Richard Rodgers (left) and Oscar Hammerstein II (right) 

Rodgers and Hammerstein was a theatre-writing team of composer Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) and lyricist-dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) who together created a series of innovative and influential American musicals.  Their musical theatre writing partnership has been called the great of the 20th century. 

Their popular Broadway productions in the 1940s and 1950s initiated what is considered the "golden age" of musical theatre.  Five of their Broadway shows were outstanding successes such as Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King and I, The Sound of Music and South Pacific. The Sound of Music contained more hit songs than any other Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and the film version was the most financially successful film adaptation of a Broadway musical ever made!

The song, "Edelweiss" is the last song Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote together.  Due to Hammerstein's failing health it sadly took his life nine months after The Sound of Music opened on Broadway. Hammerstein won Academy Awards for the songs "The Last Time I Saw Paris" from Lady Be Good (1941) and "It Might as Well Be Spring" from State Fair (1945).  In addition, he received three Tony Awards for South Pacific and one for The King and I.

Rodgers and Hammerstein were even the mystery guests on episode #298 of What's My Line which aired on February 19, 1956.  Blindfolded panelist, Arlene Francis was able to correctly identify them. Among the famous What's My Line panelists were also Dorothy Kilgallen, Fred Allen and Bennett Cerf.  The host was John Charles Daly.