Seventy-Six Trombones Led The Big Parade!

Trouble is coming to Glendale’s Alex Theatre. That’s Trouble, with a capital “T” which rhymes with “P” and that stands for Preston! Robert Preston to be exact, the star of Warner Brothers’ 1962 classic musical adaptation of The Music Man, presented by the Alex Film Society at the historic Alex Theatre.

Preston plays “Professor” Harold Hill, a flim-flam man who sees Iowa as the greatest test of his sales abilities as he arrives in River City, Iowa to sell the town on the idea that he can train the local youth to become a marching band using nothing but his very own “think system.” Everyone in the town falls for his proposition, everyone with the exception of the town librarian, Marian Paroo (Shirley Jones). Marian the Librarian becomes Hill’s greatest obstacle, not only because she knows he is fake but also because Hill falls in love with her. What’s a con man to do?

Preston (who originated the role both on Broadway and on screen) and Jones are just the leads in an all-star cast that includes Paul Ford, Hermione Gingold, Pert Kelton, Buddy Hackett and a very young Ronny (Ron) Howard.

There will be a display of original props and wardrobe from The Music Man in the lobby of the theater at both shows.

Guests of the evening show can get into a “turn of the century” mood through the vocal harmonies of local barbershop quartet The Perfect Gentlemen, who will perform in the fore-court from 6:30-8 p.m.

To round out the program, Mr. Magoo’s classic 1956 short Meet Mother Magoo will be presented in CinemaScope prior to both presentations.

Tickets are $9.50 general admission; $8 groups of 15 or more, kids 12 and under, seniors 65 and older; $7 AFS members at box office with current membership ID. Join at the box office and save! The Alex Theatre is located at 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.