Throwback Thursday: November 5th

November 5th, 2026 by Sophia Thornberg

Time for another Throwback Thursday! Let’s see what happened on November 5th in music history…

November 5th, 1955- The rebuilt Vienna State Opera reopened after being destroyed in World War II with a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fidelio. The restoration was seen as a major symbol of post-war cultural rebirth in Austria.

November 5th, 1956- The Nat King Cole Show debuted on NBC as the first variety program to be hosted by an African-American. The show ran for 64 episodes and included guests such as Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Mel Torme, Pearl Bailey, Peggy Lee and Tony Bennett.

November 5th, 1987- Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical Into the Woods opened at the Martin Beck Theater in NYC. It ran for 764 performances and won 3 Tony Awards (Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical) and 5 Drama Desk Awards (Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Feature Actor in a Musical, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Outstanding Book of a Musical).