On this day in 1965, The Sound of Music debuted in American movie theatres. The film features iconic performances by Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer as governess Maria Rainer and George von Trapp, who escape Austria with their family choir during the Nazi’s first aggressive expansion in 1938. The film’s script and music was adapted from a Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical from 1959, which was based on a true story from a 1949 memoir, “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.” The real Von Trapp family eventually settled in the United States where they continued to perform.

By 1966 The Sound of Music had become the highest grossing box office hit in history and the soundtrack alone has sold over 20 million copies. “Edelweiss,” “Climb Every Mountain,” and “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” are still popular songs today around the world. The Sound of Music remains one of America’s most beloved musical films.

Music Du Jour: The Sound of Music Soundtrack playlist

Films Du Jour:

• The Sound of Music (1965)

Snacks du Jour: Wienerschnitzel, Brettljause (Austrian charcuterie), Almdudler lemonade, and strudel.

Miscellaneous:

• Documentary on the real Von Trapps
• How sound affects the way we eat
• Sound of Music So Long shirt
• Julie Andrews and Maria von Trapp yodel together
• Do-Re-Mi Makeup Bag
• Celebrities who almost became priests or nuns

Cocktail Du Jour – Edelweiss Cocktail

This recipe is from Kindred Cocktails:

• 5 oz gin
• 1 oz dry vermouth
• 1 oz Honey Liquor (or another sweet herbal liquor like 43)
• 2 dashes orange bitters

Stir ingredients with ice, express a grapefruit peel and discard peel. Strain into a coupe glass.

Mocktail Du Jour – Edelweiss Mocktail

• 5 oz non-alcohol gin
• 1 oz honey simple syrup*
• 5 oz white grape juice
• 2 dashes orange bitters

Stir ingredients with ice, express a grapefruit peel and discard peel. Strain into a coupe glass.

*To make honey simple syrup whisk 1 cup of honey and 1 cup of water over medium heat for 5-10 minutes.

 Beer Du Jour

The Von Trapp family makes their own beer, if you can find it, otherwise seek out a Märzen, an Oktoberfest, or any labels by Stiegl, Eggenberg, or Samichlaus.

Wine Du Jour

For white, look for a Grüner Veltliner or a Reisling. Austrian reds are harder to find in the U.S., but you may find a Zweigelt or Blaufränkisch, which are Austrian grape varieties.

Use freshly squeezed citrus in your cocktails and mocktails when called for – It makes such a difference! Here’s a reliable and inexpensive juicer. 

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Photo credit: “Edelweiss” AI art by BDJ, 2024.

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