Lassie (children's adventure)

    (CBS Primetime, 1954 - 1971;
     Additional episodes produced in syndication, 1971 - 1974)

    [Reruns of original CBS series were syndicated under the titles:
    "Jeff's Collie" with Tommy Rettig; and
    "Timmy and Lassie" with Jon Provost playing Lassie's master;
    
     Later episodes during the mid-1960s featured a team of adult 
     Forest Rangers that had adopted Lassie;

     During the 1970s a cartoon version was produced, called
    "Lassie's Rescue Rangers";

     Latter-day reruns have turned up on various cable TV
     networks including "TVLand" and "Animal Planet"]


Theme 1: "Secret of the Silent Hills (Theme from the Lassie TV Series)"

    [aka: "Lassie Main & End Title", and aka: "Lassie Theme";

     Original title: "Presenting The Doctor" from the 1940 
     RKO Radio film, "The Courageous Dr. Christian";

     This was the original broad sweeping orchestral theme
     used during the very FIRST season of the series;

     According to vocalist Charlotte Erwine and library 
     music expert Paul Mandell, this melody was originally
     written for "The Courageous Dr. Christian", a 1940 
     RKO Radio Picture, scored by William Lava.
     
     Paul Mandell identified it specifically as the cue called
     "Presenting the Doctor" heard during the Main Title, but 
     this melody is used as a motif throughout the film.
     
     RKO must have also made this track available for licensing
     for other purposes many years after its first use in the "Dr.
     Christian" films, since contributor Eli Segal reports this
     melody was also heard in the underscore of Ed Wood's
     infamous 1953 documentary "Glen or Glenda" a year before
     the Lassie series began airing.
     
     Lassie Music Director Raoul Kraushaar had worked at RKO as
     a writer and Music Editor for their "B-Pictures", and
     like David Chudnow of MUTEL and David Gordon of Gordon Music,
     decided he could make money by licensing music tracks from
     RKO and other low-budget studios to re-use them in television. 
     Chudnow's MUTEL stood for "MUsic for TELevision."
     
     This practice which has been called "Music Packaging" had a 
     shaky legal foundation the way some did it; Although recordings 
     of tracks made for theatrical films were the property of studios,
     the compositions on which they were based had not been licensed
     specifically for use in any other medium like TV, only for films.
     
     And music has several kinds of rights and royalties --
     those for the composition, those that are for the recordings,
     and those for synchronization of compositions and recordings
     with a particular project -- either on film or video.
     
     So there was a "gray area" which Chudnow, Gordon, Kraushaar
     and a few other Music Packagers of the 1950s successfully
     exploited. Representing their skill as music editors and their
     "library" of tracks, Music Packagers edited "B-picture"
     music tracks into episodes of TV series, and if the writer
     discovered the extra use and complained to ASCAP, to feign
     ignorance and pay him a fee or "buy out" his rights. 
     
     If the Musician's Union complained about re-using recordings
     made for a motion picture, Music Packagers would actually hire
     the original author, and tell him to "change a few notes",
     then send the scores to Europe, Japan or even Mexico where low-
     cost orchestras would re-record the cues as if they were a 
     different composition with a different title for ASCAP royalties.
     
     During the 1950s, foreign recordings of re-cycled cues were made 
     for many TV series including "The Lone Ranger", "The Cisco Kid", 
     "Death Valley Days", "Blondie", "Lassie", "Superman", and others.
     
     Even original cues for "Ozzie and Harriet" and CBS Westerns were
     recorded for first-run use by foreign orchestras because of the
     U.S. Musicians Union policies on "tracking."
     
     But getting back to re-cycled cues: there was the matter of the 
     publisher's share of royalties. Performance royalties such as those
     collected by ASCAP and BMI have two parts: the writer's share and
     the publisher's share (split equally in most cases.)
     
     These Music Packagers were shrewd enough to realize that there
     was also a void in determining who published the music for TV.
     If the motion picture studio didn't claim the music publishing,
     (and the low-budget studios hadn't wized up to any benefit from
     that yet) the Music Packager would go ahead and claim themselves 
     as publishers inventing a name for claiming royalties on cue sheets.
     
     The name Kraushaar chose for his "publishing company" was 
     Omar Music. And it was under this name that several Lassie cues
     and THEMEs were originally listed on ASCAP cue sheets.
     
     So here again, the rights that the original author should have under 
     his control were being usurped unless they complained and/or filed a
     legal action to get back the publishing rights for themselves.
     A few authors such as Irving Gertz did so, but several others
     wanted to still get work from such Music Directors in the future
     and were reluctant to fight.
     
     Over the years, some authors finally succeeded in reclaiming
     their rights, and ASCAP made changes in its credits, but in
     some cases the credits were corrected years after most royalties
     had been paid.

     But in 1960-61 the success in recycling this nostalgic old
     tune for the Lassie TV series inspired sheet music publication in
     several forms, including an arrangement for school orchestras
     and bands as well as a commission of new lyrics for the tune
     written by Charles Newman and a new title "Secret of the
     Silent Hills." This was one way the original writer William
     Lava could have in obtaining some benefit from the use of his
     music on television; the publisher he chose was the least
     egregious of the Music Packagers -- David Gordon of Marlen
     Music -- who did seem to try to be fair with authors even
     though re-cycling of cues went on through him also.
     
     For awhile, music packager Raoul Kraushaar of Omar Music
     Service which supplied cues for the show, claimed credit as 
     the writer of this THEME. But it was actually William Lava 
     who really wrote this tune, a fact which was later corrected 
     when printed music was published. 
     
     However, see the next THEME below which Kraushaar adapted from 
     this one, with only a slight variation in notes of the melody,
     using the same chord progression.]

     Composer: music by William ("Bill") Lava (ASCAP), with
               lyrics added by Charles Newman (ASCAP)

     Original Publisher: Marlen Music (ASCAP),
                         sole selling agent Gordon Music Co.

     1997 Publisher: Gordon Music Company (ASCAP)

     Copyright Date: 1961, as seen on band arrangement
                     1940, concurrent with the film
     Recordings:
 


Theme 2: "Lassie Main & End Title"

    [Verified as the THEME in TV Guide article "It Seems To Me
     I've Heard That Theme Before" July 28, 1956, pp. 12-13,
     with Kraushaar's name misspelled "Krenshaar";
     
     This theme is a slight variation on the preceding William
     Lava theme, which music packager Kraushaar may have made, 
     in order to claim copyright ownership of the THEME. It only
     has a few notes difference, uses the same chord progression,
     and to the untrained ear may sound the same. 
     
     "Superman" CD producer/expert Paul Mandell caught this melodic
     variation, and documented it as a different THEME. Although
     it was different, the ruse fooled no one -- especially the
     author William Lava who heard this "soundalike" on the air.

     Music Director Kraushaar began to have problems when
     authors complained to ASCAP that although he may have
     licensed the rights to various RECORDINGS done for film
     studios, he failed to license the rights to use their
     COMPOSITIONS for which he claimed himself as the
     "publisher" for purpose of collecting the publisher's
     share of royalties after splicing them into TV series;
     
     What resulted was a hassle for the TV producers, since cue
     sheets had to be corrected, and royalty payments had to
     be redistributed after ASCAP determined a breach had
     occurred.
     
     "Lassie" fan and contributor Bryon Young tells us
     this THEME was used for the SECOND SEASON ONLY, yet
     researcher P. Mandell said it was used through the end of
     Tommy Rettig's appearance as Jeff -- which would have
     taken it through the THIRD SEASON at least. At any rate, 
     it was the second THEME used on the series after "Secret 
     of the Silent Hills", and it sounded very much like the
     former, so most people wouldn't have noticed the change.]

