Sign-Off Themes (sign-offs on local stations)

    (1946 - Present)

    [This Web Site honors themes which have been heard frequently
     during the years of "Classic Television" -- usually on network
     and nationally-syndicated shows; however on this page, we will
     mention a few of the familiar, often nostalgic melodic anthems
     which became a tradition on local television stations during
     their transmitter Sign-Off sequence. 

     Although this may seem to be a departure from the national 
     themes listed on the rest of the site, this is a way to honor
     music which has become traditional and familiar on a national
     basis, and because the themes below have been used for this
     purpose on a number of stations, we will include them here.

     One musical Sign-Off tradition which is not listed is that
     of segueing into the National Anthem -- the "Star Spangled
     Banner" -- at the conclusion of the Sign-Off sequence (right 
     before the static and white snow appears, after the transmitter
     engineer "pulls the plug" by turning off the carrier signal...)

     One irony of the choices listed below is that most of them 
     were taken from the "nemesis" of early television -- from the
     scores of motion pictures; perhaps this was an unconscious
     choice reflecting the desire for early television stations to
     honor the heritage of the wider screen; or perhaps when looking
     to find a broad media anthem, motion picture scores written by
     some of the better film and television writers were a natural,
     obvious source. We list them below in chronological order of
     composition.]


Theme 1: "Sunset" [movement] from "The Grand Canyon Suite"

    [the broad thematic section usually used on the air starts in
     from the quiet beginning a couple of minutes... Some stations
     may also use a section from the "Sunrise" movement from this
     suite during station Sign-On...]

     Composer: Ferde Grofé (ASCAP)

     1978 Publisher: Robbins Music Corp. (ASCAP)

     2001 Publisher: EMI-Robbins Catalog, Inc. (ASCAP)
                       c/o EMI Music Publishing, Inc.
                       of New York, NY

     Composition Date: 1931

     Copyright Date:
     Renewal   Date:

     Recordings:


Theme 2: "Tara's Theme" from the 1939 film "Gone With The Wind"

    [ASCAP database title for vocal (added in 1954),
     aka: "My Own True Love (Tara's Theme)"]

     Composers: music by Max Steiner (ASCAP),
                with lyric added by Mack David (ASCAP)

     1978 Publisher [of "Gone With The Wind" and
                        "My Own True Love"]: 
                      Remick Music Corp. (ASCAP)

     2001 Publishers: Remick Music Corporation (ASCAP)
                         c/o Warner Bros., Inc.
                         of Los Angeles, CA; and
                      Universal-Polygram International 
                                             Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP)
                         c/o Universal Music Publishing Group
                         of Los Angeles, CA

     Instrumental Copyright Date: 1940; EP 62 937.
     Instrumental Renewal   Date: 1968;

     Vocal Copyright Date 
       [as: "My Own True Love"]: Nov.  5, 1954; EP  84 711.
     Vocal Renewal   Date:       Jan. 28, 1982; RE-119-851.

     Recordings:


Theme 3: "Prelude" from the 1956 film "The Ten Commandments"

    [aka: "Ten Commandments (Overture)";
     aka: "Love and Ambition";
     aka: "Theme from 'The Ten Commandments'"; this composition
     is sometimes used for station Sign-On as well as Sign-Off]

     Composer: Elmer Bernstein (ASCAP/BMI)

     1978 Publisher: Famous Music Corporation (ASCAP)
     2001 Publisher: Famous Music Corporation (ASCAP)
                        of Los Angeles, CA

    [as "Ten Commandments (Overture)"]:
     Copyright Date: Jan. 8, 1957; Eu 461 414.
     Renewal   Date: Jan. 5, 1985; RE-234-682.

    [as "Theme from 'The Ten Commandments' (Love and Ambition)"]:
     Copyright Date: April 5, 1966; EP 215 218.
     Renewal   Date: Sep. 22, 1994; RE-673-807.     

     Recordings:


Theme 4: "Rising Star (Love Theme)" from the 1979 film "The Electric Horseman"

    [aka: "Love Theme from 'The Electric Horseman'";
     aka: "Rising Star";

     a nostalgic western theme featuring a harmonica playing 
     lead melody with a background of strings and a "soft-rock" beat.]

     Composer: Dave Grusin (ASCAP/BMI)
              [professional name of David Robert Grusin]

     1979 Publishers: Gold Horizon Music Corporation (BMI) and
                      Duchess Music Corporation (BMI)

     2001 Publishers: EMI-Gold Horizon Music Corp. (BMI)
                         c/o EMI Music Publishing, Inc.
                         of New York, NY; and
                      Universal-Duchess Music Corporation (BMI)
                         c/o Universal Music Publishing Group
                         of Los Angeles, CA

    [filed as "Electric Horseman (Score)]:
     Copyright Date: Sep. 19, 1979; PAu-154-119.

     Recordings:



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