MovieChat Forums > The Music Man (1962) Discussion > Link to photo of actual Mason City Boy...

Link to photo of actual Mason City Boys' Band 1912

posted 16 years ago by fugazzi49
4 replies | jump to latest

I.m a big fan of The Music Man in its 1962 film version,as anyone who visits this site might ather from my numerous mesage board comments,(hopefully helpful).
I also have an avid interest in this period of American History.During my investigations of this era I ran across this wonderful photo,and what better thing to do but share it with fellow fans of The Music Man.I am providing a link to it thanks to the help of "Starline" via the MM message board,who so kindly answered my question.
For a few of you who may not know some of the background of The Music man,its bookwriter and composer,Meredith Willson (B.1902) based it on his recollections of growing up in Mason City,Iowa.The story,of course,involves
the creation of a boys' band and is set in 1912.
Here is a photo of Mason City's actual Boy's Band,which seems to be connected to a local orphanage.I have seen this photo attributed to both 1909 & 1912 - but it's certainly of the period.The boys in their band uniforms look like they would be very much at home in the movie.
http://www.satiche.org.uk/vinbbp/phot1026.jpg

[–] martinlrosen 16 years ago

Thanks fugazzi49 for posting the link to that great picture of the boys band and for all the extra effort it took to post the link.

[–] starline 16 years ago

Ahhh...I'm glad I could help... :)

Thanx for sharing that Great picture... Very interesting to read about and see!

[–] RondoHatton 15 years ago

Thanks for posting this. My Mom drug me kicking & screaming to see The Music Man as soon as it came out in '62, & it's remained my favourite musical. 20 years ago, I was rooming with a longhaired DeadHead, and when I tossed the Music Man soundtrack on, we sang along with every bloody song. His Gen-X girlfriend kept saying we were stupid, and insane, and just plain weird, but we just kept singing, & I knew that their relationship was doomed.
By the way, my Mum also drug me to every Alec Guinness comedy that would come out, but before you think too well of her, she also forced me to go to a drivein, & sit through Mary Poppins & Sound Of Music.....the horror still is with me.

[–] redbrioche 10 years ago

Thanks for the link. By the way, IOOF refers to the INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS -- a men's fraternal organization like the Lions Club or the Kiwanis.