(First-run Syndication episodes produced 1952 - 1975) [Alternate rerun and syndication titles: "The Pioneers" (1960), hosted by Will Rogers, Jr.; "Trails West" (1962), hosted by Ray Milland; "Western Star Theatre"(1963), hosted by Rory Calhoun; "Frontier Adventure" (1968), hosted by Dale Robertson; "Call Of The West" (1969), hosted by John Payne; Originated as a New York radio series in 1930; its original long-running sponsor was The Borax Company (now known as Rio Tinto Borax) makers of 20 Mule Team Borax laundry detergent and Boraxo hand soap; The main ingredient -- borate -- came out of a Death Valley pit mine near the town of Boron, California after the discovery of the substance there in 1879; In the late 1800s mule teams were used to carry borate from the desert, hence the phrase "20 Mule Team"; today most of the Borax company's products are used as agricultural and chemical additives used in everything from water softeners to laundry starch to permanent wave hair style kits; Hosts of the First Run "Death Valley Days" series included: (1952 - 1963) Character actor Stanley Andrews as "The Old Ranger"; (1963 - 1965) Ronald Reagan; (1965 - 1968) Robert Taylor and Rosemary DeCamp; (1968 - 1970) Dale Robertson; (1975) Merle Haggard]
[Above is the title on the 1930 copyright and 1958 renewal; with a subtitle: "Death Valley Days trumpet signature...in B-flat"; a solo trumpet introduction used as a signature on both the TV and radio series as well; the ASCAP title: "Death Valley Days"] Composer: Josef Bonime (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: [listed without publisher in the 1978 ASCAP Index of Performed Compositions] 1999 Publisher: [listed without publisher in the 1999 ASCAP ACE Repertoire database] Copyright Date: Sep. 18, 1930; Eu 27 996. Renewal Date: April 17, 1958; R 213 082. Recordings:
Composers: music by Herb Taylor (ASCAP), and lyric by Milton W. ("Milt") Raskin (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: John Paul Music (ASCAP) 1999 Publisher: John Paul Music (ASCAP), of Los Angeles, CA [vocal version]: Published Copyright Date: Dec. 23, 1957; EP 116 311. Published Renewal Date: Recordings: 78 rpm in the "Mutel" (Music For Television) library, and 78 rpm reference disks in the Capitol "Q" Series library. Q- 99:3 Theme No. 216 OPENING (Western-Full) Q- 99:4 Theme No. 216 CLOSING (Western-Full) Q-101:2 Theme No. 216 LONG Version (Western)
[because Herschel Gilbert owns the publishing company John Paul Music, he may have contracted the above THEME by Herb Taylor and Milt Raskin as a "work for hire" originally; Another possibility is an introduction to "Twenty Mule Train" that was inserted in order to claim ASCAP credits.] Composer: Herschel Burke Gilbert (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: John Paul Music (ASCAP) 1999 Publisher: John Paul Music (ASCAP), of Los Angeles, CA Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[It's possible that this THEME was the same music as the "Western Star Theatre (M & E)" below, under a different syndication title] Composers: Marlin H. Skiles (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: International Mus. Assn. (ASCAP) of San Diego, CA 2001 Publisher: International Music Associates (ASCAP), of Washougal, WA Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[its possible that this THEME was the same music as the "Trails West (Signature)" above under a different syndication title] Composers: Marlin H. Skiles (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: International Mus. Assn. (ASCAP) of San Diego, CA 2001 Publisher: International Music Associates (ASCAP), of Washougal, WA Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[its possible that this THEME was the same music as the "Trails West (Signature)" above under a different syndication title] Composers: Marlin H. Skiles (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: International Mus. Assn. (ASCAP) of San Diego, CA 2001 Publisher: International Music Associates (ASCAP), of Washougal, WA Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings: