(Theatrical cartoons since 1931; Packages syndicated to TV since 1950s) [Originally theatrical cartoons produced by Leon Schlesinger beginning in 1931, the cartoons aired on various Children's TV series ever since. Although most people remember the signature THEME as being "Merrily We Roll Along" (adapted from the nursery tune of the same name) it is not as well known that there were two other compositions used for "Merrie Melodies" Main Titles previously. By 1937, both cartoon series "Merrie Melodies" and "Looney Tunes" (which see) had adapted their final, most familiar signature tunes that would be associated with them for decades.]
[This cheerful little earful of a tune was Arlen and Koehler's first breakthrough hit. It evolved from a little "pickup" vamp introduction Arlen ad-libbed when he substituted as a rehearsal pianist for a Vincent Youmans musical. With the encouragement of friends, he developed the fragment into a full melody; Then composer Harry Warren introduced Arlen to Ted Koehler who wrote a lyric for the tune and the song was complete. But it had no attachment to a show yet. The boys were in their mid 20's, and eager to place songs. They got a break when singing star Ruth Selwyn hired them to provide several songs for her new revue on Broadway. "Get Happy" found a place in Selwyn's 1930 revue called "The Nine-Fifteen Review." Although the show itself failed, "Get Happy" emerged as a hit - and Harold Arlen referred to it ever after as that "noisy song." It helped them get more work as writers of syncopated "rhythm songs" in the early days of their career. So it was natural for "Merrie Melodies" cartoons to adapt this jazzy new song as their signature the following year.] Composers: music by Harold Arlen (ASCAP) [professional name of Hyman Arluck], and lyric by Theodore K. ("Ted") Koehler (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: Remick Music Corp. (ASCAP) 2005 Publishers: Remick Music Corp. (ASCAP) c/o Warner Bros. Inc. of Los Angeles, CA; and S. A. Music Co. (ASCAP) of Smithtown, NY Composition Date: 1930. Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[Tobias was a co-writer of the final signature THEME "Merrily We Roll Along", which see below; It is not known if this song was connected to a film or cartoon, but given the publishers Bourne & Remick, as well as the writers involved, that seems quite likely...] Composers/Adapters: Charles Tobias (ASCAP) Gerald Marks (ASCAP), and Sidney Clare (ASCAP) 1978 Publishers: Bourne Co. (ASCAP), and Remick Music Corp. (ASCAP) 2005 Publishers: Bourne Co. (ASCAP) of New York, NY; and Remick Music Corp. (ASCAP) c/o Warner Bros. Inc. of Los Angeles, CA Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[aka: "Merrie Melodies (Open/Closing Theme)"; aka: "That's All, Folks"; The title of this song matches a George S. Kaufman - Moss Hart play which premiered on Broadway on September 9th, 1934. Although this song is apparently not related, it was published in February of the following year...so there may have been a indirect cultural connection. The Kaufman and Hart play was a somewhat serious look backward at the careers of several creative people, reflecting on their idealistic youths and ironic ways their lives turned out - and had some unflattering parallels with several famous careers of the 1930s including that of Dorothy Parker and George Gershwin who were not amused; The play did not have a long run on Broadway. (In 1981 Stephen Sondheim wrote a kind of musical descendant to the Kaufman - Hart, play treating the subject in a more successful manner, using the same title.) This song and the Broadway play were apparently not consciously connected; Co-writer Eddie Cantor (who was known as "old banjo eyes") was a big radio and film star who had a comedy series on NBC; Perhaps something about the title of the play inspired the madcap composition of this tune adapted from the melody of the well-known nursery rhyme tune. The 1953 film "The Eddie Cantor Story" featured this song for which Eddie Cantor is given credit as a co-writer (although the amount of his creative contribution is unknown; it was common practice in those days for some stars to demand a piece of royalty action when they promoted a song -- all part of show business of the time.) The imaginative arrangement as a cartoon signature by Warner Bros. staff arranger Carl W. Stalling (together with the Looney Tunes signature) are a high standard by which cartoon signature THEMEs are judged, even today.] [based loosely on the Nursery Tune "Merrily We Roll Along"] Composers/Adapters: Charles Tobias (ASCAP), Murray Mencher (ASCAP), and Eddie Cantor (ASCAP) [professional name of Isidore Iskowitz] 1978 Publisher: [T. B.] Harms, Inc. (ASCAP) 2000 Publishers: [T. B.] Harms, Inc. (ASCAP) c/o Warner Bros. Inc. of Los Angeles, CA; Ched Music Corp. (ASCAP), of Naples, FL; and Eddie Cantor Music (ASCAP), of New York, NY Published Copyright Date: Feb. 14, 1935; EP 46 607. Published Renewal Date: Feb. 14, 1962; R 290 953. Unpublished Revised Version: Nov. 19, 1956; Eu 457 377. Recordings: