MovieChat Forums > The Music Man (1962) Discussion > First TV showing?

First TV showing?

posted 16 years ago by mikwalen
8 replies | jump to latest

Would anyone know when TMM was first shown on American TV? It was telecast on July 4th, 1980 on WNBC (US), but was it ever on before that?

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[–] DryToast 16 years ago

It was shown in two parts on CBS's Thursday and Friday night network movie slots around 1969 or 1970.

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[–] BoMar5353 16 years ago

If I remember correctly it was a VERY big deal- setting a record for the amount of $$ the rights to show it were sold to TV for. Not sure how much $$- a million sticks in my mind but I'm not sure.

[–] mikwalen 16 years ago

Wow! Thank you both so much!!!

I recall the July 4th 1980 showing, that was the first ime I ever had seen it. I had read somewhere that this was not the first time on TV, however, so I always wondered when the first showing was.

I had just done the play in my high school, and had just seen the 1980 revival with Dick Van Dyke on Broadway, and I was thrilled to have a chance to see the film.

"Samantha! You picked a lemon in the garden of love!"

[–] bmdietrich-1 16 years ago

I was 7 when the movie came out, I saw it in the theater but I also remember watching it on TV, maybe when I was 10 or so, that would have been 65/66. Lots of commercials, pan and scan and scenes cut but still wonderful!

[–] infnet 15 years ago

WHY isn't this movie aired on cable TV anymore?

Happy 4th of July 2009 everyone

[–] mikwalen 15 years ago

As a matter of fact, I was expecting to see it on Turner Classic on July 4th!
This is a movie that I believe should still be shown on network television as an annual 4th of July special.

"Samantha! You picked a lemon in the garden of love!"

[–] BoMar5353 15 years ago

It was shown on TCM as the first film,to lead off the 2008 '4th of July' film fest. I really didn't get how the TCM folks were 'grouping/classifying' their 4th films this year- other than 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'.

[–] SRECCLES 14 years ago

I remember watching the July 4, 1980 telecast at my aunt's house. But I had seen it on TV before that. I remember seeing it on a Saturday afternoon once before that.