[This series was sponsored by Rheingold Beer which, despite its
Wagnerian opera name, was brewed in a little brewery located in
Brooklyn, NY; and which tried to use the early medium of
TV to get a little respect -- or "brand recognition" at least;
TV hosts were prominent film stars -- first Henry Fonda and
later Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.; a number of quality productions
were mounted with actors like Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy,
and Dame Judith Anderson;
The Fairbanks-hosted episodes were from a British syndicated
series called "Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents" which had been
produced by Fairbanks and syndicated in the U. S. since 1953;
But apparently the sponsorship of this prestige series didn't
increase Beer sales enough within its distribution area, so
unfortunately for network viewers, this live anthology series
only lasted one season; it is fondly remembered by many however.]
(NBC Primetime, 1955 - 1956)
[aka: "Estudiantina Valse, Opus 191, No. 4 (The Students' Waltz)";
The Beer jingle with a lyric by an unknown ad agent, used
the melody of this famous light-classical waltz tune. The
lyric was, "My beer is Rheingold the dry beer. Think of
Rheingold whenever you buy beer. It's not bitter, not
sweet, it's the extra dry treat -- Won't you try extra
dry Rheingold beer?" The melody of this old European
waltz tune was the memorable part used as the TV THEME...
Ironic that this melody, which some may remember as the
quintessential German Beer Hall tune (images of people with
swaying cups all singing in unison) is actually of FRENCH,
rather than German, origin; and was known as a French student
song at first, then became famous as a piano duet, before
it ever was heard in its now-familiar orchestral setting;
The tune was composed by a pair of obscure French composers,
the tune itself by Paul Lacome (1838 - 1920); But ironically
it is often incorrectly attributed to the man who arranged
it in a rollicking Strauss-like arrangement for two pianos --
named Emile ("Emil") Waldteufel (1837 - 1915);
Waldteufel included it in a set of tunes arranged for 2 pianos,
published under his own Opus number, which blurred the issue
of authorship right down to the present day;
Waldteufel's arrangement was later orchestrated, and it is in
that form, that it is most well known to modern ears -- often
played on pop symphony orchestra concerts.]
Composers: music by Paul Lacome (predates ASCAP & BMI), with
French lyric by J. de Lau Lusignan (predates ASCAP & BMI),
arranged & adapted by Emile Charles ("Emil") Waldteufel
(predates ASCAP & BMI)
Orig. Publisher: Enoch Frères et Costallat, Paris, France
2001 Publishers: [in the Public Domain]
Original French Copyright Date [by Lacome & de La Lusignan]:
Dec. 22, 1881
2-piano French Copyright Date [by Waldteufel]: April 14, 1883
Rheingold Jingle Copyright Date: [under investigation]
Rheingold Jingle Renewal Date: [under investigation]
Recordings: