Video Clips of the Tony Award Nominees for Best Musical – The 40s, 50s and 60s
Now that the Tony nominees have been announced and we spend our days wondering who will take home the coveted prizes in 26 categories this June, I thought it might be fun to travel back to the beginning of the Tony Awards and celebrate all the Best Musical nominees by decade. This post covers the 40s, 50s, and 60s, providing (where possible) video clips of ALL the Best Musical nominees in each Tony year. In cases where videos of the original could not be found, I chose from revivals, movie versions, and in the occasional instance where media was limited, a song from the cast album was chosen. There was only one case where I could not find anything (La Plume de Ma Tante).
I should also note that, until 1956, only winners were announced, so we have no idea what other musicals may have been considered as “nominees.” In this scenario, I have just provided clips of the winners.
I hope you enjoy this compilation of some of the greatest moments in musical theatre from 1949 – 1969. I also encourage you to look for celebrations of additional decades in the coming weeks. Binge (and hopefully enjoy) what I have delighted in putting together for your amusement. I love keeping the classics alive!
1948 Tony Award for Best Musical
The first Tony Awards ceremony. There was no award given for Best Musical.
1949 Tony Award for Best Musical
Kiss Me, Kate
1950 Tony Award for Best Musical
South Pacific
1951 Tony Award for Best Musical
Guys & Dolls
1952 Tony Award for Best Musical
The King and I
1953 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical
Wonderful Town
1954 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical
Kismet
1955 Tony Winner for Best Musical
The Pajama Game
In 1956, they began announcing nominees as well as the winners.
1956 Tony Awards – Best Musical Nominees
Damn Yankees – Winner
Pipe Dream
1957 Tony Awards – Best Musical Nominees
My Fair Lady – Winner
Bells Are Ringing
Candide
The Most Happy Fella
1958 Tony Awards – Best Musical Nominees
The Music Man – Winner
New Girl in Town
West Side Story
Oh, Captain!
Jamaica
1959 Tony Awards – Best Musical Nominees
Redhead – Winner
Flower Drum Song
La Plume de Ma Tante
NO VIDEO AVAILABLE
1960 Tony Awards – Best Musical Nominees
The Sound of Music – Winner (tie)
Fiorello! – Winner (tie)
Once Upon a Mattress
Gypsy
Take Me Along
1961 Tony Awards – Best Musical Nominees
Bye Bye Birdie – Winner
Do Re Mi
Irma La Douce
1962 Tony Awards – Best Musical Nominees
How to Succeed In Business without Really Trying – Winner
Carnival!
Milk and Honey!
No Strings
1963 Tony Awards – Best Musical Nominees
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – Winner
Stop the World, I Want to Get Off
Oliver!
Little Me
1964 Tony Awards – Best Musical Nominees
Hello, Dolly! – Winner
The Girl Who Came to Supper
She Loves Me
Funny Girl
High Spirits
1965 Tony Awards – Best Musical Nominees
Fiddler on the Roof – Winner
Baker Street
Half a Sixpence
Ben Franklin in Paris
1966 Tony Awards
Man of La Mancha – Winner
Mame
Skyscraper
Sweet Charity
1967 Tony Awards
Cabaret – Winner
I Do!, I Do!
The Apple Tree
Walking Happy
1968 Tony Awards
Hallelujah, Baby! – Winner
The Happy Time
How Now, Dow Jones?
Illya Darling
1969 Tony Awards
1776 – Winner
Promises, Promises
Hair
Zorba
