Vintage Television Show Themes Quiz

Answer: Alfred Hitchcock Presents

"Funeral March of a Marionette" by French composer Charles Gounod was written in 1872. Alfred Hitchcock hosted, created and produced "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" beginning in 1955 with 268 episodes broadcast. Between 1962 and 1965 it became the "Alfred Hitchcock Hour" with 93 episodes produced.

There were a number of directors involved during the run of the show with Alfred Hitchcock himself directing some of the episodes. Two of the episodes Hitchcock directed were nominated for Emmy awards. The original theme to "The Twilight Zone" was written by Bernard Herrmann who collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock on films including "Psycho" (1960) and "North by Northwest" (1959).

The original theme only ran for the first season until it was replaced by the familiar theme by Marius Constant. "House of Shock" was broadcast from 1959-1962. "Mysteries of Chinatown" (1949) aired on ABC.

Answer: Jack Benny Program

Following a successful radio show Jack Benny began with a local TV broadcast in 1949. The following year he had his network debut on CBS. While on radio he used different themes but when he transitioned to television he used "Love in Bloom". The song was written by by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin and was in the film "She Loves Me Not" starring Bing Crosby and Kitty Carlisle.
Born Benjamin Kubelsky in Chicago Jack Benny grew up in Waukegan and began playing the violin at age 6. In 1932 he transition from Vaudeville to radio with "The Canada Dry Program". In 1950 he began a network television program that would run for 15 years and earn three Emmy awards.
"The Red Skelton Show" ran from 1951 to 1971 and opened with a monologue. "The Burns and Allen Show" was broadcast from 1950 to 1958. "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" aired between 1959 and 1963.

Answer: True

"Everybody Loves Somebody" was written by Ken Lane, Sam Coslow and Irving Taylor in 1947. When recording Dean's 1964 "Dream with Dean" album his piano player, Ken Lane, suggested he include "Everybody Loves Somebody" on the LP. When Dean began his television show the following year the song was his theme song. Steubenville, Ohio, native Dino Paul Crocetti gained national attention when he paired with Jerry Lewis in 1946 for several films before venturing out as a solo actor with "Ten Thousand Bedrooms" (1957).

He also recorded many albums, played Vegas as part of the Rat Pack and starred in over 50 films as well as hosting his own variety show for ten years. In 1966 Dean won a Golden Globe Award for "Best Actor, Television Series Musical or Comedy".

Answer: Rawhide

In addition to "Rawhide" Laine also sang the themes for "Gunslinger" (1961), "Rango" (1967) and "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" (1979). Born in Chicago, Francesco Paolo LoVecchio began a long singing and recording career in the thirties that included the themes to many movies and television show. He also appeared on many variety shows and hosted three variety shows beginning with "The Frankie Laine Hour" (1950). He sang the theme to "Blazing Saddles" (1974).
"Rawhide" starred Eric Fleming, Paul Brinegar, Sheb Wooley and Clint Eastwood running a cattle drive. The show ran for 217 episodes until 1965. Frankie Laine guest starred on the show.
"Wagon Train" ran from 1957 to 1965 and featured Instrumental themes. The main title theme to "The Wild Wild West" was written by Richard Markowitz. "Overland Trail" (1960) starred William Bendix and Doug McClure.

Answer: Green Acres

Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor sang the theme to "Green Acres". It is set in the same venue as "Petticoat Junction" featuring Hooterville, Pixley and Crabwell Corners. Eddie Albert stars as a New York attorney who lives his dream of being a farmer with his reluctant wife Lisa, played by Gabor. Vic Mizzy composed the theme song.
Eddie Albert was born Edward Albert Heimbergerhad in Rock Island, Illinois, and enjoyed a successful film career as well as hosting "The Eddie Albert Show" (1953). Hungarian born Eva Gabor had guest-starred on six television shows before getting the role of Lisa.
"Petticoat Junction" (1963) theme was sung by Curt Massey. "Mister Ed" (1961) theme was written and sang by Jay Livingston and "The Beverly Hillbillies" theme featured music by Flatt and Scruggs with Jerry Scoggins.

Answer: The Roy Rogers Show

"The Roy Rogers Show" starred Roy Rogers as a ranch owner with Dale Evans as the owner of a cafe. In 1955 the show was nominated for an Emmy Award for "Best Western or Adventure Series". Dale Evans composed "Happy Trails" which was used as the theme song for the show on radio and television. In 1952 the song was released by RCA Records with The Whippoorwills and Orchestra backing them. In 1990 Roy recorded a version with Randy Travis on Travis' "Heroes and Friends" album.
Dale was born Lucille Wood Smith in Uvalde Texas and began her career singing on radio. Cincinnati, Ohio, native Leonard Slye began a singing career that transitioned to movies where he changed his name to Roy Rogers after signing with Republic Pictures.
"The Gene Autry Show" had "Back In the Saddle Again" as a theme when it ran between 1950-1956. Irving Taylor and William Lava wrote "The Ballad of F Troop" (1965-1967). "Frontier Circus" aired in 1961 and 1962 and had an Instrumental theme song.

Answer: Johnny Rivers

"Secret Agent Man" was Johnny Rivers' fourth Top Ten US single. P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri composed the song. Lou Adler managed Rivers along with P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri so he was selected to sing the theme. After the popularity of the show Rivers recorded a full length version on his live album "And I Know You Wanna Dance". New York native John Henry Ramistella began singing in school and in 1958 Alan Freed suggested he change his name to Johnny Rivers. In 1964 he began a one year engagement at Hollywood's Whisky a Go Go which launched his recording career.
Originally released in Britain in 1960 as "Danger Man" in 1964 it was aired in the US as "Secret Agent Man" starring Patrick McGoohan.
Gene Pitney recorded the theme to "Town Without Pity" (1961). "Where the Action Is" (1965 -1967) theme was recorded by Freddy Cannon and the theme to "Moon River" from "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961) was done by Andy Williams.

Answer: Hawaii Five-O

"Hawaii Five-O" began a 12-year run in 1968. It featured the members of a special task force with a theme written by Morton Stevens and recorded by the Ventures. The single reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. Don Ho and Sammy Davis later released versions with lyrics.

The Ventures formed in Tacoma, Washington, in 1958 and two years later their version of a 1954 Johnny Smith tune called "Walk, Don't Run" became a number two single in the US. Four years later they released another version titled "Walk, Don't Run '64" that reached number eight. Jerry Livingston and Mack David composed the "Hawaiian Eye" theme that ran from 1959-1963. "Surfside 6" (1960-1962) also featured a theme written by Jerry Livingston and Mack David. Lionel Newman wrote the "Theme from Adventures in Paradise" (1959- 1962).

Answer: Guitar

The "Bonanza" theme was one of many composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. Jersey City native Al Caiola was a guitarist, arranger and composer who has more than fifty albums to his credit. During WWII he was a musician in the Marines and also acted as a stretcher carrier during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

After the war he became a session musician in New York and released his first LP, "Serenade in Blue" in 1956. He signed with United Artists in the sixties where he began recording television and movie themes.

In 1961 the "Bonanza" theme was included on his "Hit Instrumentals from Western TV Themes" album. He also recorded with a long list of artists including Paul Anka, Elvis Presley, Petula Clark, Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra. For 14 seasons "Bonanza" featured the adventures of the Cartwright family on their large property called The Ponderosa over 431 episodes.

Answer: The Wellingtons

The Wellingtons were originally called The Lincolns when they were formed by George Patterson. They sang themes for Disney productions on Disneyland Records. When "Gilligan's Island" producer Sherwood Schwartz was unsuccessful coming up with a theme song for the show he retained George Wyle to compose the song and used The Wellingtons to record it. They appeared in the second season as a stranded Rock group named The Mosquitoes. In addition to appearing on "Shindig" they toured backing acts such as Stevie Wonder, The Supremes and Donald O'Connor.
"Gilligan's Island" was on the air for three seasons beginning in 1964. A pilot titled "Marooned" was filmed in late 1963 with Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr, Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer moving on the the series.
Bermuda Triangle Band was originally called Roger and Wendy and recorded "Euphoria" in 1969. Dave Guard and Bob Shane, who went on to form The Kingston Trio in 1957, met while attending school in Honolulu where the "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle" opening was filmed. Dave Guard formed The Whiskeyhill Singers after he left The Kingston Trio.