(1946 - Present) [This Web Site honors themes which have been heard frequently during the years of "Classic Television" -- usually on network and nationally-syndicated shows; however on this page, we will mention a few of the familiar, often nostalgic melodic anthems which became a tradition on local television stations during their transmitter Sign-Off sequence. Although this may seem to be a departure from the national themes listed on the rest of the site, this is a way to honor music which has become traditional and familiar on a national basis, and because the themes below have been used for this purpose on a number of stations, we will include them here. One musical Sign-Off tradition which is not listed is that of segueing into the National Anthem -- the "Star Spangled Banner" -- at the conclusion of the Sign-Off sequence (right before the static and white snow appears, after the transmitter engineer "pulls the plug" by turning off the carrier signal...) One irony of the choices listed below is that most of them were taken from the "nemesis" of early television -- from the scores of motion pictures; perhaps this was an unconscious choice reflecting the desire for early television stations to honor the heritage of the wider screen; or perhaps when looking to find a broad media anthem, motion picture scores written by some of the better film and television writers were a natural, obvious source. We list them below in chronological order of composition.]
[the broad thematic section usually used on the air starts in from the quiet beginning a couple of minutes... Some stations may also use a section from the "Sunrise" movement from this suite during station Sign-On...] Composer: Ferde Grofé (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: Robbins Music Corp. (ASCAP) 2001 Publisher: EMI-Robbins Catalog, Inc. (ASCAP) c/o EMI Music Publishing, Inc. of New York, NY Composition Date: 1931 Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[ASCAP database title for vocal (added in 1954), aka: "My Own True Love (Tara's Theme)"] Composers: music by Max Steiner (ASCAP), with lyric added by Mack David (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher [of "Gone With The Wind" and "My Own True Love"]: Remick Music Corp. (ASCAP) 2001 Publishers: Remick Music Corporation (ASCAP) c/o Warner Bros., Inc. of Los Angeles, CA; and Universal-Polygram International Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP) c/o Universal Music Publishing Group of Los Angeles, CA Instrumental Copyright Date: 1940; EP 62 937. Instrumental Renewal Date: 1968; Vocal Copyright Date [as: "My Own True Love"]: Nov. 5, 1954; EP 84 711. Vocal Renewal Date: Jan. 28, 1982; RE-119-851. Recordings:
[aka: "Ten Commandments (Overture)"; aka: "Love and Ambition"; aka: "Theme from 'The Ten Commandments'"; this composition is sometimes used for station Sign-On as well as Sign-Off] Composer: Elmer Bernstein (ASCAP/BMI) 1978 Publisher: Famous Music Corporation (ASCAP) 2001 Publisher: Famous Music Corporation (ASCAP) of Los Angeles, CA [as "Ten Commandments (Overture)"]: Copyright Date: Jan. 8, 1957; Eu 461 414. Renewal Date: Jan. 5, 1985; RE-234-682. [as "Theme from 'The Ten Commandments' (Love and Ambition)"]: Copyright Date: April 5, 1966; EP 215 218. Renewal Date: Sep. 22, 1994; RE-673-807. Recordings:
[aka: "Love Theme from 'The Electric Horseman'"; aka: "Rising Star"; a nostalgic western theme featuring a harmonica playing lead melody with a background of strings and a "soft-rock" beat.] Composer: Dave Grusin (ASCAP/BMI) [professional name of David Robert Grusin] 1979 Publishers: Gold Horizon Music Corporation (BMI) and Duchess Music Corporation (BMI) 2001 Publishers: EMI-Gold Horizon Music Corp. (BMI) c/o EMI Music Publishing, Inc. of New York, NY; and Universal-Duchess Music Corporation (BMI) c/o Universal Music Publishing Group of Los Angeles, CA [filed as "Electric Horseman (Score)]: Copyright Date: Sep. 19, 1979; PAu-154-119. Recordings: