(NBC Primetime, 1955 - 1958; Syndicated)
[above is the BMI Title; aka: "Theme No. 654" in the Capitol "Q" Series Library] [This THEME is a "knock-off" of the "Jack Benny TV Theme" which was also composed by Mahlon Merrick. This composition commissioned by the MUTEL Music Service of David Chudnow, is very close, but not identical to the melody of the Jack Benny THEME "S and J Stomp" (named for wife "Sadie Marks" and "Jack Benny".) This library THEME seems to be a mixture of phrases from 2 THEMES: the "S and J Stomp" used for Benny; and the THEME for the series "Private Secretary", both of which were Mahlon Merrick original compositions. Ironically this MUTEL library Theme was also used as the THEME of the ABC Game Show "Dollar a Second" in the same year when "People's Choice" debuted on NBC (1955). Starting with the second season (in 1956) a new End Credits THEME below was used, apparently an original by the series Music Director Lou Kosloff; However an excerpt from this library track was still used for the Opening.] Composer: Gene Le Grande (ASCAP/BMI) [pseudonym of Mahlon Legrand Merrick] Original Publisher of cues: [unknown] 2001 Publisher: Palisades Music Publishing Company (BMI) of Tampa, FL Copyright Date: Recordings: From the MUTEL music library [original versions] 78rpm reference disks in the Capitol "Q" Series library from Capitol Special Products Q-307: cut 1: Theme No. 654 - OPENING (Bright) Q-307: cut 2: Theme No. 654 - CLOSING (Bright) Q-309: cut 1: Theme No. 654 - THEME FILL (Bright) Q-309: cut 2: Theme No. 654 - Play On (Bright) Q-309: cut 3: Theme No. 654 - Play Off (Bright)
[above is title as filed for copyright; ASCAP title: "People s Choice"; aka: "Bits of Music", according to TV Guide article "It Seems To Me I've Heard That Theme Before", July 28, 1956, pp. 12-13; Kosloff music credit in both TV Guide and in Patillo, but on the copy filed for copyright only Freed's name appears. This theme was only used as the closing theme beginning with the 1956 season; An excerpt from the MUTEL library track above was still used for the Opening.] Composers: Lou Kosloff (ASCAP), and Ralph Freed (ASCAP) Original Publisher: Spartan Music Co., Ltd. (ASCAP) 1998 Publisher: Polygram International (ASCAP) Copyright Date: July 1, 1965; Eu 890 895. Renewal Date: Recordings: