(NBC Late Night, 1954 - 1956; NBC on Wed - Friday nights only, 1956 - 1957) [Since he had another Sunday night show also, the network brought in Ernie Kovacs to host Mon-Tues.]
[aka: "The Steve Allen Theme"; Verified in a 1982 letter from Nita Bush in Steve Allen's office. Credit also in Gelfand book. Pattillo may have erred, in crediting "Tonight" as the main/open theme. Apparently "Mister Moon" was used from 1954 - 1956] Composer: Steve Allen (ASCAP) [professional name of Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen] 1978 Publisher: Rosemeadow Publishing Corp. (ASCAP) 1997 Publisher: All Nations Music (ASCAP), Beverly Hills, CA [Filed for registration under the title "Mr. Moon":] Unpublished Copyright Date: Nov. 30, 1954; Eu 378 918. Unpublished Renewal Date: June 7, 1982; RE-131-875. Published Copyright Date: Feb. 11, 1955; EP 88 114. Published Renewal Date: Recordings: LP: "Some of My Favorites" (1964) Hamilton HLP-132/HLP-12132 Steve Allen
[Apparently only used as open theme between 1956 - 1957. It was used as the Main theme on "The Steve Allen Show". This song was used in the 1954 TV musical production "The Bachelor" with music by Steve Allen. In an article in the "National Enquirer" 11/12/85, the composer described this piece as "the most commercially successful song" of the over 4000 tunes he has written. In the same article, he also admitted he gets ideas for the melodies and even lyrics of songs in his sleep. He said about this piece, that in 1954 he was wrestling with the problem of a tune needed for a TV production called "The Bachelor." He said, "I wakened from my sleep having just dreamed the catchy melody and four or five lines of lyrics...I went to the piano and played the tune. The basic idea of it was all there in my dream, and when I awoke I just wrote it down and finished it off." And that song was "This Could Be the Start of Something."] Composer: Steve Allen (ASCAP) [professional name of Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen] 1978 Publisher: Rosemeadow Publishing Corp. (ASCAP) 1997 Publisher: All Nations Music (ASCAP), of Beverly Hills, CA Composition Date: 1954, according to composer Allen Copyright Date: Apr. 27, 1956; Eu 436 597. Renewal Date: May 25, 1984; RE-209-808. Recordings: LP: "Some of My Favorites" (1964) Hamilton HLP-132/HLP-12132 Steve Allen
[aka: "Tonight Theme"; Verified as the THEME in TV Guide article "It Seems To Me I've Heard That Theme Before" July 28, 1956, pp. 12-13] Composer: Steve Allen (ASCAP) [professional name of Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen] 1978 Publisher: Rosemeadow Publishing Corp. (ASCAP) 1997 Publisher: All Nations Music (ASCAP), of Beverly Hills, CA [Registered under the title "Tonight"]: Unpublished Copyright Date: Dec. 10, 1954; Eu 379 764. Unpublished Renewal Date: June 7, 1982; RE-131-881. Published Copyright Date: Feb. 11, 1955; EP 88 112. Published Renewal Date: Recordings: LP: "Music For Tonight" (1955) Coral CRL-57004 Steve Allen