(CBS, occasional specials beginning in 1950; CBS Primetime, monthly specials beginning in 1952; CBS Sunday Nights, 1953 - 1962, as "The Jack Benny Show" --; the original bi-weekly network run on CBS; CBS Primetime, 1962 - 1964, the weekly series; CBS Daytime, 1964 - 1965, Weekdays and in syndication --; as "The Jack Benny Daytime Show" -- Weekday Re-Runs; CBS Sunday Nights, 1964 - 1965, Sundays and in syndication --; as "Sunday With Jack Benny" -- Sunday Afternoon Re-Runs; NBC Sunday Nights, 1964 - 1965, as "The Jack Benny Show") [This classic sitcom was derived from Benny's radio shows for various sponsors on NBC and CBS Radio from 1932 - 1955; it included all the usual characters so carefully crafted on radio -- Rochester, who was Benny's gravelly-voiced wisecracking black butler -- played by Eddie Anderson; Don Wilson, Benny's real-life radio/TV announcer who was often the butt of "fat jokes" but took everything with good humor; and a few of the old gang made occasional appearances; But Benny's guest stars were a "who's who" of Hollywood usually playing themselves in some situation in Benny's real-life neighborhood of Beverly Hills; The way Jack Benny slowly eased into television, you would think he was doubtful of his own success in the new medium, or doubtful that the new medium would last... Benny's first appearances on TV under the "Jack Benny Show" name were a series of comedy-variety specials on CBS beginning October 28, 1950; In 1952 these "occasional specials" were scheduled monthly on CBS-TV. Then in May of 1953 the TV series began airing on alternate weeks. This bi-weekly schedule alternated with several shows in the same Sunday Night time slot on CBS -- including "This Is Show Business", "Private Secretary", "Bachelor Father" and "The George Gobel Show"; The show finally began appearing every week in 1962 on Sunday nights, and then it switched to Tuesday nights. CBS kept trying to find a way to utilize Benny, and in 1964 they did something unprecedented. In 1964 CBS created two Benny shows to take advantage of his name -- On daytime it was known as "The Jack Benny Daytime Show." This show began to be offered in Syndication to non-network stations. It also gave CBS the opportunity to use re-runs of the show where needed on the Weekday schedule. The other show was known as "Sunday With Jack Benny" which originated Sunday nights, but was re-run on Sunday afternoons and also Syndicated for years. But after only two years on CBS, trying such a wide variety of time slots and re-run options, his contract for making new shows was cancelled. So he switched networks and lasted one final season on NBC-TV.]
[aka: "The Kreutzer Etude", a violin practice study for students, one of the simplest exercises, which is often played badly in connection with Jack Benny. Kreutzer lived between 1766 and 1831. Although he composed 19 Violin Concertos and 40 Operas during his lifetime, it is for the pedagogic studies that students of the violin must suffer to learn that made his reputation secure.] Composer: Rodolphe Kreutzer (predates ASCAP & BMI) Original Publisher: [unknown] 1997 Publisher: [Public Domain] G. Schirmer & Co. of New York, NY Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[Verified as the THEME in TV Guide article "It Seems To Me I've Heard That Theme Before" July 28, 1956, pp. 12-13] Jack Benny adopted this melody as his "Signature Theme" for his appearances in general, and is often used as a Walk-On CUE when he guests on other shows...Curiously, Bob Hope adopted another Robin and Rainger song called "Thanks for the Memory" from the musical film "The Big Broadcast of 1938" which appeared just 4 years later, as his Signature Theme. Coincidence?] Composers: Leo Robin (ASCAP) and Ralph Rainger (ASCAP) Original Publisher: Famous Music Corp.(ASCAP), of New York, NY 1997 Publisher: Famous Music Corp.(ASCAP), of New York, NY [from the book, "Who Wrote That Song?"]: Copyright date: 1934 Recordings: 78rpm - Hal Kemp and his orchestra
