Watch full performances of from the Oklahoma! Soundtrack here!
Seventy years ago, moviegoers were transported to the wide-open skies of the American frontier when Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! made its big-screen debut in 1955. Adapted from the duo’s groundbreaking 1943 Broadway hit, the film not only brought beloved songs like “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” and “People Will Say We’re in Love” to cinema audiences, it also ushered in a new era of musical storytelling on film.
When Oklahoma! first premiered on stage, it changed Broadway forever. Gone were the days of musicals being little more than a string of catchy songs; Rodgers & Hammerstein seamlessly blended music, story, and character in a way that felt revolutionary. By the time Hollywood got around to filming it, the musical was already legendary.
The 1955 film version, starring Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, captured the energy and spirit of the original while using the wide CinemaScope screen and lush “Technicolor” to make the prairie setting feel grand and immersive. For many audiences, this was the first time they’d seen a Broadway sensation brought to life on such a sweeping scale.
That same sense of spectacle found its way to The Ed Sullivan Show, which always had a soft spot for Broadway and Hollywood musicals, and Oklahoma! was no exception. Cast members, songs, and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s other works made frequent appearances on Sullivan’s stage, giving millions of TV viewers a front-row seat to the music that was reshaping American entertainment. It’s no exaggeration to say that television helped keep shows like Oklahoma! alive in the public imagination long after their opening nights.
One of the most memorable performers from the Oklahoma! legacy was John Raitt, who originated the role of Curly on stage. Raitt’s powerful baritone voice and commanding stage presence made him a Sullivan favorite, and his appearances brought Broadway into America’s living rooms. Fun fact: John Raitt was also the father of singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt, whose soulful rock career would earn her a place among America’s most beloved musicians, a reminder that the family’s musical legacy stretches across genres and generations.
What makes Oklahoma! worth celebrating seven decades later isn’t just its unforgettable score or its pioneering film adaptation, it’s the way it set the standard for musicals that followed. Without it, there would be no West Side Story, no The Sound of Music, no Hamilton. It showed us that a musical could carry weight, tell complex stories, and reflect the spirit of a place and time, all while leaving audiences humming on their way out of the theater.Today, Oklahoma! still feels fresh, whether in revivals that reinterpret its themes for new generations or in the way its songs remain a familiar part of American culture. Seventy years on, we’re reminded of what Rodgers & Hammerstein gave us, not just a story about cowboys and farmers, but a blueprint for how musicals could—and should—be told.