Meredith Who? (by Carl Grover)

The East Park Band Shell sure has come a long way.

She’s seen many grand improvements and is now listed on The National Register of Historic Places.

One person who gave the oldest band shell in Iowa some of its historical significance was Mason City’s homeboy Meredith Willson.

He conducted the municipal band on this very stage on Aug. 23, 1939.

Willson went on to write “The Iowa Fight Song”, “Its Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas” and “til there was you” which was recorded by the Beatles.

Willson was probably most famous for writing the hit Broadway musical “The Music Man” which premiered in 1957.

When the play was later adapted to film, he stood on this stage once again in June of 1962 for the premiere of “The Music Man”, the movie.

For his service to the nation through the promotion for the Bands for Freedom, Willson was also presented the President’s Gold Medallion by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Douglas Dillon.

As time would have it, this is the 50th year anniversary of that movie.

This Saturday Aug 11th, 2012 at approximately 8:30 pm, “The Music Man” will be showing at The East Park Band Shell.

(PHOTO CREDIT TO MASON CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY ARCHIVES)

So this Saturday night bring your lawn chairs and blankets, have some popcorn and pop and enjoy a very special “Moonlight Movie”.

Sure, we could stay at home and complain, “Aw! That movie stinks. I wouldn’t even go see it for free”.

“Pick-a-little, talk-a-little; Cheep cheep cheep!”

The truth is; showing “The Music Man” in the very band shell, Meredith Willson, called “his favorite city landmark”, is a great way to pay tribute to a man that brings positive notoriety to our hometown.

Not only is it really FREE, it’s an entertaining way of teaching your children or visiting family and friends a little something about Mason City’s unique history.

So the next time, you can actually answer the question, “Meredith who?”