THEATRICAL THROWBACK THURSDAY: The 1948 Tony Awards

Today we take a look back at one of the first Tony Awards ceremonies, held in 1948.

A Musical

The parties may have ended and the prizes have all been passed out, but Broadway is still actively abuzz with the 2015 Tony Awards. History was made, as Best Musical went to a show composed entirely by women, based on a graphic novel by a woman, with Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron's adaptation of Alison Bechdel's FUN HOME scoring not only the big prize of the night, but also claiming victory in the categories of Best Score and Best Book Of A Musical, not to mention their male compatriots Sam Gold winning Best Direction Of A Musical and Michael Cerveris taking home Best Actor In A Musical. Although FUN HOME was the big winner of the night, the rapturously received revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Golden Age classic THE KING AND I scored several major awards, including Best Revival Of A Musical, along with six-time Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara taking home her first trophy as well as Ruthie Ann Miles scoring a win in Best Featured Actress In A Musical. It was a fine showing for AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, THE AUDIENCE, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME in several major categories, too.

Nevertheless, it is always instructive at times like these to look back at the beginnings of said ceremonies - particularly as it pertains to the long-running Tony Awards. The 1948 ceremony was broadcast on radio in a no frills manner and it is now available to hear as a fascinating time capsule of an era long gone by. At the ceremony, hosted by Harry Hirshfield, Bert Lytell, and Hiram Sherman, the Best Play prize was awarded to MISTER ROBERTS, while a special award for Best Foreign Production was given to the cast of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. In competitive performance categories, top honors in the Best Actor In A Play category were given to Henry Fonda for MISTER ROBERTS, Paul Kelly for COMMAND DECISION and Basil Rathbone for THE HEIRESS, with Best Actress In A Play awarded to Judith Anderson for MEDEA, Katharine Cornell for ANTONY & CLEOPATRA and Jessica Tandy for A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Additionally, Paul Hartman took home Best Actor In A Musical for ANGEL IN THE WINGS, while Grace Hartman similarly won for the same show. Also, a special award for Best Performance By A Newcomer was handed out to June Lockhart for FOR LOVE OR MONEY and James Whitmore for COMMAND DECISION. Other prize-winners of the night included Joshua Logan for directing MISTER ROBERTS and Jerome Robbins for choreographing HIGH BUTTON SHOES as well as Mary Martin and Joe E. Brown recognized with awards for Spreading Theatre To The Country While The Originals Perform In New York.

Check out the 1948 Tony Awards below.

So, what is your absolute favorite Tony Awards ceremony to date? Furthermore, do you think some of these unique honors as those given in 1948 should be re-instated for a future telecast? It certainly seems Best Touring Production or an award honoring the triple-threats traversing the country could be a boon for those on the road and spreading the good word of Broadway to the masses - and, to the world.

Photo Credits: The Tony Awards