(NBC Daytime, 1962 - 1963; Syndicated, 1965 - 1969, syndicated by Westinghouse; CBS Late Night, 1969 - 1972; Syndicated, 1972 - 1986, syndicated by Metromedia) [Big Band singer Merv Griffin parlayed his performing talents, natural inquisitiveness and business skills into a multimedia empire; the centerpiece was a daily TV show which evolved over the years within the talk-variety genre, on a couple of different networks and distributed by a couple of syndication companies; Griffin's longtime bandleader was Mort Lindsey; his announcer/ sidekick during a couple of the shows was Arthur Treacher; After hosting daytime shows for NBC and Westinghouse, Griffin was given the opportunity to go up against the "Johnny Carson Tonight Show" on CBS (in the Late Night time slot currently occupied by David Letterman); Merv hung on for three years, but eventually the ratings war was won by Johnny; So Griffin returned to daytime syndication via Metromedia; ironically this last show, which was perhaps the most successful for Griffin, was directed by none other than Johnny Carson's brother -- Dick Carson; While hosting the talk shows, Griffin was also developing several game shows which his company owned including "Word For Word", "Ruckus", "Wheel Of Fortune" and "Jeopardy", for which he composed a music cue for thinking, that became the THEME song; Griffin's ex-wife Julann came up with the idea for "Jeopardy" and worked with him on "Wheel Of Fortune"; Later Griffin's business ventures included several casinos and other real estate properties until he has reached the point of not having to do another TV series again (unless he wants to...)]
[this well-known British music hall novelty song recorded by Griffin with Freddy Martin and His Orchestra in 1949 became a signature THEME used as a walk-on intro in much the same way as "Love In Bloom" was by Jack Benny; at this point, it is unknown whether it was featured very prominently as a Main Title/End Credits THEME on the earliest TV shows or not...] Composer: Fred Heatherton (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: Dash Music, Co., Ltd. (British PRS) Box & Cox, Inc. (ASCAP), and Warock Corporation (ASCAP) 2001 Publishers: Box & Cox, Inc. (ASCAP) of Bronxville, NY; Warock Corporation (ASCAP) of East Hampton, NY Composition Date: 1949 Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recording:
[above is the "legal title" as per BMI; BMI alternate titles aka: "Merv's Theme"; aka: "Merv's Music"; aka: "The Merv Griffin Show"... Composition credit for the tune is in the name of Griffin's first wife Julann, (whose maiden name was Julann Elizabeth Wright); they were married from 1958 - 1976] Composer: Julann Griffin (BMI) Orig. Publisher: 2001 Publishers: JulMer Music, Inc. (BMI) Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recording:
[at this point it is unknown if this composition by bandleader Lindsey was a Main Title/End Credits theme or a transition theme or what..] Composer: Mort Lindsey (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: Traylmor Music Corp. (ASCAP) 2001 Publisher: Traylmor Music Co. (ASCAP) c/o Malibu, CA Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recording:
[above is the title as filed for vocal copyright; title variations... aka: "Dream Theme"; aka: "Merv's Theme"; BMI title variation... aka: "Merv Griffin Logo" This fetching big band ballad was a very nice tune, which had been featured for the last 13 seasons on the Metromedia show, according to Craig Pattillo's "TV Theme Soundtrack Directory" which lists it under the title "Dream Theme [aka: "Merv's Theme"] Composer: Merv Griffin (BMI) Orig. Publisher: Vine Music, Inc. (BMI) 2001 Publishers: Tecolote Music (BMI) of New York, NY; EMI-Vine Music (BMI) c/o EMI Music Publishing of New York, NY [name "Merv Griffin" mis-spelled "Merv Grif" on application]: Vocal Copyright Date: Feb. 19, 1980; PAu-175-042. [new music - words]: Revised Vocal Copyright Date: Jan. 28, 1981; PAu-264-366. Recording: