Let me tell you a story about one of Hollywood’s most iconic films, The Music Man, and how it became a true family affair for Shirley Jones. Can you believe that during the filming of this beloved classic, Shirley was secretly pregnant with her second son, Patrick? Her oldest son, Shaun Cassidy, remembers it vividly: “My mom and Robert Preston were on that footbridge singing, and suddenly Preston steps back and says, ‘What the hell was that?’ My mom looked down and realized it was Patrick kicking from inside her womb. Talk about making an entrance!”
A Journey from Stage to Screen
Shirley wasn’t the only one facing challenges during the making of this film. Bringing Meredith Willson’s Broadway smash to the big screen was no easy feat. Debra Warren, author of Robert Preston: Forever the Music Man, explains, “Even though Robert Preston won a Tony Award for his role as Harold Hill, Jack Warner wanted a bigger star to attract audiences.” Names like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Dean Martin, and Cary Grant were all considered. But Meredith Willson had his foot down. “Unless you use Robert Preston, you don’t do my show,” he insisted. And that’s exactly how Preston landed the role.
A Star is Born
Warner Bros. had more control over casting other roles, and they chose Shirley Jones over Barbara Cook, who had previously played Marian Paroo on Broadway. “Barbara was absolutely heartbroken,” Warren reveals. “But the studio wanted the star power of Shirley Jones, fresh off her Oscar win for Elmer Gantry. Shirley, however, was initially nervous about being compared to Barbara. Thankfully, Robert Preston was nothing but supportive. He never mentioned the Broadway production, and the two became great friends during filming.”
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Life on Set
Life on set was a mix of hard work and fun. Shirley, married to Jack Cassidy at the time, often brought her son Shaun to the set. “I was just four years old,” Shaun recalls. “I learned to ride a bike on the set because there was this older kid, Ron Howard, zooming around on his bike. My mom got me a tricycle, and I started chasing Ronnie all over the place.” Ron, who was already making waves as Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, played Marian’s shy little brother, Winthrop. “Ron was naturally gifted as an actor, but the singing and dancing were tough for him,” Warren notes. “In some scenes, they filmed him from the knees up to hide his struggles!”
Why 'The Music Man' Still Resonates
More than six decades later, The Music Man continues to captivate audiences. Warren explains, “Meredith Willson wrote this musical as a love letter to America. It’s a story of redemption, transformation, and community. Harold Hill, the con man, finds his way back to honesty. Marian, the librarian with a stiff upper lip, opens her heart to love. And the entire town evolves from a place of rigidity to one of unity and harmony.”
So, the next time you watch The Music Man, remember the stories behind the scenes. From Shirley’s secret pregnancy to Ron’s tricycle escapades, this film is more than just a musical—it’s a testament to the power of love, friendship, and perseverance.
