brothers, my mother took advantage of showing me all of her favorite musicals she grew up with. My mom always tells me stories about whenever a musical, such as Oklahoma!, West Side Story, The King and I, The Sound of Music, and many more were on television, it was a huge event in her house. My mom also talks about the day when they got their first color T.V. in 1965 when she was five years old. It was the day when Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella premiered on television and my mother could not wait to watch the musical. It still remains as one of her favorites.
I have my own memories of watching classics as well. For instance, when I first saw Rogers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music on The Wonderful World of Disney, my mom told me that Mary Poppins, aka Julie Andrews, was the main character. When I saw the iconic opening when Julie Andrews was spinning on the top of a hill in Austria, I did not believe she was the same actress who played Mary Poppins because her hair was different.
When I first saw Oklahoma! I loved it, but I really disliked the obnoxious ballet number that leads into the intermission. Yet again, I don't think anyone likes the ballet either. It is one of my favorite musicals since it is simple, yet I love the atmosphere in the movie, as well as the love story between the flirtatious Curly and Laurie.
Actually, Rogers and Hammerstein's musicals were my childhood. I watched the 1965 Cinderella, The Sound of Music, and Oklahoma so much as a child that I probably wore out the VHS Tapes. I also was obsessed with Singin' in the Rain, My Fair Lady, any Doris Day musical such as Calamity Jane, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which is the GIF below.
The reason I loved musicals so much was since it was a connection I had with my mother, as well as other family members. My mom actually has 3 sisters who share the same love for musicals.Due to that fact, my cousins grew up watching the same musicals as I did and I always wanted to be like them. My brother often picked on me for my love of classic musicals, so I used to only watch them when no one would catch me.
Another major reason I loved musicals as a child was because I always wanted to be a dancer. I used to copy the dance routines, as well as make up my own dance moves until I finally was in a dance class in third grade. I also wanted to sing, but since my voice is not very good, that dream never came true.
When I was in middle school, I stopped liking musicals since I was embarrassed. None of my friends knew anything about classic movies in general, so I decided those movies were not cool enough. Of course, nostalgia kicked in and I grew to love all those musicals again. Some musicals I used to love, like 1954's Brigadoon and 1956's Carousel, are no longer my favorites due to how strange they are, but I still have appreciation for them.
My love for musicals also turned me into a huge classic movie buff. Actually, I probably get on a lot of peoples nerves due to my knowledge of classic movies, actors and actresses that many have never heard of. I love the history of behind the scenes and I love learning about the different eras of movies. Pop culture has always fascinated me and I tend to favor shows like Gilmore Girls, That 70's Show and How I Met Your Mother due to the clever references they make. Whenever I come across a person or a close friend that loves the classics like I do, I feel like I can identify with others and know that I am not alone with my interests.
I know many of the musicals I love are old fashioned, but that is what makes them so special. Those movies are almost like an escape from reality and they remind me of a more innocent time.
And for an added bonus....
