Saturday, August 1, 2009

They don't make 'em like this anymore

Who’d’ve thought that here in darkly verdant Portland, Ore. (and yes, Ross, Darkly Verdant is my P.I. name as well as my drag name) we’d be grateful to see summer temps drop down to the mid-90s.

You can bop over to Il Mio Gelato, you can hide out in the cinemas or spend the day in a clawfoot tub. But for me, nothing refreshes like music – specifically, the sprightly, even groovy, jazz-inflected scores of 60s TV shows. In an era when TV themes are disappearing altogether (tried humming the theme to Lost recently?), it may astonish you to learn what networks once spent on this de rigeur feature. Feast your ears.











11 comments:

Marlene said...

Oh, Man from U.N.C.L.E. - yes yes yes! Was sooo in love with Ilya!

Marlene said...

Others with great themes were "I Spy"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdvSD_lezvM

Hawai'i 5.0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AepyGm9Me6w

and, of course, best of all, "The Avengers"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvmgrnsaE1U&feature=related

David Loftus said...

I'm not going to hunt up links, but I always loved "Perry Mason" and "Get Smart." Oh yeah, "Mission Impossible" was a famous one, too.

Mead said...

Not to mention Lost in Space (both themes) and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Never warmed up to Land of the Giants, but it did have a semi-groovy theme.

MightyToyCannon said...

All excellent selections. May I also suggest the opening sequence of "The Prisoner" -- a fabulous musical theme combined with filmic storytelling at its best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AL7npkSXZE

Steve Patterson said...

And a vote for "Hawaii Five-O" for the terrific surf guitar riff.

Sharon said...

I've got to second The Prisoner!

Steve Patterson said...

Musical/TV trivia question I've always wondered about: anybody know what that wonderful piece of R&B is that's played at the close of Saturday Night Live? I've always loved that tune, but I have no idea whether it's an established tune or something Paul Shaeffer wrote for the program. That song always brings back some seriouly good times.

Thanks,

S

Unknown said...

I just have to make my case for "The Patty Duke Show" theme...well, I don't have to make the case, because it's perfect.

Unknown said...

oh, and in case you don't know the perfect Patty Duke theme...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQTqKcojrVY

Steve Patterson said...

Well, I went and answered my own question: the closing music for SNL was "Closing Theme (A Waltz In A)" by SNL's original music director, Howard Shore. And, because I'm nuts, of course I had to write about it: http://splattworks.blogspot.com/2009/08/looking-for-heart-of-saturday-night.html