Starter of this subject: Hal Evans
Last post in this subject: 2/23/2005
Messages in this subject: 4
| Hal Evans | 2/23/2005 4 replies |
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Based on my own research, I assert that Frank Skinner is the composer of the familiar Yours Truly Johnny Dollar radio series theme music. The YTJD theme is a dead ringer for Frank Skinner's title music to the wonderful Doris Day thriller "Midnight Lace," which came out in 1960. Furthermore, Frank Skinner's similar phrasing of the YTJD theme is most noticeable in his "Perry Mason" TV series theme. I posted a much longer message about this music in the Detective room. This is a heads-up here, since this is the Main Board.
Cheers! 'Tis one day closer to spring folks! |
| Big Don | 3/14/2005 3 replies |
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Dear Hal: Can't disagree (nor agree) re Skinner's composition of Dollar (nor Mason, for that matter), but he did do the score of at least the opening title credits of the James Stewart-Marlene Dietrich-Brian Donlevey version of "Destry Rides Again" (circa 1938 ?), wherein a bottle hanging from the town sign of Bottleneck is blasted by numerous wild gunshots. This same music was also used as the theme music of a later 15-chapter Saturday matinee serial (Republic ?) called "Winners of the West", starring Dick Foran and James Craig (or was it Ellison ?)
I would love to acquire a copy of that particular piece of music. As a Skinner expert and researcher, any ideas ? |
| Bob Slate | 3/15/2005 2 replies |
| "Winners Of Tne West" starring Dick Foran, was a "Universal" Serial. |
| Eric Cooper | 3/19/2005 1 replies |
| The 1955 to 62 version of the YTJD theme song was used for the syndicated version of the Dick Tracy TV series in 1951-52. I have an episode on DVD and was quite surpised to hear it. I figure that it was some sort of generic score used for a lot of things. |
| Hal Evans | 3/21/2005 0 replies |
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I can tell you folks for certain that the YTJD theme source is the Capitol Q production library, Theme #1 Dramatic. There are several versionings of it thereafter. The Capitol Q library was assimilated into the MUTEL production library. In the Capitol Q library that I'm familiar with, it has such gems as themes for the 1950s TV show "Racket Squad," "Game of the Week March" (March of the Rams), some cues I recognized from scary/comedy movies of the Bowery Boys and Abbot & Costello, "Terry & the Pirates" radio show theme, opening theme for TV's "Death Valley Days." Then there are some really corny old cues used for newsreels and local radio news back in the 40s and 50s.
Even as I write this, I'm aware that there were two other YTJD themes. I think we're all talking about the same theme here, though. That is, the series that starred Bob Bailey and later Mandel Kramer. There were previous YDJD series that had two New Orleans bluesey themes. One was played on the organ and |