NBC Color Movies (since 1961)
(NBC Primetime, 1961 - Present)
[Network film presentations prior to 1961 were usually quite
dated or foreign. NBC's "Saturday Night at the Movies" on
September 23, 1961 started a new trend. (1) the networks got
rights to broadcast more recent feature films from major
motion picture studios, and (2) the advent of color TV made
these film broadcasts more acceptable to the audience, which
had only seen TV as a black and white delivery medium. After
NBC tried it and succeeded in terms of high ratings, the other
networks soon followed suit with color feature film series.
NBC also used the concept of a Made-for-TV Movie to introduce
a rotating number of series, which could be spun off if they
were successful, via its "NBC Mystery Movie". Another idea
similar to ABC's "Wide World of Entertainment" was the NBC
umbrella title "Big Event" which sometimes contained movies;
"NBC Saturday Night at the Movies" (Fall, 1961)
"NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies" (Fall, 1965)
"NBC Monday Night at the Movies" (Fall, 1968)
"NBC Mystery Movie" [umbrella title for
McCloud, Columbo, McMillan and Wife,
Banacek, Cool Million, Madigan] (Fall, 1971)
"NBC World Premiere Movie" (Winter, 1971)
"NBC Thursday Night at the Movies" (Fall, 1975)
"NBC Movie of the Week" (Fall, 1976)
"The Big Event" [sometimes movies] (Fall, 1976)
"The NBC Late-Night Movie" (Summer, 1977)]
Theme 1: "Saturday Night at the Movies"
[THEME credit verified by collector Gary Stark of
Cleveland with information supplied by NBC-TV...Also:
Klatzkin is credited as the author in the TV Guide article
of April 28, 1962 on THEMES titled "Looking for a Lost Chord?"
on pp.12-13.
MUTEL writers were sometimes "ghost writers" or adapters
who "changed a few notes" of the melody over the original
chord progressions. MUTEL then sent these scores off to be
re-recorded in France. This was to workaround the ASCAP
and/or Musician's Union.
See also Theme #3 below...which may have referred to this
composition, credited to the actual writer...]
Composer: credited to Leon Klatzkin (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: Loma Vista Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
[a div. of the MUTEL Music Service]
1998 Publisher: Loma Vista Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
of Los Angeles, CA
[a div. of the MUTEL Music Service]
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 2: "Saturday Night at the Movies"
Composer: Skitch Henderson (ASCAP)
[professional name of Lyle Russel Henderson]
1978 Publisher: Welzheim Music Corp. (ASCAP)
1998 Publisher: Welzheim Music Corporation (ASCAP),
of New Milford, CT
Copyright Date: May 22, 1963; Eu 774 394.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 3: "Saturday Night at the Movies"
[this may be a revised ASCAP credit for Theme 1 above...
possibly Klatzkin's THEME incorporated a Steiner melody
or his open was edited onto a Steiner melody at the close...
...or MUTEL tried to adapt a Steiner melody by "changing
a few notes" and got caught.]
Composer: Max Steiner (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: Loma Vista Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
[a div. of the MUTEL Music Service]
1998 Publisher: Loma Vista Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
of Los Angeles, CA
[a div. of the MUTEL Music Service]
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 4: "Tuesday and Saturday Movies"
[aka: "Theme III" (??);
Robert William Scott was sometimes known as Robert Kirkland; Don't know
which was the professional name and which was the real name.]
Composer: Robert William Scott (ASCAP)
[aka Robert Kirkland]
1978 Publisher: Spectacular Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
1998 Publisher: EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
c/o EMI Music Publishing
of New York, NY
Composition Date:
[as "Theme III"]:
Copyright Date: Nov. 26, 1956; Eu 457 763.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 5: "Mark in the Evening -- Theme for 'NBC
Sunday Night at the Movies'"
[BMI Title: "Mark in the Evening"]
[aka: "Monday Night at the Movies"]
Composer: Ray Ellis (ASCAP/BMI)
[professional name of Raymond S. Ellis]
1998 Publisher: Living Music, Inc. (BMI)
c/o EMI/Blackwood Music Publishing
of New York, NY
[1st registration (info courtesy contributor T. Perrone)]:
Copyright Date: August 8, 1970; EU 197 765.
Renewal Date:
[2nd registration (may be a new arrangement)]:
Copyright Date: Oct. 2, 1972; EU 362 988.
Renewal Date:
[Published combo arrangement by Bob O'Brien, registered under
the title "Monday Night at the Movies Theme (Hudson Valley)"]:
Copyright Date: Jan. 11, 1973; EP 307 716.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 6: "Mystery Movie Of The Week"
[above is the title as filed for copyright; the ASCAP title
is "Mystery Movie (Signature)", aka: "Mystery Movie Theme",
and "Mystery Movie Main Title"]
Composer: Henry Mancini (ASCAP)
[professional name of Enrico Nicola Mancini]
1978 Publisher: Leeds Music Corp. (ASCAP)
1998 Publisher: MCA/On Backstreet Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
c/o MCA Music Publishing
a division of Universal Studios, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: Oct. 13, 1971; Eu 283 321.
Renewal Date: Jan. 15, 1999; RE-801-021.
