(NBC Primetime, 1971 - 1977;
NBC Primetime reruns 1977 - 1978;
ABC Primetime, 1989 - 1993;
reruns on Late Night network movies; and revived on
various made-for-TV Movie Specials during the 1990s - 2000)
[original 1971 title: "NBC Mystery Movie: Columbo";
as of 1989 aka: "ABC Mystery Movie: Columbo";
It began as part of a rotating group of series which were aired
under the umbrella title "The NBC Mystery Movie" from 1971 -
1978. The other rotating series when it began were "McCloud",
"McMillan and Wife", "Banacek", "Cool Million" and "Madigan."
But "Columbo" was the one which lasted longest and was also
re-run the most on late night network movie shows and also the
subject of several made-for-TV special movies through the years;
In 1989, after being seen only in reruns for 11 years, an attempt
was made to revive the series as part of another rotating
umbrella series on ABC which also was called "Mystery Movie";
And then for the next decade it returned to being an occasional
made-for-TV special movie through 2000 starring Peter Falk;
The concept of a deceptively bumbling detective had been used
in various mystery novels through the years; this version of
that classic literary device was especially memorable in the
character of the Italian Lieutenant Columbo (whose first name
was never known); he drove an old car often with a bag-eyed
beagle inside, smoked cigars and wore a perpetually rumpled
raincoat; his disarming personality was perhaps his most
potent weapon...the character created by William Link and
Richard Levinson; had first been tried out in made-for-TV
movie with Thomas Mitchell as early as 1968...a second 1971
made-for-TV movie starring Bert Freed served as the pilot
episode for the series...
But after the idea was approved for the rotating "NBC Mystery
Movie", and after Bing Crosby and the irrascible Lee J. Cobb
turned down the title role, it was third-choice, long-time
New York independent film veteran Peter Falk, who made the
character his own. And in hindsight the casting seemed to
be so perfect it must have been inspired...]
[above is the THEME created for the rotating umbrella series
of which "Columbo" was one -- "The NBC Mystery Movie"...
above is the title as registered;
ASCAP titles are:
"Mystery Movie (Signature)";
aka: "Mystery Movie Theme";
aka: "Mystery Movie Main Title"]
Composer: Henry Mancini (ASCAP)
[professional name of Enrico Nicola Mancini]
1978 Publisher: Leeds Music Corp. (ASCAP)
1998 Publisher: MCA/On Backstreet Music, Inc. (ASCAP),
c/o MCA Music Publishing/
a division of Universal Studios, Inc.,
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: Oct. 13, 1971; Eu 283 321.
Renewal Date: Jan. 15, 1999; RE-801-021.
Recording:
[if any tune could be said to be the "signature" tune of the
character of "Columbo" it is this one, first making its appearance
in the episode "Any Old Port In The Storm." It was rarely heard
in Closing Credits or Opening Titles, but more used as a motif
for the character's disarming charm and cleverness. Various
episode scores contain it throughout the three decades of the
series arranged by many different composer/arrangers...but
jazz arranger Pat Williams also created a version used on
one or two End Credits, simply called "Columbo"...
The copyright registrations were two -- the first one --
"in the Public Domain" was titled "This Old Man";
The second one, published by Songs of Universal, Inc.
was titled "Columbo"]
Source: *Traditional* [Nursery tune], with
Adapter/Arranger: Pat Williams (ASCAP/BMI)
[professional name of Patrick Moody Williams]
2001 Publisher: [in the Public Domain]
2001 Publisher: Songs of Universal, Inc. (BMI)
c/o Universal Music Publishing Group
Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recording:
[THEME and composer verified in November, 1971 Issue of
"BMI: The Many Worlds Of Music";
Since the first few seasons used the Mancini THEME as the
Open THEME for the "NBC Mystery Movie", this THEME was only
heard over the Closing credits...if at all]
Composer: Gilbert John ("Gil") Mellé (BMI)
2001 Publisher: Duchess Music Corporation (BMI)
aka: Duchess/Hawaii S/A
c/o Universal Music Publishing Group
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recording:
[THEME and composer verified in several Issues of
"BMI: The Many Worlds Of Music" (1971 - 1977);
since the first few seasons used the Mancini THEME as the
Open THEME for the "NBC Mystery Movie", and after that used
various teaser cues, this THEME was only heard over the
Closing credits...if at all. This was also the THEME for
the 1971 made-for-TV movie "Ransom For A Dead Man" starring
Bert Freer which served as a Pilot episode for the series...]
Composer: Billy Goldenberg (ASCAP/BMI)
[professional name of William Leon Goldenberg]
1978 Publisher: Leeds Music Corp. (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: Universal/Duchess Music Corporation (BMI)
c/o Universal Music Publishing Group
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recording:
[This THEME was used for the Opening of "Columbo" and other
rotating series...
BMI alternate title
aka: "ABC Mystery Movie Main Title"]
Composer: Mike Post (BMI)
[professional name of Leland Michael Postil]
2001 Publisher: Songs of Universal, Inc. (BMI)
c/o Universal Music Publishing Group
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recording:
[since the ABC series used the Mike Post "Mystery Movie" THEME
as the Open THEME, this THEME was only heard briefly during the
Open sequence and more fully over the Closing credits;
ASCAP title variations...
aka: "Columbo's Theme"]
Composer: John Cacavas (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: Universal/On Backstreet Music (ASCAP)
c/o Universal Music Publishing Group
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recording:
[since the ABC series used the Mike Post "Mystery Movie" THEME
as the Open THEME, this THEME was only heard briefly during the
Open sequence and more fully over the Closing credits;
ASCAP title variations...
aka: "Columbo (Main & End Title)";
"New Columbo 04";
"Columbo Goes To College 1990"]
Composer: James Di Pasquale (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: Universal/MCA Music Publishing (ASCAP)
a div. of Universal Studios, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recording:
[since the ABC series used the Mike Post "Mystery Movie" THEME
as the Open THEME, this THEME was only heard briefly during the
Open sequence and more fully over the Closing credits;
ASCAP title variations...
aka: "Columbo Cues"]
Composer: Richard Markowitz (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: Universal/MCA Music Publishing (ASCAP)
a div. of Universal Studios, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recording:
[since the ABC series used the Mike Post "Mystery Movie" THEME
as the Open THEME, this THEME was only heard briefly during the
Open sequence and more fully over the Closing credits;
ASCAP title variations...
aka: "Columbo (Main Theme);
aka: "Columbo Theme Signature"]
Composer: Richard ("Dick") De Benedictus (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: Universal/MCA Music Publishing (ASCAP)
a div. of Universal Studios, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recording: