[aka: "Armstrong Theatre Of The Air";
aka: "Circle Theatre"]
(NBC Primetime, 1950 - 1957;
CBS Primetime, 1957 - 1963)
[This TV series was derived from the radio series named
"Armstrong's Theatre of Today" which began in 1941, sponsored
by the Armstrong Cork Company, makers of carpet and linoleum.
NOTE: On NBC the series aired on alternate weeks with the
"Kaiser Aluminum Hour"; then when it moved to CBS, it aired
on alternate weeks with the "U.S. Steel Hour", which see]
[title in TV Theme collector Ray Clark's collection]
[aka: "Armstrong Theatre of the Air". The writer also used
the name "Harold Leeds" from time to time according to the
ASCAP Repertoire database; Harold Levey had been the orchestra
conductor for the radio series "Armstrong's Theatre of Today"
since 1941 as well.]
Composer: Harold Levey (ASCAP)
[actual name according to ASCAP: Harold Leeds]
Original Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2013 Publisher: Warner Bros. Music (ASCAP)
div. of Warner Bros. Inc.
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recording:
[aka: "When The Organ Played At Twilight (The Song
That Reached My Heart)"]
[Credit in Craig Patillo's book "TV Theme Soundtrack Recordings",
this piece was used during the first 8 seasons, 1950 - 57]
Composers: music by Jimmy Campbell (ASCAP) and
Reginald ("Reg") Connelly (ASCAP), with
lyric by Raymond Wallace (ASCAP)
1978 Publishers: Anne Rachel Music Corp. (ASCAP) and
Campbell-Connelly Inc. (ASCAP)
1997 Publishers: Anne Rachel Music Corp. (ASCAP); and
Campbell-Connelly Inc. (ASCAP)
c/o Music Sales Corporation
2013 Publishers: Anne Rachel Music Corp. (ASCAP)
c/o Warner-Chappell Music, Inc.; and
Campbell-Connelly Inc. (ASCAP)
c/o Music Sales Corporation
[According to "Who Wrote That Song?" by Dick Jacobs]:
Composition Date: 1929.
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
78rpm - Jesse Crawford, organist made a popular recording
[according to "Who Wrote That Song?" by Dick Jacobs]
78rpm - Guy Lombardo
[according to ASCAP Repertoire]
NOTE: Above may have been the series theme on radio when it was called "Armstrong Theatre of Today" (CBS, 1941 - ). During the series CBS-TV run, the following themes were used:
[The film "Long John Silver" was an Australian production
also seen in America; Buttolph's involvement in TV scoring
led to his movie THEME being recycled for use by this TV series;
Craig Patillo's book "TV Theme Soundtrack Recordings"
credits this as a Main Theme for all except the last season]
Composers: words & music by David Buttolph (ASCAP) and
Irving Gordon (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. (ASCAP)
1997 Publishers: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. (ASCAP, and
The Songwriters Guild (ASCAP)
2013 Publishers: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc. (ASCAP, and
Gunston Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
Unpublished Copyright Date: Oct. 6, 1955; Eu 412 940.
Unpublished Renewal Date: Dec. 29, 1983; RE-188-814.
Published Copyright Date: Nov. 3, 1955; EP 94 626.
Published Renewal Date: Dec. 29, 1983; RE-188-846.
Recordings:
78rpm - Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra under Lee Castle
[according to ASCAP Repertoire]
[ASCAP title variation...
aka: "Armstrong (Main Title)";
Craig Patillo's book "TV Theme Soundtrack Recordings",
credits a piece by this title used as a Main Theme for
the last season only.]
Composers: Willard Alan Oldfield (ASCAP) and
Robert Oliver ("Bob") Ragland (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: [not found in the 1978 ASCAP Index of
Performed Compositions]
2001 Publisher: Sarmareli Music Co. (ASCAP)
c/o C. Eaton, Ltd.
of Marina Del Rey, CA
2013 Publisher: Sarmareli Music Co. (ASCAP)
c/o Eaton Accounting Services
of La Quinta, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
[Craig Patillo's book "TV Theme Soundtrack Recordings",
as a Theme during last six seasons, 1957 - 63;
THEME title verified by TV THEME collector Ray Clark;
Verified as the THEME in TV Guide article "It Seems To Me
I've Heard That Theme Before" July 28, 1956, pp. 12-13]
Composers: Jack Beaver (British PRS/ASCAP) and
Raphael ("Ralph") Elman (British PRS/ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Francis, Day & Hunter, Ltd. (British PRS)
Original U.S. Publisher: Emil Ascher Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: Keith Prowse Music [KPM] (ASCAP)
2013 Publisher: KPM APM (ASCAP)
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recording:
78rpm - FDH 110 in the Francis, Day & Hunter
mood music library
by L'Orchestre Delerue, conducted by George Delerue
[verified by audio engineer Graham Newton]