Recordings:
Theme 7: "NBC's Mystery Theatre Theme"
Composers: Leroy Leon Pendarvis, Jr. (BMI), and
Joy Carol Sicurella (BMI)
1998 Publisher: Living Music, Inc. (BMI),
c/o EMI Blackwood Music Publishing, of
New York, NY
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 8 (1971): "Theme - NBC World Premiere"
[above is "legal title" as listed in BMI database; ASCAP titles...
aka: "World Premiere Theme";
aka: "World Premiere 12"]
Composer: Billy Goldenberg (ASCAP/BMI)
[professional name of William Leon Goldenberg]
2002 Publisher: Universal-On Backstreet Music (ASCAP)
c/o Universal-MCA Music Publishing
a div. of Universal Studios
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 9 (1976 - 1977): "Theme On The Chimes"
[based upon the 3-note "NBC Chimes" motif, manuscript
information courtesy the composer; probable dates of
use: 1976 - 77]
Composer: Howard L. Shore (ASCAP/BMI)
1998 Publisher: Living Music, Inc. (BMI),
c/o EMI Blackwood Music Publishing, of
New York, NY
Copyright Date: May 12, 1976; EU 674 254.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 10: "Big Event"
[aka: "NBC Movie of the Week"]
[Probable dates of use: 1977 - 79]
Composer: Ray Ellis (ASCAP/BMI)
[professional name of Raymond S. Ellis]
1998 Publisher: Living Music, Inc. (BMI)
c/o EMI Blackwood Music Publishing
of New York, NY
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 11: "NBC Big Event Theme"
Composers: Leroy Leon Pendarvis, Jr. (BMI), and
Joy Carol Sicurella (BMI)
1998 Publisher: Living Music, Inc. (BMI)
c/o EMI Blackwood Music Publishing
of New York, NY
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 12: "NBC LateNight Movie Theme 1979"
Composers: Leroy Leon Pendarvis, Jr. (BMI) and
Joy Carol Sicurella (BMI)
1998 Publisher: Living Music, Inc. (BMI)
c/o EMI Blackwood Music Publishing
of New York, NY
Composition Date: 1979
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THEMEs in the 1980's have been often part of a "promotion music
package" coordinated with the Fall Season promotion campaign;
written by "jingle" companies who produce such packages. These
promotional campaigns have names as follows:
| TV Season |
Promotional Campaign Slogan |
| 1978 - 1979 | NB-See Us! |
| 1979 - 1980 | Proud As a Peacock |
| 1980 - 1981 | Proud As a Peacock II |
| 1981 - 1982 | Our Pride Is Showing |
| 1982 - 1983 | Just Watch Us Now! |
| 1983 - 1984 | Be There |
| 1984 - 1985 | Let's All Be There |
| 1985 - 1986 | Let's All Be There II |
| 1986 - 1987 | Come Home To NBC |
| 1987 - 1988 | Come Home To The Best |
| 1988 - 1989 | Come Home To The Best...Only on NBC |
| 1989 - 1990 | NBC - The Place To Be |
Composer/publisher details of the movie THEMES based on these promotional
music campaigns are incomplete for the years 1980 - present time. The
following are a few that have been identified:
Theme 13: "Movie of the Week Theme (from the 1979
'Proud as a Peacock' promotion campaign)"
[aka: "NBC Movie of the Week Theme"]
[Probable dates of use: 1979 - 81]
Composers: Joey E. Levine (ASCAP) and
Christopher John Palmaro (ASCAP)
Original Publishers: Schwow Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
1998 Publishers: EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
of New York, NY
[as per copyright form, "creation date"]:
Composition Date: 1979
[filed as "Proud as a Peacock"]:
Copyright Date: June 4, 1979; PAu-109-921.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 14: Movie Theme (from the 1981 'Our Pride
is Showing' promotion campaign)"
[Probable dates of use: 1981 - 83
National Broadcasting Company, claimant;
Sherman & Kahan Associates, Inc., employer for hire.]
Composer: Gerry Sherman (ASCAP) [aka in ASCAP DB: "Garry Sherman"]
Original Publishers: Sherman & Kahan Associates, Inc. (ASCAP)
1998 Publishers: EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
of New York, NY
[as per copyright form, "creation date"]:
Composition Date: 1981
[as "Our Pride is Showing"]:
Copyright Date: July 15, 1982; SR-44-767.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 15 (1984 - 1986): "Movie Theme (from the 'Let's All
Be There' promotion campaign)"
[Alternate ASCAP titles are...
aka: "Let's All Be There (NBC Promo)" by David Lubell Buskin
aka: "NBC Promo (Be There)" by Rob Mounsey;
Probable dates of use: 1984 - 86;
National Broadcasting Company, copyright claimant and
employer for hire]
Composers: music by David Lubell Buskin (ASCAP), and
arranged by Rob Mounsey (ASCAP)
Original Publishers: Spectacular Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
1998 Publishers: [none found...but probably:]
EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP),
c/o EMI Music Publishing of
New York, NY
[as per copyright form, "creation date"]:
Composition Date: 1984
[filed as "Let's All Be There (1984)"]:
Copyright Date: July 17, 1987; PA-341-174.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Theme 16 (1987 - 1990): "Movie Theme (from the 'Come Home
To N B C' promotion campaign)"
[Alternate ASCAP title
aka: "Come Home to NBC (NBC Promo)" [no composer listed];
NOTE: There was also an ASCAP credit for David Lubell Buskin
under the title "Come On Home 1987 (NBC)"...so it's possible
that he and arranger Rob Mounsey were involved in expanding
this package since the style of orchestration of the Movie
THEME is very similar to the 1984 package...but only the
two composers below (part of "The Landau Music Group" of
Topanga, CA) are credited on the copyright below...]
[Probable dates of use: 1987 - 89]
Composers: Russ Mitchell Landau (ASCAP) and
Michael Kessler (not affiliated)
2001 Publishers: [none found...but probably:]
EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP),
c/o EMI Music Publishing of
New York, NY
[as per copyright form, "creation date"]:
Composition Date: 1987
Copyright Date [as "Come Home To N B C"]:
March 25, 1987; PAu-944-810.
Recordings:
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