(Syndicated, 1960 - 1961; NBC Saturday Mornings 1964 - 1965) [NBC title: "The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo"; UPA films had produced a series of clever theatrical cartoons featuring a nearsighted old man that bumbled through his life narrowly avoiding disasters; The bumbling mumbling character was created by veteran animator Jules Engel for UPA, and was voiced by Jim Backus, a TV character actor who had starred in his own series and played roles on several others including "Gilligan's Island." The writing and situations were clever and entertaining so for many, these cartoons preceding the main attraction were a welcome diversion in movie theaters. The theatrical cartoons were such a hit that -- following the success of "Gerald McBoing Boing" on CBS -- UPA decided "Magoo" was next, and produced and syndicated a low-budget version; At first a network sponsorship deal with Kellogg's Cereals was discussed but never finalized. When that fell through, UPA went ahead and sold it directly to 150 stations in 1960 on the strength of the name "Mr. Magoo"; In addition to Backus, other character voices were supplied by veteran voice men Daws Butler and Paul Frees; Unfortunately this more hastily produced show did not have the good writing nor the imagination of the theatrical shorts which had made "Magoo" famous, so this effort failed following a single season in syndication. Then, during the Christmas season of 1963, NBC aired a special program featuring the "Magoo" character in a cartoon version of the classic Dickens story "A Christmas Carol." Ratings were strong, so NBC ordered a year of episodes for the 1964 - 1965 season; Again the lead character voice was Jim Backus; other voices were supplied by Paul Frees and Marvin Miller (who had played the role of "Michael Anthony" on "The Millionaire") among others; Although the cartoon had its sophisticated followers, the antics of a nearsighted old man were above the heads of most of the NBC Saturday morning viewers -- who were children, so the series did not last past the one season; Over the years the original theatrical cartoons along with the others have also been seen on television although not too often.]
[above is the title as filed for copyright; ASCAP title variations aka: "Mr. Magoo Cues"; aka: "Comedy"; aka: "Barbeche (Mr. Magoo)"] Composer: David L. Snell (British PRS/ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: U P A Music Company (ASCAP) 2002 Publisher: U P A Music Company (ASCAP) c/o U P A Productions of America (ASCAP) of Beverly Hills, CA; and UPArio Music (BMI) of Beverly Hills, CA Copyright Date: Oct. 10, 1960; Eu 643 033. Renewal Date: Jan. 4, 1988; RE-366-803. Recordings:
[aka: "Madcap Magoo Main Title"; aka: "Mister Magoo"; This was a Shorty Rogers THEME from the theatrical cartoon "Madcap Magoo", produced in 1955] Composer: Shorty Rogers (ASCAP) [professional name of Milton Michael Rogers] Orig. Publisher: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc. (ASCAP) 2001 Publisher: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc. (ASCAP) of New York, NY Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[aka: "Madcap Magoo End Title"; aka: "Mister Magoo"; This was a Shorty Rogers THEME from the theatrical cartoon "Madcap Magoo", produced in 1955] Composer: Shorty Rogers (ASCAP) [professional name of Milton Michael Rogers] Orig. Publisher: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc. (ASCAP) 2001 Publisher: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc. (ASCAP) of New York, NY Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[above is the title as filed for copyright; also filed as aka: "Magoo TV show. Pt. 6, 1960"; and aka: "Magoo TV show. Pt. 9, 1960"; and also filed in 1964 as aka: "Magoo Theme (Ser. 66) from 'The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo'"; ASCAP title variations... aka: "Mr. Magoo (Main and End Title)"; aka: "Magoo Cartoon [Theme]"; BMI title variations... aka: "Magoo Main Title"; aka: "Magoo End Credits"; aka: "Magoo TV Series Thematic A and B" This is the most recognizable main THEME which included sound effects and traffic horns in its 1964 version...] Composers: Carl E. Brandt (ASCAP/BMI) and Glanville ("Glan") Heisch (not affiliated) 1978 Publisher: U P A Music Company (ASCAP) 2002 Publisher: U P A Music Company (ASCAP) c/o U P A Productions of America (ASCAP) of Beverly Hills, CA; and UPArio Music (BMI) of Beverly Hills, CA [as "Mister Magoo Main and End Title Theme Music"]: Copyright Date: Oct. 10, 1960; Eu 643 034. Renewal Date: Jan. 4, 1988; RE-366-804. [as "Magoo TV show. Pt. 6, 1960"]: Copyright Date: Oct. 10, 1960; Eu 643 037. Renewal Date: Jan. 4, 1988; RE-366-807. [as "Magoo TV show. Pt. 9, 1960"]: Copyright Date: Dec. 12, 1960; Eu 650 662. Renewal Date: Jan. 4, 1988; RE-366-812. [as "Magoo Theme (Ser. 66) from 'The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo'"]: Copyright Date: Sep. 30, 1964; Eu 846 651. Renewal Date: Jan. 16, 1992; RE-571-812. Recordings:
[this music was from the theatrical cartoons that sometimes made their way to television; Farnon also composed a suite that was recorded commercially on a 1956 LP album called "Magoo In Hi-Fi"; Other selections included the "Mother Magoo Suite", and the "Wormwood Scrubs March", dedicated to the fictional city in which Magoo lived] Composer: Dennis Farnon (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: U P A Music Company (ASCAP) 2002 Publisher: U P A Music Company (ASCAP) c/o U P A Productions of America (ASCAP) of Beverly Hills, CA Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings: LP: "Magoo In Hi-Fi" (1956) RCA Victor LPM-1362 CD: "The Mother Magoo Suite" (1996) Metropole Orchestra [Dutch]
[above is the title as seen on the original manuscript in the Jack Meakin collection provided by daughter Jill Mack Meakin and her Husband Wayne Mack; it was also known as... aka: "Honest Harold"; ASCAP title variations... aka: "Magoo Theme - Soft"; aka: "Magoo's Lodge Brother Cues"; BMI variations... aka: "Magoo's Lodge Brother Main Title"; aka: "Magoo's Lodge Brother End Credits"; This alternate Sub-THEME for Mr. Magoo was derived from the Main Title of a 1964 Magoo episode called "Mr. Magoo's Lodge Brother" which writer Jack Meakin re-cycled pretty much intact from his 1950 theme for the short-lived Hal Peary radio show "Honest Harold Hemp" (although U P A was apparently none the wiser); This THEME was probably not a TV series Main Title, but it was a frequently heard sub-theme] Composer: Jack Meakin (ASCAP/BMI) [professional name of John Brunker Meakin] 1978 Publisher: U P A Music Company (ASCAP) 2002 Publisher: U P A Music Company (ASCAP) c/o U P A Productions of America (ASCAP) of Beverly Hills, CA; and UPArio Music (BMI) of Beverly Hills, CA Composition Date: 1950 Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[aka: "Mr. Magoo (Main and End); aka: "Mr. Magoo (E T)"] Composer: Hoyt S. Curtin (ASCAP/BMI) 1978 Publisher: Columbia Pict (now S. B.) (ASCAP) [referring to Shapiro Bernstein & Co.] 2002 Publisher: Columbia Pict (now S. B. - F. D.) c/o Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc. of New York, NY Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings: