Gunsmoke (western, starring James Arness)
(CBS Primetime, 1955 - 1975)
[Syndicated title for 1/2 hr episodes: "Marshal Dillon";
The British title was originally "Gun Law" when it first
aired there in 1956;
The series began on CBS Radio in 1952, with ubiquitous
radio voice actor William Conrad in the role of Marshall
Matt Dillon of Dodge City, Kansas;
From its radio beginnings, the writing on this series was
noted for its more realistic approach to western drama;
it included characterization and atmospheric details to
simulate the Frontier West which may or may not have ever
existed, but which was a romantic ideal in the minds of
men and boys who read Western dime novels;
Other memorable regulars of this ensemble TV cast included
Amanda Blake as "Miss Kitty", Milburn Stone as "Doc",
Ken Curtis as "Festus", Dennis Weaver as Deputy "Chester"
who walked with a limp, and later the cast included
Burt Reynolds as burly blacksmith "Quint" Asper]
Main & End Theme 1: "Old Trail"
[aka: "Boot Hill" and "Boothill";
aka: "Theme from Gunsmoke";
This THEME was originally composed for the radio series
by Rex Koury who said he was so busy scoring the first radio
episode he almost forgot to write a Main Title, so was forced
to jot down the tune hastily -- legend had it was composed in
Koury's bathroom, but that has not been verified. He gave it
the name "Old Trail" when lyrics were added.
The radio orchestra was a small ensemble which included a
harmonium (pump organ) which sounded like an accordian;
Later the "Old Trail" was named "Theme from Gunsmoke" with
a second set of lyrics by Glenn Spencer....and it was also
recorded as a song under the title "Boot Hill";
"Boothill" by Koury (misspelled "Khoury") was verified as the
THEME for this series in the TV Guide article "It Seems To Me
I've Heard That Theme Before", July 28, 1956, pp. 12-13;
The title "Boot Hill" was, by coincidence, also the name of
an opening main title cue for the sequence looking between the
legs of Matt Dillon during a shoot-out on the streets of Dodge,
composed by Fred Steiner for the TV series...
It is thought that the first TV season slow Main & End Title
arrangements for TV were by "Superman" THEME composer Leon
Klatzkin who scored several episodes for the series;
Later more exciting TV Main Title arrangements followed
by Fred Steiner and Morton Stevens -- see following credits
which add new material surrounding the original theme;
Songwriter Glenn Spencer wrote both versions of the Lyric
when it was called "Old Trail" for radio, and "Gunsmoke"
on television.]
Composers: music by Rex Koury (ASCAP), with
lyrics by Glenn J. Spencer (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Herman Music, Inc. (ASCAP); and
[sole selling agent:] Fiesta Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
of Hollywood, CA
1997 Publisher: Herman Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
[as "Old Trail", the radio THEME]:
Unpublished Copyright Date: Jan. 28, 1953; Eu 301 834.
Unpublished Renewal Date:
[info courtesy contributor T. Perrone,
as "Old Trail", the radio THEME]:
Published Copyright Date: Oct. 1, 1953; Ep 74 576.
Published Renewal Date:
[as "Theme from 'Gunsmoke'", coincident with the TV series debut]:
Published Copyright Date: Sep. 22, 1955; Ep 92 973.
Published Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Alternate Theme 2: "Boothill (Sig)"
[ASCAP title variation:
aka: "Gunsmoke Main Title";
BMI title variation:
aka: "Opening Theme - Gunsmoke";
Although listed separately in the ASCAP ACE database,
this is probably the same as Theme #3 below...Correspondence
with Fred Steiner in 1999 indicates he believed this cue
might have been used as the Main Title (see below) which
was a dramatic build-up featuring low trombones and Timpani,
which scored a visual sequence seen from between the legs
of Marshall Dillon during a "shoot-out" on the streets of
Dodge City, Kansas...]
Composers: Rex Koury (ASCAP), and
Frederick ("Fred") Steiner (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: La Paz Music Co. (ASCAP)
1998 Publisher: Aspenfair Music, Inc./Special Acct. (ASCAP),
c/o CBS, Inc.
of New York, NY
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Alternate Theme 3: "Gunsmoke Main Title"
[although listed separately in the ASCAP ACE database, this
is probably the same as "Boothill (Sig)" Theme #2 above]
Composer: Frederick ("Fred") Steiner (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: La Paz Music Company (ASCAP)
1999 Publisher: La Paz Music Company (ASCAP)
of Santa Fe, NM
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
End Title Theme 4 [addtl.
material/arrangement]: "Gunsmoke Theme"
[this is an arrangement of the Main Theme composed by
Rex Koury]
Composer: music by Rex Koury (ASCAP),
arrangement by Frederick ("Fred") Steiner (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: La Paz Music Company (ASCAP)
1999 Publisher: La Paz Music Company (ASCAP)
of Santa Fe, NM
2000 Publisher:
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Alternate Theme 5 [addtl.
material/arrangement]: "Gunsmoke Main Title"
[this is an arrangement of the Main Theme composed by
Rex Koury]
Composer: music by Rex Koury (ASCAP),
arranged by Morton ("Mort") Stevens (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: April Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
1998 Publisher: Aspenfair Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
c/o CBS, Inc. of
New York, NY
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
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