     Composer: credited to Raoul Kraushaar (ASCAP)

     Original Publisher: Omar Music Service (ASCAP)

     1997 Publisher: Gordon Music Company (ASCAP)

     Copyright Date:
     Renewal   Date:

     Recordings:


Theme 3: Dio Possente (Even Bravest Hearts May Swell), from
        the opera "Faust"

    [aka: "Dio Possente Dio D'Amor";
     aka: "Dio possente" (To Thee, 0 Father!);
     aka: "A Toi, Seigneur et Roi des Cieux";
     aka: "To Thee, 0 God, and King of Heaven";
     aka: "Avant de Quitter ces Lieux";

     Contributor Bryon Young claims from an analysis of syndicated episodes
     he has collected on video and audio over the years, that this theme
     was used for both seasons THREE and FOUR; We are not sure about that,
     and Craig Patillo's "TV Theme Soundtrack Directory" makes no mention
     of it at all...but Mr. Young is sure he remembers hearing it as a child 
     during the CBS run of the series and has it on audio tape recorded off
     the air on an old tape recorder, so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
     
     This arrangement of an opera aria aired may indeed have been used 
     during Lassie's master change from Jeff (played by Tommy Rettig) to
     Timmy (played by Jon Provost.) That would have coincided with the change 
     of ownership of the series to The Wrather Corporation, whose producer-
     owner Jack Wrather was married to actress Bonita Granville; she was
     said to have influenced him in certain decisions (perhaps even this
     casting change...and may have even liked certain opera arias, for 
     example...)
     
     Since former music director Raoul Kraushaar had created problems
     by tracking in cues from other writers and claiming publisher
     royalties, the arranger of this aria was most likely someone else,
     perhaps the Wrather Corporation's Music Director at the time, who
     was Les Baxter (who composed the next THEME with its melody whistled
     by Muzzy Marcelino.)
     
     This melody appears in an aria from the famous 19th-century
     opera "Faust", arranged as an instrumental;

     In the original opera, the aria is sung by a young soldier named
     Valentine as he prepares to go off to war in the second Act of 
     this five-act opera written by the French author; it became
     one of Gounod's more well-known lyrical melodies, and "Faust"
     firmly established his reputation throughout Europe and
     later the world;
     
     Gounod was also the author of "Funeral March of a Marionette",
     used as a TV theme for "Alfred Hitchcock Presents."

     A little-known fact about this cavatina is that it did not
     appear in the original 1859 version of "Faust" for its
     French premiere, but was added for the 1863 London premiere,
     sung in Italian, and later translated into French; hence
     there are multiple lyric versions and titles, including
     translations of those variant titles into English.
     
     Whether this THEME originally aired on the CBS network for
     ONE or TWO seasons, we do agree that it came after the
     Raoul Kraushaar variation of Lava's original THEME. And  
     it also was identified by contributor Carolyn Fix as a 
     THEME she recognized during Cable TV reruns in the 2002 - 
     2003 season, so it was used for the Lassie series.]
     
     Composer: Charles Gounod (predates ASCAP & BMI)

     Original Publisher:

     2001 Publisher: In the Public Domain.

     Composition Date: 1863

     Copyright Date:
     Renewal   Date:

     Recordings: 


Theme 4 (circa 1958 - 1964): "Lassie Theme: Goodbye My Love"

    [aka: Lassie Main & End Title;
     aka: Lassie (Sig[nature])
     aka: New Lassie Theme
     aka: New Lassie 01

     This was arguably the most recognizable THEME associated with the 
     series. It featured a Scottish-highlands style melody whistled by 
     Muzzy Marcellino -- with a light string orchestra accompaniment
     playing tremelando at first and then legato later;

     Craig W. Patillo's 1990 book "TV Theme Soundtrack Directory" calls 
     this THEME "Whistle", although no other source can be found for
     that title.
     
     The sub-title "Goodbye My Love" is on the lead-sheet manuscript
     filed for copyright with the Library of Congress on January 11, 1962, 
     and listed in the Worldcat.org online library catalog. This theme
     was probably used beginning with SEASON FIVE in 1958.]

