(ABC Primetime, 1952 - 1966)
[originated on CBS Radio, 1944-54, original title:
"The Ozzie Nelson - Harriet Hilliard Show"...
Their 14-year TV run was a network record for a sitcom;
Family shows that used a TV "family" to present gentle
family-oriented skits were a common denominator since
TV began from "Father Knows Best" to "The Brady Bunch";
and this was one of the pioneer shows that defined the
entire genre, although it was a bit slow-paced (and some
argued in unkind reviews that it was also "slow witted")...
Perhaps the Nelson Family was an "acquired taste" -- you
either found the simple characters familiar and charming
or you thought it was dull as dishwater...and while the
Nelson's were well-known personalities from radio skits,
their children's acting skills were "learned on the job" :-)
But Ozzie Nelson had figured out that using his family
to demonstrate universal object lessons was a winning
formula for 1950s and early 1960s television; and he kept
to his guns while the audiences remained loyal...and it
proved to his critics chagrin the old adage that "nothing
succeeds like success"; Like Desi Arnaz, Ozzie Nelson
worked many long hours behind the scenes in multiple roles
producing and writing as well as acting in the series;
For better or worse this old-fashioned, plain-spoken
family is now an indelible part of classic TV history...]
[Verified as the THEME in TV Guide article "It Seems To Me
I've Heard That Theme Before" July 28, 1956, pp. 12-13;
This first TV THEME was the same 1930's song used on the radio
series played as an instrumental (with a slightly different
melody with published words); the arrangements of it on
radio were by Billy May who conducted the radio orchestra;
it is not known if the TV series used May's arrangements or
new ones by Basil George "Buzz" Adlam who was also an early
music director for the TV show...
The instrumental arrangements take liberties with the vocal
melody of the tune, first recorded by Rosalind Conrad.]
Composers: J. Fred Coots (ASCAP) and
Ozzie Nelson (ASCAP)
[professional name of Oswald George Nelson]
Original Publisher: Davis, Coots & Engel, Inc.,
of New York, NY
1978 Publishers: Essex Music, Inc. (ASCAP) and
Words & Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
1997 Publishers: Essex Music, Inc. (ASCAP),
c/o The Richmond Organization
of New York, NY;
The Songwriters' Guild (ASCAP)
of Weehawken, NJ; and
Words & Music, Inc. (ASCAP),
c/o The Richmond Organization
of New York, NY
Unpublished Copyright Date: Oct. 19, 1931; EU 26 775.
Unpublished Renewal Date: Oct. 16, 1959; R 244 140.
Published Copyright Date: Oct. 28, 1931; EP 26 775.
Published Renewal Date: Oct. 16, 1959; R 244 138.
Recordings:
[for at least two seasons a waltz melody was heard over the
Main Title; and it is possible this rather forgettable tune
was a library track supplied by Capitol Special Products
(managed by Jack C. Cookerly) composed by William Loose and
Emil Cadkin -- all of whom are credited in BMI as having
composed "Ozzie and Harriet Library Cues"]
Composers: Jack C. Cookerly (BMI),
Emil Cadkin (BMI) and
William G. ("Bill") Loose (ASCAP/BMI)
1978 Publishers: G R H Music Company (BMI)
1986 Publishers: Matragun Music, Inc. (BMI)
c/o Sony-ATV Songs, L.L.C.
of Nashville, TN
2002 Publishers: [for current Title, Publisher and Licensing
information regarding this THEME...
contact Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)]
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
[for at several seasons this jaunty little melody was heard
over the Main Title; and it is possible this was a library
tune supplied by Capitol Special Products (which was then
managed by Jack C. Cookerly) composed by William Loose and
Emil Cadkin -- all of whom are credited in BMI as having
composed "Ozzie and Harriet Library Cues"]
Another possibility is that it was written by Basil George
"Buzz" Adlam, who was the music director and arranger also
during this period...
This THEME is heard on "Television's Greatest Hits"
Vol. 4: Black and White Classics" credited as a THEME
composed by Ozzie Nelson, which is doubtful...although
possibly Basil George "Buzz" Adlam could have worked
a simple Nelson tune into the nice arrangement heard
on the air;
At one point it was thought this jaunty composition --
most often identified with the series -- was called
"The Nelson Family Theme", which research has proven
it is NOT, when compared with the sheet music filed
under that name for copyright at the Library of Congress
written in 1962 (see "End Credits Theme 5" below)]
Composers: Jack C. Cookerly (BMI),
Emil Cadkin (BMI) and
William G. ("Bill") Loose (ASCAP/BMI)
1978 Publishers: G R H Music Company (BMI)
1986 Publishers: Matragun Music, Inc. (BMI)
c/o Sony-ATV Songs, L.L.C.
of Nashville, TN
2002 Publishers: [for current Title, Publisher and Licensing
information regarding this THEME...
contact Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)]
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
CD: Television's Greatest Hits,
Vol. 4: Black and White Classics
TVT Records TVT 1600 - 2 (1996)
[a rather nice big-band tune composed by the show's
music director...originally penned in 1947...]
Composer: Basil George ("Buzz") Adlam (ASCAP)
1978 Publishers: Bel Air Music Co. (ASCAP)
1997 Publishers: Bel Air Music Co. (ASCAP)
Copyright Date: Dec 12, 1947; Eu 107 734.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
[This may have been arranged by Jimmie Haskell...the
THEME is a kind of boogie style blues which has no discernable
tune for the melody, but seems rather improvised...]
Composer: Ozzie Nelson (ASCAP)
[professional name of Oswald George Nelson]
1978 Publishers: Nelson Music Pub. Co. (ASCAP)
1997 Publishers: Nelson Music Publishing Co. (ASCAP),
c/o Jess S. Morgan & Company, Inc.
for the Ozzie and Harriet Trust,
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: Oct. 23, 1962; Eu 742 183.
Renewal Date: June 22, 1990; RE-483-590.
Recordings:
[aka: "Ozzie & Harriet End Credit";
Craig Pattillo's book says a composition by this title
written by Jimmie Haskell was used for the final three
seasons, which would have been 1962 - 1966...however,
this may have been an arrangement of the "Nelson Family
Theme", written by Ozzie Nelson -- see above...there
was a kind of shuffle tune played by a big band which
is more than likely this one...]
Composer: Jimmie Haskell (ASCAP)
[pseudonym of Sheridan Pearlman]
1978 Publishers: [no listing in ASCAP]
1997 Publishers: [no listing in ASCAP]
2001 Publishers: Matragun Music, Inc. (BMI)
c/o Sony-ATV Songs, L.L.C.
of Nashville, TN
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings: