Theme Music ?

[Mike]

Does the upbeat theme music used for the Benny Program have a title? Who wrote the music? Was it specifically written for the show, or was it previously written and then used for the theme? Mike

[Brad from Georgia]

Mike, do you mean "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" at the beginning of the radio program? There are several Jack Benny themes--the classic radio theme begins with George M. Cohan's "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy," then segues into a few bars of "Love in Bloom," by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger. The TV shows have some different themes, too, often beginning with one of the Kreutzer exercises for violin (a series of eight notes, repeated--Mel Blanc as Jack's violin teacher occasionally puts lyrics to them in certain episodes: "Press more lightly with the finger, shoot me now, don't let me linger..."). These were created by the violin teacher and virtuoso Rodolphe Kreutzer (d. 1831) and are exercises for the violinist-in-training. That theme, too, would give way to "Love in Bloom."

I don't know what the closing theme for most of the TV shows is--it's sprightly, show-bizzy, and up-tempo. Maybe someone else could help?

[Maxwell]

I don't know what the closing theme for most of the TV shows is--it's sprightly, show-bizzy, and up-tempo. Maybe someone else could help?

I asked about the closing theme for the TV show in a thread a few months ago, Laura came up with a possible title: "Jefferson Fox I Love You." It was written by Mahlon Merrick, Jacks musical director. I'm pretty sure the chord structure for the tune is pretty close to "Keep Your Sunny Side Up," and in particular the tune itself has eight bars resembling the "If you have nine sons in a row" line.

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

This might help: http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVTheme ... Benny.html

[Mike]

Yes, it was the TV theme that I meant. And now that you mention it yes, it does sound similar to 'Sunny Side'. I wonder if Merrick also wrote that song. Also wonder if Mahlon could have been related to David Merrick. Mike

[Maxwell]

Yes, it was the TV theme that I meant. And now that you mention it yes, it does sound similar to 'Sunny Side'. I wonder if Merrick also wrote that song. Also wonder if Mahlon could have been related to David Merrick. Mike

I'd have to go back and review the thread about the theme. I started it and it had a title of something like "Two Questions That Have Been Bugging Me for Decades." LL got her answers, I think, from an earlier thread.

The theme does sound similar enough to other TV themes that I know Mahlon Merrick wrote, that I'm pretty sure it had to be by him. I'm not sure where LL came up with the title. I think she said she heard someone say it somewhere and that's what it sounded like to her. There is a web site where the library or whatever the institution is that has Merrick's scores has everything listed in its possession, but I was unable to find anything with the title "Jefferson Fox, I Love You."

That title is not shown in the link that TSP gave here. The only closing theme was described as sounding like "PEnnsylvania 6-5000" which sounds nothing like the theme we both have in mind.

[LLeff]

The theme does sound similar enough to other TV themes that I know Mahlon Merrick wrote, that I'm pretty sure it had to be by him. I'm not sure where LL came up with the title. I think she said she heard someone say it somewhere and that's what it sounded like to her. There is a web site where the library or whatever the institution is that has Merrick's scores has everything listed in its possession, but I was unable to find anything with the title "Jefferson Fox, I Love You."

It's played on one of the Benny radio shows and that's the title Don gives when he back announces it. When listening to the show I perked up instantly on hearing it, recognizing it as the television theme. I think I even noted that in 39 Forever. It wouldn't be the first time that a goofy song title was given to a Merrick composition. Who *IS* Jefferson Fox, anyway (besides the object of affection of the titler)?

[Maxwell]

It's played on one of the Benny radio shows and that's the title Don gives when he back announces it. When listening to the show I perked up instantly on hearing it, recognizing it as the television theme. I think I even noted that in 39 Forever. It wouldn't be the first time that a goofy song title was given to a Merrick composition. Who *IS* Jefferson Fox, anyway (besides the object of affection of the titler)?

That's right. Thanks for refreshing the memory of an old guy who is too lazy to look back into an old thread.

[pianopappy]

I believe that program was aired on February 28, 1943, originating at Fort Custer, Michigan. I happened to be listening to that show on an mp3 file last week and decided to Google the announced song title, which led me to this forum. Bob Crosby was "guest conductor".

[Ray Faiola]

I think the first version of what became the TV ending theme music was heard was on the 2nd show of the 41-42 Season, October 12, 1941, during the ASCAP ban. Here is the complete opening announcement with music:

http://www.chelsearialtostudios.com/wha ... _12_41.mp3