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The Jack Benny Show (situation comedy)
(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 which alternated
with several shows in the same Sunday Night time slot --
including "This Is Show Business", "Private Secretary",
"Bachelor Father" and "The George Gobel Show";
CBS Primetime, 1960 - 1964, the weekly series on Sundays
then on Tuesday Nights as "The Jack Benny Program";
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 CBS and NBC 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 humour;
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.
Then in May of 1953 the TV series began airing on alternate weeks until
1962 when it finally began appearing every week...
But after only two years on CBS his weekly series was cancelled, so
he switched networks and had one final season in 1964 on NBC]
Teaser Theme: "Study No. 2" from "Forty-Two
Studies or Caprices for the Violin"
[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.]
Composer: Rodolphe Kreutzer (1766 - 1831)
Original Publisher: [unknown]
1997 Publisher: [Public Domain] G. Schirmer & Co.
of New York, NY
Theme 1: "Love In Bloom" from the 1934 musical
film "She Loves Me Not"
[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
Copyright date: 1934 [from "Who Wrote That Song?"]
Recordings:
78rpm - Hal Kemp and his orchestra
Alternate Theme 2: "Be Happy, Go Lucky [the
Lucky Strike Jingle]"
[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]
Orig. Copyright [as "L.S. Jingle No. 2"]: July 26, 1950. EU 210 765.
2nd Copyright [as "Be Happy, Go Luckies]: July 26, 1950. EU 210 769.
3rd Copyright [as "Be Happy, Go Lucky"]: April 12, 1951; EP 53 853.
Recordings:
Theme 3: "Jack Benny Opening Theme" [ASCAP
title] "Jack Benny Show Theme" [BMI title]
[This piece was known by various titles over the years:
"S and J Stomp" (named for Jack and Sadie Marks, -- Jack Benny's wife who
played the character 'Mary Livingston' on the show)
"J and M Stomp" (renamed for Jack and 'Mary Livingston' character)
"MT and MJ Stomp"
"MT MJ Stomp"
"MT SJ Stomp"
"Benny TV Sig" (Signature Theme)
"Jack Benny Sig" (Signature Theme)
"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 a sub-license to Capitol
Special Products for use in the Capitol "Q" Library.
A very similar "knock-off" of this THEME which combined phrases
from it and "Private Secretary" (another Merrick Original)
was commissioned for the MUTEL Music Service, and used as the
Re-run/Syndication THEME for "The People's Choice", which see.]
Composer: Mahlon Le Grande Merrick (ASCAP/BMI)
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:
Recordings:
Theme 4 for NBC Sunday show: "Jay Bee Main Title
NBC"
[aka: "Jay Bee" as used in BMI]
Composers: Mahlon LeGrande Merrick (ASCAP/BMI)
Original Publisher: Revue Productions (BMI)
1998 Publishers: Duchess/Hawaii Music (BMI)
Copyright date: Oct. 6, 1964; EU 848 345.
Recordings:
Theme 5 Open for Weekday re-runs on CBS: "J. B.
Daytime Theme"
[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]
Composers: Mahlon Le Grande Merrick (ASCAP/BMI)
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:
Open Theme 6 for Sunday afternoon re-runs on CBS:
"J. B. Sunday Theme"
[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]
Composers: Mahlon Le Grande Merrick (ASCAP/BMI)
Original Publisher: Revue Productions (BMI)
1998 Publishers: Duchess/Hawaii Music (BMI)
Copyright date: [This piece filed in combination with
the CBS Close Theme which follows:
Oct. 6, 1964; EU 848 348.]
Recordings:
Close Theme 7 for Sunday and Weekday re-runs
on CBS: "The Waukeegan Walk"
[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.]
Composers: Mahlon Le Grande Merrick (ASCAP/BMI)
Original Publisher: Hawaii Music (BMI)
1997 Publishers: Duchess/Hawaii Music (BMI)
Copyright date: [This piece filed in combination with
the CBS Sunday Opening Theme above:
Oct. 6, 1964; EU 848 348.]
Recordings:
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