     Composer: Les Baxter (ASCAP/BMI)
              [professional name of Leslie Baxter]

     Original Publisher: [no publisher credit in ASCAP Index 1978,
                          citation in ASCAP Repetoire says "a BMI publisher"...
                          may have been originally Granson Music (BMI)]

     1997 Publisher: Lone Ranger Music Inc. (ASCAP)
                        c/o Broadway Video Inc.
                        
     2013 Publisher: Little Lotta Music, Inc. (BMI)
                     New York, NY
                     http://ClassicMedia.tv
                        div. of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.

     Copyright Date: January 11, 1962; Eu 701 869.
     Renewal   Date:

     Recordings:

    [ReIssue]
         CD: "Television's Greatest Hits:
                 Black & White Classics (Vol. 4)" (1996)
             TVT Records TVT 1600-2
             Studio Orchestra conducted by Les Baxter


Theme 5 (circa 1964 - 1966): "Greensleeves"

    [aka: "Lassie (Signature)(M & E)", the theme which was used 
     as Main & End Titles during the eleventh and twelfth seasons
     after Lassie had been adopted into the service of Park Rangers; and
     later during certain syndicated rerun packages;
     
     Nathan Scott (father of studio and studio saxophonist Tom Scott
     adapted it, and made the arrangement heard on the air (this was
     verified by his son Tom Scott.)]
     
     Composer: *Traditional* [English tune], and
     Arranger: Nathan G. Scott (ASCAP)

    [For publication of the arrangement]:
     Orig. Publisher: Arch Lassie Account, 
                         c/o Arch Music Co., Inc. (ASCAP)

    [For publication of the arrangement]:
     1997 Publisher: Lone Ranger Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
                        c/o Broadway Video Inc.

     Copyright Date:
     Renewal   Date:

     Recordings: 


Theme 6 (circa 1966 - 1971): "Lassie Main & End Title"

    [aka: "Lassie Theme"; 
     aka: Lassie (Sig[nature])
     aka: New Lassie Theme
     aka: New Lassie 01

     After a two-year hiatus, this familiar Lassie THEME that featured
     a Scottish highlands-style melody whistled by Muzzy Marcellino 
     made return appearances during seasons thirteen and fourteen,
     and may have been re-instated as the Main Theme from that point on; 
     
     Acording to ASCAP records, the return of this THEME occurred 
     during the 3-episode arc called "Lassie, The Voyager" in season
     thirteen (1966 - 67); It also was credited in ASCAP for a couple
     of later 3-episode arcs or compilations -- "Lassie at Hanford
     Point" during season fourteen and "Flight of the Cougar" -- a 
     film compilation of three episodes taken from season fourteen.
     
     There is little direct evidence that we can use to confirm it, but
     these uses during 3-episode arcs and the film compilation leads us
     to believe that at some point during 1966 or even as late as 1967,
     "Lassie" TV producers restored this as the Main Title and End Credits
     THEME again for the remaining seasons of the TV series;
     
     Supporting this conclusion is Craig W. Patillo's 1990 book called
     "TV Theme Soundtrack Directory." It mentions the Baxter THEME as 
     being used up until the end of the series (although the book makes
     no mention of the use of "Greensleeves" or the "Faust" aria THEMEs.)
     
     Patillo's book also refers to this THEME as "Whistle", although 
     no other source can be found for that title.]

     Composer: Les Baxter (ASCAP/BMI)
              [professional name of Leslie Baxter]

     Original Publisher: [no publisher credit in ASCAP Index 1978,
                          citation in ASCAP Rep says "a BMI publisher"...
                          may have been originally Granson Music (BMI)]

     1997 Publisher: Lone Ranger Music Inc. (ASCAP)
                        c/o Broadway Video Inc.

     Copyright Date: January 11, 1962; Eu 701 869.
     Renewal   Date:

     Recordings:

    [ReIssue]
         CD: "Television's Greatest Hits:
                 Black & White Classics (Vol. 4)" (1996)
             TVT Records TVT 1600-2
             Studio Orchestra conducted by Les Baxter
             


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