On April 7, 1949, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South
Pacific opened at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway in New
York City. The romantic musical about World War II, which
touches on controversial racial themes, went on to run for
almost five years, becoming one of the most popular musicals
of the 1950s.

Oklahoma! opened on Broadway on March 31, 1943. In spite of 
a less-than-promising lead-up, it would go on to set a Broadway
record of 2,212 performances before finally closing five years
later.

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

Kennedy ran for president in the 1960 presidential election. His
campaign gained momentum after the first televised presidential
debates in American history, and he was elected president,
narrowly defeating Republican opponent Richard Nixon, the
incumbent vice president.

NEW YORK (AP) — Janis Paige, a popular actress in Hollywood
and in Broadway musicals and comedies who danced with Fred 
Astaire, toured with Bob Hope and continued to perform well into 
her 80s, has died. She was one of the last surviving stars from
the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Paige , born in Tacoma, Washington, died Sunday of natural
causes at her Los Angeles home.

Bob Hope and Janis Paige in Saigon,Vietnam  
for the annual Christmas show in 1964.

1957

SANDY KOZEL

The musical’s 1956 Broadway production was a notable critical
and popular success, winning six Tony Awards, including Best
Musical. It set a record for the longest run of any musical on
Broadway up to that time and was followed by a hit London
production. Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews starred in both
productions.