[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]