(ABC Primetime, 1951 - 1952, "The March Of Time Through The Years";
Syndicated, 1965 - 1966, "Time-Life Specials: The March Of Time")
[Time Magazine began a series of news broadcasts on CBS radio
with this title that aired between 1931 - 1945; The show
dramatized news stories and used dramatic narration to
engage the listener.
It was one of the first big media cross-promotion ideas...
and was a smashing success; The theatrical newsreels that
were produced from 1935 were sometimes broadcast on
early TV as "shorts", and later in episodes that were
longer, didn't become a staple of network TV;
The most well-known narrator, Westbrook Van Voorhis,
was famous for his dramatic delivery, "Time Marches On!"
heard on both radio and in the theatrical newsreels; Mr.
Van Voorhis was a classic newsreel announcer known for
a melodramatic "voice of doom" style imitated by others;
Although he was not the first narrator, he was the one
most people associate with the series.
The radio series was a dramatization of news events in
a format similar to radio drama, interspersed with the
facts of the newsworthy story read by Van Voorhis. The
newsreels shown on TV were more like theatrical newsreels
seen regularly through the 1940s;
The original 1931 radio THEME was the Chorus section
(following the Verse) of "The March Of Time", a sprightly
march composed by Harold Arlen for the 1930 Broadway
musical revue called "Earl Carroll Vanities", which just
happened to have the same name as the Time magazine
series; Whether the march triggered the idea for the
radio series (which debuted a year after the "Vanities")
or not, this march was a suitable THEME for the series;
In contrast with crime show marches such as the "Love
For Three Oranges" used on "The F.B.I. in Peace & War",
and imitators that followed it for other crime shows,
this march was more like the British newsreel marches,
almost sporty in style, and played at a fast tempo.
Arlen received royalties of $125 per year for the first
couple of years from the radio usage; Then when Time, Inc.
began making theatrical newsreels someone was commissioned
to "change a few notes" and create a "soundalike" march
THEME signature;
Arlen considered suing for copyright infringement, but
since he was collecting a lot of money from his popular
songs, he vetoed the idea of a protracted dispute and
spending a portion of the fortune he amassed on legal
fees necessary to battle media giant Time, Incorporated.
The 2nd march THEME was thought to have been written by
John Rocchetti -- who was the first composer hired to
write background cues for the theatrical short films.
Rocchetti was a staff composer at Sam Fox Pub. Co., and
a journeyman arranger who had been mentioned in copyrights
circa 1915. However, no specific "March Of Time Signature"
was registered for copyright during the years 1934 - 1937
when the documentary short subjects were first produced.
So it's possible that he adapted one of Sam Fox's generic
march motifs for the short Main Title and End Title.
There are a few similarly named compositions that show up
throughout the years, which are not related to either the
radio/TV series or the documentary theatrical short films:
another "March of Time" by Louis Alter & Howard Johnson
for the 1933 film "Broadway To Hollywood";
"Time Marches On" from the 1936 musical "Ziegfeld Follies"
with music by Vernon Duke, lyric by Ira Gershwin;
"Time Marches On" a 1945 swing tune with music by Matt
Malneck and lyric by Johnny Mercer.
In 1936 ASCAP commissioned a survey of radio Theme Songs
and Signature Tunes, and a new title showed up listed as
the Theme Song for the "March of Time" radio series. It
was "The Time March" composed by veteran CBS network
music arranger Amedeo de Filippi. Unfortunately no
copyright registration was found for this title in the
years from 1925 - 1941. There was, however another march
titled "Life March" by de Filippi registered in 1938 with
"Time, Inc." as the Copyright Claimant. So it is possible
that this march was the same with a different name, or
due to the hassle of dealing with Harold Arlen no one
wanted to credit de Filippi as the "composer of record."
But he did apparently receive the composer's share of the
ASCAP royalties since "Time March" is listed in their
database under de Filippi's name.
Later a couple of custom THEMEs were commissioned
for a weekly series on ABC, and a series of
retrospective specials in 1965 - 1966;
Some theatrical newsreel shorts were broadcast on early
television before a version was made expressly for the
longer television length of 30 minutes; this version --
called "The March Of Time Through The Years" -- was a
package that re-edited the old newsreels, interspersed
with some newer material of contemporary events;
It was hosted during its first season by newscaster
John Daly and then the original "voice of doom" host,
Westbrook Van Voorhis himself for the second 1952 season
which was cut short when the series was cancelled;
In 1965, a series of retrospective specials were created
by David L. Wolper productions under the title "Time-Life
Specials: The March Of Time", narrated by veteran radio/TV
actor William Conrad]
[It is not known if the TV theme credited Harold Arlen or
whether they used the soundalike written later]
Composers: music by Harold Arlen (ASCAP)
[professional name of Hyman Arluck], and
lyric by Theodore K. ("Ted") Koehler (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: Robbins Music Co. (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: EMI-Robbins Catalog, Inc. (ASCAP)
c/o EMI Music Publishing
of New York, NY
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Above is the title of the Radio Theme shown in ASCAP
Records during the years circa 1937 - 1938. Interestingly,
another work titled "Life March" by the same composer was
registered for copyright in 1938, and the claimant was
"Time, Inc." So it is possible that the above title seen
in ASCAP records was based on or derived from "Life March"
since both Time and Life magazines were published by the
parent company, "Time, Inc."
Composer: Amedeo de Filippi (ASCAP)
Orig. Publisher: Time, Inc.
1978 Publisher: [not listed in the 1978 ASCAP Index of
performed compositions]
2001 Publisher: [not listed in the 2001 ASCAP ACE database]
Copyright Date: [not found]
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
[above is the title as listed in ASCAP under the titles
composed by William G. Loose; the BMI title is actually
"Time Marches On" (Legal Title) listed under compositions
credited to Loose's colleague, Harry Bluestone...
Also Sam Fox Music lists the title "March of The Years"
which is not credited to either writer; Production
music by Bill Loose and Harry Bluestone was at one point
published by Sam Fox Music...]
Composers: William G. ("Bill") Loose (ASCAP/BMI) and
Harry Bluestone (ASCAP/BMI)
1978 Publisher: [not listed in the ASCAP Index of
Performed Compositions]
2001 Publisher: Carbert Music, Inc. (BMI)
c/o Blue River Music Co.
2002 Publishers: [for current Title, Publisher and Licensing
information regarding this THEME...
contact Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)]
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Composer: Elmer Bernstein (ASCAP/BMI)
1978 Publisher: United Artists Music Co. (BMI)
2001 Publisher: EMI-Unart Catalog, Inc. (BMI)
c/o EMI Music Publishing
of New York, NY
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings: