History Trivia / TheMusicMan

* RoleReprise: Robert Preston (Harold Hill), Pert Kelton (Mrs. Paroo) and The Buffalo Bills reprised their roles from the 1957 Broadway production for the 1962 film. Paul Ford wasn't the original Mayor Shinn (David Burns was), but he'd been a replacement and had done the role on Broadway almost as many times as Burns had.

* DawsonCasting: Harold Hill's actual age is never explicitly stated, but he makes claims to have graduated from Gary Conservatory in 1905, seven years prior to the events of the story. Even though this is a lie, the fact that people believe it provides insight into his actual age. A conservatory graduate would usually be the same age as a college graduate, or about 22, making Hill approximately 29 years old. Robert Preston was 39 when he played the role on Broadway, and 44 in the movie. Matthew Broderick was also 41 when he toplined the 2003 version. In more extreme cases, Creator/DickVanDyke and Creator/JeffGoldblum both played the role when they were in their ''fifties''.

* CastTheExpert: The school board members who get turned into a barbershop quartet were played by the ''very'' award-winning professional barbershop quartet The Buffalo Bills.

* RoleReprise: Robert Preston (Harold Hill), Pert Kelton (Mrs. Paroo) and The Buffalo Bills reprised their roles from the 1957 Broadway production for the 1962 film.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/RonHoward, during his stint in ''Series/TheAndyGriffithShow''. However, Howard was already an old-hand at being a child actor at the time.

** Played straight in the fact that Meredith Willson wanted the movie to be shot on location in Mason City, Iowa, particularly at the library. Due to budget reasons, the film was instead shot in Hollywood and as a consolation, the world premiere was held in Mason City.

* RoleReprise: Several of the original Broadway actors, including Robert Preston (Harold Hill), Pert Kelton (Mrs. Paroo) and The Buffalo Bills, reprised their roles for the 1962 film.

** In the 1961 film, English actress Hermione Gingold played Eulalie.

* RoleReprise: Robert Preston played Harold Hill in the Broadway production and later went on to reprise that role in the 1962 film.

** UsefulNotes/Toronto, Burlington, Millbrook, Milton and Uxbridge served as the filming locations for the 2003 TV film.

** Played straight in the fact that Meredith Willson wanted the movie to be shot on location (Mason City, IA), particularly at the library. Due to budget reasons, the film was instead shot in Hollywood and as a consolation, the world premiere was held in Mason City.

** Semi-averted. The studio wanted a new star for the film but Willson refused. Astounding when you consider Preston had already won a Tony for the role. However, the studio did manage to get their way with Buddy Hackett and Shirley Jones.

* DawsonCasting: Harold Hill's actual age is never explicitly stated, but he makes claims to have graduated from Gary Conservatory in 1905, seven years prior to the events of the story. Even though this is a lie, the fact that people believe it provides insight into his actual age. A conservatory graduate would usually be the same age as a college graduate, or about 22, making Hill approximately 29 years old. Robert Preston was 39 when he played the role on Broadway, and 44 in the movie. Matthew Broderick was also 41 when he toplined the 2003 version. Creator/DickVanDyke and Creator/JeffGoldblum both played the role when they were in their ''early fifties''.

* DawsonCasting: Harold Hill's actual age is never explicitly stated, but he makes claims to have graduated from Gary Conservatory in 1905, seven years prior to the events of the story. Even though this is a lie, the fact that people believe it provides insight into his actual age. A conservatory graduate would usually be the same age as a college graduate, or about 22, making Hill approximately 29 years old. Robert Preston was 39 when he played the role on Broadway, and 44 in the movie. Matthew Broderick was also 41 when in the 2003 version.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/RonHoward, and even before ''Series/TheAndyGriffithShow''. However, Howard was already an old-hand at being a child actor at the time.

* ThrowItIn: "Rock Island" was not originally conceived an an a capella piece. During rehearsals for the original production, the accompanist was late one day, forcing the actors to sing it as such. Everyone liked it enough to keep it that way.

* DevelopmentHell: The producers of the live musicals Creator/{{NBC}} started airing during TheNewTens announced ''The Music Man'' as a possible choice for 2015's musical, until they decided to adapt ''Theatre/TheWiz'' instead. However, after ''The Wiz'' aired, the producers did admit the possibility of NBC broadcasting ''The Music Man'' in a different year.

* TropeNamers: WithACapitalT

* DevelopmentHell: The producers of the live musicals Creator/{{NBC}} started airing during TheNewTens announced ''The Music Man'' as a possible choice for 2015's musical, until they decided to adapt ''Theatre/TheWiz'' instead, However, after ''The Wiz'' aired, the producers did admit the possibility of NBC broadcasting ''The Music Man'' in a different year.

* ExecutiveMeddling: Semi-averted. The studio wanted a new star for the film but Willson refused. Astounding when you consider Preston had already won a Tony for the role. However, the studio did manage to get their way with Buddy Hackett and Shirley Jones.
** Played straight in the fact that Meredith Willson wanted the movie to be shot on location (Mason City, IA), particularly at the library. Due to budget reasons, the film was instead shot in Hollywood and as a consolation, the world premiere was held in Mason City.