(First-run Syndication
episodes produced 1952 - 1975)
[Alternate rerun and syndication titles:
"The Pioneers" (1960), hosted by Will Rogers, Jr.;
"Trails West" (1962), hosted by Ray Milland;
"Western Star Theatre"(1963), hosted by Rory Calhoun;
"Frontier Adventure" (1968), hosted by Dale Robertson;
"Call Of The West" (1969), hosted by John Payne;
Originated as a New York radio series in 1930; its original
long-running sponsor was The Borax Company (now known as Rio
Tinto Borax) makers of 20 Mule Team Borax laundry detergent
and Boraxo hand soap; The main ingredient -- borate -- came out
of a Death Valley pit mine near the town of Boron, California
after the discovery of the substance there in 1879;
In the late 1800s mule teams were used to carry borate from the
desert, hence the phrase "20 Mule Team"; today most of the
Borax company's products are used as agricultural and chemical
additives used in everything from water softeners to laundry
starch to permanent wave hair style kits;
Hosts of the First Run "Death Valley Days" series included:
(1952 - 1963) Character actor Stanley Andrews as "The Old Ranger";
(1963 - 1965) Ronald Reagan;
(1965 - 1968) Robert Taylor and Rosemary DeCamp;
(1968 - 1970) Dale Robertson;
(1975) Merle Haggard]
[Above is the title on the 1930 copyright and 1958 renewal;
with a subtitle: "Death Valley Days trumpet signature...in B-flat";
a solo trumpet introduction used as a signature on both the TV and
radio series as well; the ASCAP title: "Death Valley Days"]
Composer: Josef Bonime (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: [listed without publisher in the 1978 ASCAP
Index of Performed Compositions]
1999 Publisher: [listed without publisher in the 1999 ASCAP
ACE Repertoire database]
Copyright Date: Sep. 18, 1930; Eu 27 996.
Renewal Date: April 17, 1958; R 213 082.
Recordings:
Composers: music by Herb Taylor (ASCAP), and
lyric by Milton W. ("Milt") Raskin (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: John Paul Music (ASCAP)
1999 Publisher: John Paul Music (ASCAP),
of Los Angeles, CA
[vocal version]:
Published Copyright Date: Dec. 23, 1957; EP 116 311.
Published Renewal Date:
Recordings:
78 rpm in the "Mutel" (Music For Television) library,
and 78 rpm reference disks in the Capitol "Q" Series library.
Q- 99:3 Theme No. 216 OPENING (Western-Full)
Q- 99:4 Theme No. 216 CLOSING (Western-Full)
Q-101:2 Theme No. 216 LONG Version (Western)
[because Herschel Gilbert owns the publishing company John
Paul Music, he may have contracted the above THEME by Herb
Taylor and Milt Raskin as a "work for hire" originally;
Another possibility is an introduction to "Twenty Mule Train"
that was inserted in order to claim ASCAP credits.]
Composer: Herschel Burke Gilbert (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: John Paul Music (ASCAP)
1999 Publisher: John Paul Music (ASCAP),
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
[It's possible that this THEME was the same music as the
"Western Star Theatre (M & E)" below, under a different
syndication title]
Composers: Marlin H. Skiles (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: International Mus. Assn. (ASCAP)
of San Diego, CA
2001 Publisher: International Music Associates (ASCAP),
of Washougal, WA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
[its possible that this THEME was the same music as the
"Trails West (Signature)" above under a different
syndication title]
Composers: Marlin H. Skiles (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: International Mus. Assn. (ASCAP)
of San Diego, CA
2001 Publisher: International Music Associates (ASCAP),
of Washougal, WA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
[its possible that this THEME was the same music as the
"Trails West (Signature)" above under a different
syndication title]
Composers: Marlin H. Skiles (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: International Mus. Assn. (ASCAP)
of San Diego, CA
2001 Publisher: International Music Associates (ASCAP),
of Washougal, WA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings: