The Sound of Music History Part 7 - The End of the Trapp Family Singers

By Katrina Casey - www.edelweisspatterns.com

After World War II had ended, the von Trapp family resolved to remain in America. Though Austria was still their homeland, the United States had been a safe haven to them for several years, and their own sons had served this country in active duty overseas.
So when their Salzburg property was returned to their possession, the von Trapps sold it to a religious order who started a seminary on the grounds, thus continuing the family's spiritual vision for their old home. With the proceeds of the sale, they were able to pay off the mortgage on their Stowe, Vermont acreage and erect another wing to their family's home which was quickly becoming a resort for paying guests.
On May 30, 1947, tragedy struck when the Captain suddenly died of lung cancer. The whole family mourned his death, and he was buried on the family's Vermont property with his Austrian flag in the casket. His youngest son, Johannes, was only eight years old, and Maria was pregnant with another baby which she miscarried four months later.
The family continued to tour the country for several years, but the absence of their father was felt deeply, and daughter Rosmarie dropped out of the singing group altogether. In the early 50s the Trapps made Hawaiian and Australian tours which were just as celebrated as their concerts in Europe and the continental United States had been. But before long, it became clear that the Trapp Family Singers could not last forever. The "children" had faithfully volunteered many years of their adulthood in service to the group, yet they now felt it was time to start families of their own.
So in 1956, the family gave their final performance in New England, after delighting their privileged audiences in over thirty countries with an impressive 2,000 performances! But their legacy was far from over, as the Trapp Family Lodge turned into a permanent skiing resort where thousands of visitors flocked. One of these lodge guests, the young Christopher Plummer, was later to play Captain von Trapp in the 1965 movie The Sound of Music.
While the family’s singing group may have disbanded, their story's popularity only continued to grow as Maria's book, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, was received with much enthusiasm from its readers. Within a few short years, a German film company had purchased the movie rights and turned the classic tale into two films detailing the family's life. From there the Trapp family's story moved to Broadway with Rodgers & Hammerstein's brilliant musical score, and finally onto the silver screen with Julie Andrews' spectacular performance that has captivated the hearts of people all over the world. As we get closer to the Sound of Music's 50th anniversary, (to be celebrated in 2015), the Trapp family phenomena is increasing as individuals find the film to be a source of inspiration and encouragement in the face of today's somewhat difficult times.

Katrina Casey is the owner of Edelweiss Patterns, an online company specializing in Sound of Music costumes. Her life-long love of The Sound of Music has led to much research of the von Trapp family's history, including a lecture from daughter Rosmarie von Trapp and a visit to the Trapp Family Lodge. She resides in Oregon where she sews, designs patterns, and spends time with her family. Visit her website at www.edelweisspatterns.com for Sound of Music costumes and von Trapp related links.