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