FranklinDickson2018 said: "Dear HogansHero
I am a huge fan of your writing and avidly read all your postings. I tend to agree with you more often than not. But this time? Not so much. Preston was the winner of 2 Tony Awards (nominated for a third) and also nominated for an Academy Award. His legacy should not just rest in the hands of a "little clique of theatre nerds." I attended Broadwaycon a few years ago and during a program on the Golden Age of Broadway an audience member thanked the speakers for this programs --- saying that the "Broadway of today is built on the shoulders of the Broadway of earlier generations."
And it is. If Preston hadn't made "The Music Man" the big hit it was on Broadway and in the movies --- would we even have this revival today? And for that alone we need to know who he was.
For that he deserves to be known about, not forgotten, and certainly not celebrated just by this "little clique."
Yes theatre performances are given to those who are breathing the same air at the same time. However, why do we seek out cast albums? (eg where do you get the 2000 recording of TMM?) Vintage tv appearances that were preserved. TV adaptions (eg Peter Pan, Wonderful Town, etc). They provide an immediately accessible way to learn about earlier stars and earlier performers in the role. The roles were often created for this individual performer. Their singing style, their cadence in speaking. To not know of their work, is to me, removing half the joy of watching performers today do these classic roles.
If you do know Preston's work --- on film and on record --- you can say "Oh I like how Jackman was different" or Jackman is "doing an homage to Preston at this moment." Or even: "I like how Preston did this better on the recording."
Yes live theatre is of the moment -- and maybe the classic actors didn't expect to leave a legacy beyond their time in a certain role. But they also had enough chances to leave a memento of their work and to go to "The Music Man" not knowing about Preston, Cook, (or Shirley Jones in the film) is to me depriving oneself of the full experience.
Preston was one of the best and I hope that folks who don't yet know about him --- might just learn about his life and career.
HogansHero said: "bk said: "You have no idea who Robert Preston is. I just sit and scratch my head."
Preston has been dead for almost 35 years and his last performance in TMM dates back well over 60 years. No one under 70 cognitively saw him perform this role. The theatre is not the movies (and the movie of this is not theatre). Theatre is ephemeral, which is its beauty. People who want to sit home and wax nostalgic about dead actors can watch movies. Younger audiences (and I mean middle age and younger, not the kids) don't have a reason to know who Preston is. A stage actor who expects to be remembered after their time, beyond a little clique of theatre nerds, has misplaced expectations, and most of them know it. Theatre actors do not act for posterity, they act for the audience breathing the same air as them."
"
Ah, my dear friend Hogan can't help himself. I blocked him but I think he's figured out that if someone quotes him I'll see it. I scratch my head at that, too, but then again, he's been doing it for years. History is important. Knowledge is important. Being tunnel-visioned to only YOUR generation is certainly a today thing, but I find it off-putting, sorry. Mr. Preston was a major star because of The Music Man. He repeated his role in the film. He had a hugely successful film career after that, but also appeared several times on B'way after that, including the much-loved flop, Mack and Mabel. I guess it's okay for no one to know who Carol Channing is or Ethel Merman or Judy Garland or any of our past stars. This is classic Hogan all the way and, as always, it's a bore. Glad he'll be able to see this and equally glad I won't see whatever his typical response is, unless someone quotes it, which I hope they won't.
Updated On: 2/13/22 at 06:58 PM