[Verified on a TV aircheck by theme collector Mark Koldys, and others. I heard the soundtrack of a TV aircheck opening the show with Don Wilson's voice over. The THEME was a medley which began with two phrases of the "Kruetzer Etude" and then segued into 4 phrases of "Be Happy, Go Lucky" in a snappy tempo. Benny's signature tune "Love In Bloom" was heard only as a short "Play-On" when he walked out onstage to audience applause.] [aka: "L. S. Jingle No. 2"; aka: "Be Happy, Go Luckies"] Composer: Raymond Scott (ASCAP) [pseudonym of Harry Warnow] Original Publisher: The American Tobacco Co, of New York. 2001 Publishers: [not found in ASCAP or BMI databases] [as "L.S. Jingle No. 2"]: Orig. Copyright: July 26, 1950. EU 210 765. [as "Be Happy, Go Luckies]: 2nd Copyright: July 26, 1950. EU 210 769. [as "Be Happy, Go Lucky"]: 3rd Copyright: April 12, 1951; EP 53 853. Recordings:
[Above is the title in the ASCAP Repertoire database; aka: "Jack Benny Show Theme" (in the BMI database); This piece was known by many various other titles over the years: aka: "S and J Stomp" (named for Jack and Sadie Marks, -- Jack Benny's wife who played the character 'Mary Livingston' on the show) aka: "J and M Stomp" (renamed for Jack and 'Mary Livingston' character) aka: "MT and MJ Stomp" aka: "MT MJ Stomp" aka: "MT SJ Stomp" aka: "Benny TV Sig" (Signature Theme) aka: "Jack Benny Sig" (Signature Theme) aka: "Jack Benny Theme"] [TV Theme Collector Ray Clark verifies the title "S and J Stomp" was on the original lead sheet/manuscript. This piece was also recycled as part of the MUTEL Music Service Library, and was sub-licensed to Capitol Special Products for use in the first Capitol "Q" Library (not "the Hi-Q" library.) A very similar "knock-off" of this THEME which combined phrases from it and from "Private Secretary" (another Merrick Original) was commissioned for the MUTEL Music Service ("Theme No.654", whose composer was listed as "Gene Le Grande", a Merrick alias). The MUTEL variant was used as the THEME for the ABC network game show "Dollar a Second"; and also as the first THEME for "The People's Choice" on NBC, which see.] Composer: Mahlon Merrick (ASCAP/BMI) [professional name of Mahlon Legrand Merrick] Original ASCAP Publisher: Gordon Music Co., Inc. (ASCAP) 1978 ASCAP Publisher: Gordon Music Co., Inc. (ASCAP) Original BMI Publisher: Duchess Hawaii Music Corp. SA (BMI) c/o MCA Music, of New York, NY 2001 Publishers: Palisades Music Co. (BMI), of Tampa, FL Copyright date: Renewal date: Recordings:
[aka: "Jay Bee" as used in BMI] Composer: Mahlon Merrick (ASCAP/BMI) [professional name of Mahlon Legrand Merrick] Original Publisher: Revue Productions (BMI) 1998 Publishers: Duchess/Hawaii Music (BMI) Copyright date: Oct. 6, 1964; EU 848 345. Recordings:
[above title as listed in BMI] [incorporates a quote from "The Kreutzer Etude" teaser theme] [aka: "J. B. Daytime Theme CBS" as filed with copyright office] [aka: "Benny C.B.S. Daytime Theme" -- title on score manuscript in the CBS Inc. collection, at UCLA Music Dept. Special Collections] Composer: Mahlon Merrick (ASCAP/BMI) [professional name of Mahlon Legrand Merrick] Original Publisher: Revue Productions (BMI) 1998 Publishers: EMI/Blackwood Music Co. (BMI) c/o EMI Music Publishing New York, NY Copyright date: Oct. 6, 1964; EU 848 347. Recordings:
[above title as listed in BMI] [actually a shorter version of "The Waukeegan Walk" below] [aka: "J. B. Sunday Show CBS" as filed in copyright office] [aka: "Benny C.B.S. Sunday Opening" -- title on score manuscript in the CBS Inc. collection, at UCLA Music Dept. Special Collections] Composer: Mahlon Merrick (ASCAP/BMI) [professional name of Mahlon Legrand Merrick] Original Publisher: Revue Productions (BMI) 1998 Publishers: Duchess/Hawaii Music (BMI) [This piece was registered in combination with the CBS Close Theme which follows]: Copyright date: Oct. 6, 1964; EU 848 348. Recordings:
[aka: "C.B.S. Closing Credits" -- alternate title on manuscript in the CBS Inc. collection, at UCLA Music Dept. Special Collections] [this melody is curiously very similar to the Glenn Miller band tune "Pennsylvania 6-5000", but it is a Merrick original, probably used behind opening animation.] Composer: Mahlon Merrick (ASCAP/BMI) [professional name of Mahlon Legrand Merrick] Original Publisher: Hawaii Music (BMI) 1997 Publishers: Duchess/Hawaii Music (BMI) [This piece was registered in combination with the CBS Sunday Opening Theme above]: Copyright date: Oct. 6, 1964; EU 848 348. Recordings: