(CBS Primetime, 1950 - 1954; NBC Primetime, 1954 - 1956) [Originated on CBS radio 1937 - 1948; then on NBC radio 1948-; The tv series was broadcast live from New York until 1952, and was then filmed in Hollywood afterwards; On CBS, the role of crusading newspaper reporter Steve Wilson was played by Patrick McVey for four years; then when the series switched to NBC, the character of reporter Steve Wilson got a promotion to the job of the crusading editor, and was played on NBC by Mark Stevens (who had previously played the role of Martin Kane, Private Eye); Dumont ran re-runs in 1953 under the name "City Assignment"; Syndicated titles included: "Byline: Steve Wilson", "Headline", and "Heart of the City"]
[Radio theme as per Frank De Vol's album "More Radio's Great Old Themes"; The "Big Town" radio THEME was thought to have been used as the very first "Big Town" TV theme during its live broadcasts originating from New York; The writer Fran Frey (1903-1962), who sometimes filed manuscripts with just his first initial, as in "F. Frey", was of French heritage. He contributed episode scores to 1950's U.S. TV series including "77 Sunset Strip" and "The Alaskans"] Composer: F. ("Fran") Frey (French SACEM/ASCAP) [professional name of Francois Marcel Frey] Original Publisher: Frey & Frey Co. (ASCAP) 2002 Publisher: [not found in ASCAP or BMI databases] Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings: LP: "More Radio's Great Old Themes" (1962) Frank De Vol and his Orchestra Columbia CL 1778 / CS 8578
[LP liner notes say this theme was recorded in 1952, so it could not have been the original theme.] Composer: Albert Glasser (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: American Academy of Music, Inc. (ASCAP) 1998 Publisher: EMI-Mills Music, Inc. [Old Acct.] (ASCAP), c/o EMI Music Publishing of New York, NY Creation Date: circa 1952, according to LP liner notes Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings: LP: "The Fantastic Film Music of Albert Glasser" Starlog Records SR - 1001 (1978) Soundtrack recording [in Los Angeles]
[William Lava was a ubiquitous composer during the early 1950s on several TV shows and this may have been an alternate THEME or a Sub-Theme, since it is published by CBS.] Composer: William ("Bill") Lava (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: April Music, Inc. (ASCAP) 2000 Publisher: EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP) c/o EMI Music Publishing of New York, NY Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[aka: "Metropolitana Main and End"] Composer: Alexander Laszlo (ASCAP) [professional name of Sandor Totis] Original Publisher: Guild Music, Inc. (ASCAP) 1998 Publisher: Regents of the University of California, o/b/o Alexander Publications, Inc. (ASCAP) of Oakland, CA Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings: