(New York Local series on WNBT, 1954;
NBC Primetime, 1962 - 1964)
[Following on the success of their long-running Dr. Kildare medical
drama, MGM produced this series about a court-appointed psychiatrist,
which was adapted from a local drama series aired in New York ten
years earlier starring Wendall Corey.
Wendall Corey was again cast in the lead role, but after the ratings
sagged, he was replaced by actor Ralph Bellamy; and a new THEME was
written by Harry Sukman replacing the original one.
The THEME was adapted from a library track, which had become a
well-known melody through both instrumental and vocal records during
the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Neither cast change nor theme change boosted the ratings much. So after
two network seasons the series was dropped from the NBC lineup.]
Composer: Cedric King Palmer (British PRS/ASCAP)
Original Publisher: W. Paxton & Co., Ltd. (British PRS/ASCAP)
1997 Publisher: Atmosphere Music, Ltd. [British]
[as seen on re-issue CD]
2004 Publisher: [not found in ASCAP or BMI databases]
[under the original unpublished instrumental title "The Film Opens"]:
Copyright Date: March 31, 1952; EU 270 195.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
78rpm single: "The Film Opens"
in the Paxton Mood Music Library
ReIssue:
CD: "1940s Atmosphere Archive: drama, heritage and landscape"
Atmosphere Music AACD-5 (reissue of 78rpm Mood Music single)
[available via the Robert Farnon Society, England.]
[aka vocal title: "Eleventh Hour Melody"]
]"Eleventh Hour Theme" was an instrumental adaptation of the
original Paxton Mood Music Library track, "The Film Opens"
(see above), used as a THEME for the local New York series.
This adaptation of the music library THEME was made for the
commercial release. During the 1950s and early 1960s both an
instrumental and vocal version -- of what was re-named the
"Eleventh Hour Melody" -- became popular as a romantic ballad.
So by the time MGM revived the series for airing on the NBC network,
some 10 years after its first appearance on local New York TV,
its THEME had already established a national audience]
Original Composer: Cedric King Palmer (British PRS/ASCAP), with
music adapted by Winifred Palmer (British PRS/ASCAP), and
lyrics added by Carl Sigman (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: W. Paxton & Co., Ltd. (British PRS/ASCAP)
1997 Publishers: Theodore Presser Company (ASCAP); and
The Songwriters Guild (ASCAP)
2004 Publishers: Theodore Presser Company (ASCAP)
of King Of Prussia, PA; and
Major Songs, Ltd.
c/o Bughouse
div. of Bug Music, Inc.
of Hollywood, CA
[under the published vocal title "11th Hour Melody"]:
Copyright Date: Jan. 17, 1956; EP 96 551.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
45rpm single: "Eleventh Hour Melody" (vocal)
Decca 9-29789 (1955)
vocal by Al Hibbler
45rpm single: "Eleventh Hour Melody" (instrumental)
Capitol F3349 (1956)
Lou Busch, piano with orchestra
45rpm single: "Theme from The Eleventh Hour"
Kapp 533 (1963)
Roger Williams, piano with orchestra
LP: "Young America Dances To TV's Greatest Themes"
20th Century Fox TFM-3109/TFS-4109 (1963)
Bill Ramal and his Orchestra
[Apparently used only during the last season, the same time as
lead actor cast change from Wendall Corey to Ralph Bellamy]
Composers: music by Harry Sukman (ASCAP),
words by Irving Elman (ASCAP) and
Sam Rolfe (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Miller Music Corporation (ASCAP)
1997 Publishers: Miller Music Corp (ASCAP)
2004 Publisher: EMI-Miller Catalog, Inc.
div. of EMI April Music Inc.
c/o EMI Music Publishing
of New York, NY
[first (instrumental) filing "Theme from 'The Eleventh Hour'"
lists ONLY the composer--"Harry Sukman"]:
Copyright Date: June 29, 1962; EU 725 977.
Renewal Date:
[second (vocal) filing "The Eleventh Hour"
lists all writers--including lyricists "Elman" & "Rolfe"]:
Copyright Date: Jan. 7, 1963; EU 751 656.
Renewal Date:
Recordings: