compiled by Judy Harris
Visit my homepage at http://judyharris.net/index.htm
or E-mail me at foosie@bestweb.net
I had not been exposed to Internet for very long before I evolved the idea that the Internet could be a repository for the memories of transient things, like Broadway shows, which leave only an original cast recording (if they are musicals), a program, a playbill and some photos when they are gone.
I have had many pleasant E-mail "conversations" with people of approximately my age, from the UK and the US, about old TV shows, and it made me hunt up some lyrics I had written down when I was younger and even more compulsive than I currently am.
So, I display for anyone who is interested the following lyrics to old TV theme songs, and if you have compiled any lyrics to old shows and would like to have me link them, please contact me with the URLs.
If you have Real Audio, here are some links to audio versions of a bunch of TV theme songs:
PLEASE NOTE: In some cases, these are not shows I was a great fan of; it is the theme songs which I liked.
The order of these lyrics is rather haphazard; I'm normally a button-down alphabetic/chronologic kind of person, but I just don't feel impelled to put these shows in that kind of order, so here is an alphabetic list of the lyrics you will find below:
ADDAMS FAMILY, THE BOURBON STREET BEAT BRONCO CAR 54, WHERE ARE YOU? CHEYENNE FIREBALL XL5 GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE GILLIGAN'S ISLAND HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL HAWAIIAN EYE LAWMAN LONE RANGER, THE MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS MAVERICK MR. ED PATTY DUKE SHOW, THE ROARING TWENTIES ROBIN HOOD 77 SUNSET STRIP SUGARFOOT SUPER CHICKEN SUPERGRAN SUPERMAN SURFSIDE SIX WAGON TRAIN WYATT EARP YANCY DERRINGER Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear...
ROARING TWENTIES 1960-1962, ABC
The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh lists this as a "newspaper drama" which is more than I remember.
Click here for the theme song.
| Scott Norris | Rex Reason |
| Pat Garrison | Donald May |
| Pinky Pinkham | Dorothy Provine |
| Chris Higbee | Gary Vinson |
| Jim Duke Williams | John Dehner |
| Lt. Joe Switolski | Mike Road |
| Robert Howard | James Flavin |
Roaring Twenties, Roaring Twenties.
How'd ya do, I'm takin' you to The Roaring Twenties For a true bird's-eye-view Of the Roaring Twenties. Come with me to the melody Of the Charleston and Jazz. Yes-sir-ree, I'll have you dancin' with Flappers, Finger Snappers. What a ball, Broadway playboys And playdolls, gaydolls. See them all: Racketeers And their gunmolls, funmolls. Prohibition and bathtub gin. If Bennie sent you, you walk right in To a Speak Easy, Speak Easy. Come along to the song Of the Roaring Twenties The wild and restless, never boring Rousing, roaring, Speak Easy, Speak Easy Super dooper, frizzle frazzle Hoop de doo and razzle dazzle Roaring, soaring Twenties.
YANCY DERRINGER Action/Adventure 1958-1959 CBS
Click here to hear the theme song.
| Yancy Derringer | Jock Mahoney |
| Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah | X. Brands |
| John Colton | Kevin Hagen |
| Amanda Eaton | Julie Adams |
| Madame Francine | Frances Bergen |
They sing of Yancey Derringer On every danger trail, On riverboat, in manor house And now and then in jail. They say that Yancy Derringer Had ruffles at his wrists, Brocade and silver buckles And iron in his fists. Yancy, Yancy Derringer, Yancy, Yancy Derringer In every tale of derring do They tell of Yancy D.
WAGON TRAIN Western 1957-1965
| Major Seth Adams | Ward Bond |
| Flint McCullough | Robert Horton |
| Bill Hawks | Terry Wilson |
| Charlie Wooster | Frank McGrath |
| Duke Shannon | Scott Miller |
| Christopher Hale | John McIntire |
| Barnaby West | Michael Burns |
| Cooper Smith | Robert Fuller |
Roll along, Wagon Train. Rollin' over prairie where there ain't no grass, Rollin' over mountains where there ain't no pass. Sittin' on a board eyin' the weather, Prayin' to the Lord we stay together, Side by side on the Wagon Train. Wagon Train, roll along. Pickin' up a passenger in every town, Wonderin' if he's ever gonna shoot you down. Lookin' for a town, ain't it a pity. Lookin' for a gal, needn't be pretty, If she'll ride on the Wagon Train. Wagon ho! Gotta keep them on the run. Wagon ho! Gotta follow the sun.
77 SUNSET STRIP by Mack David and Jerry Livingston
Click here to hear this theme.
Detective Drama 1958-1965 ABC
| Stuart Bailey | Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. |
| Jeff Spencer | Roger Smith |
| Gerald Lloyd Kookson, III ("Kookie") | Edd Byrnes |
| Roscoe | Louis Quinn |
| Suzanne Fabray | Jacqueline Beer |
| Lt. Gilmore | Byron Keith |
| Rex Randolph | Richard Long |
| J. R. Hale | Robert Logan |
| Hannah | Joan Staley |
77 Sunset Strip! 77 Sunset Strip! 77 Sunset Strip! The street that wears the fancy label, That's glorified in song and fable, The most exciting people pass you by Including a private eye. 77 Sunset Strip! 77 Sunset Strip! 77 Sunset Strip! You'll meet the highbrow and the hipster, The starlet and the phony tipster, You'll meet most every kind of gal and guy Including a private eye. 77 Sunset Strip! 77 Sunset Strip! 77 Sunset Strip!
GILLIGAN'S ISLAND by George Wyle and Sherwood Schwartz
Click here for the Gilligan theme.
Situation Comedy 1964-1967 CBS
| Gilligan | Bob Denve |
| Jonas Grumby (The Skipper) | Alan Hale, Jr. |
| Thurston Howell, III | Jim Backus |
| Mrs. Lovey Howell | Natalie Schafer |
| Ginger Grant | Tina Louise |
| Roy Hinkley (The Professor) | Russell Johnson |
| Mary Ann Summers | Dawn Wells |
Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful trip That started from this tropic port Aboard this tiny ship. The mate was a mighty sailing man; The skipper brave and sure. Five passengers set sail that day For a three hour tour--a three hour tour. The weather started getting rough; The tiny ship was tossed. If not for the courage of the fearless crew, The Minnow would be lost--the Minnow would be lost. The ship set ground on the shore of this Unchartered desert isle, With Gilligan, the Skipper, too, A millionaire, and his wife, A movie star, the Professor and Mary Ann Here on Gilligan's Isle. Now this is the tale of the castaways They're here for a long, long time. They'll have to make the best of things It's an uphill climb. The first mate and his skipper too Will do their very best To make the others comfortable In the tropic island nest. No phones no lights, no motor cars, Not a single luxury Like Robinson Crusoe, It's primitive as can be. So join us here each week, my friend, You're sure to get a smile From seven stranded castaways Here on Gilligan's Isle.
MR. ED Situation Comedy 1961-1965 CBS
Click here for the Mr. Ed theme.
| Wilbur Post | Alan Young |
| Carol Post | Connie Hines |
| Roger Addison | Larry Keating |
| Kay Addison | Edna Skinner |
| Gordon Kirkwood | Leon Ames |
| Winnie Kirkwood | Florence MacMichael |
| Voice of Mr. Ed | Alan "Rocky" Lane |
A horse is a horse, of course, of course, And no one can talk to a horse, of course, That is, of course, unless the horse Is the famous Mr. Ed. Go right to the source and ask the horse. He'll give you the answer that you'll endorse. He's always on a steady course. Talk to Mr. Ed. People yackety yack a streak And waste your time of day. But Mr. Ed will never speak Unless he has something to say. A horse is a horse, of course, of course, And this one will talk till his voice is hoarse. You never heard of a talking horse? Well, listen to this: "I am Mr. Ed."
LAWMAN Western 1958-1962 ABC
Click here to play the LAWMAN theme.
| Marshall Dan Troop | John Russell |
| Deputy Johnny McKay | Peter Brown |
| Dru Lemp | Bek Nelson |
| Lily Merrill | Peggy Castle |
| Jake | Dan Sheridan |
Lawman! Lawman! The Lawman came with the sun. There was a job to be done, And so they sent for the badge and the gun Of the Lawman. And as he silently rode Where evil violently flowed They knew he'd live or he'd die by the code Of the Lawman. A man who rides all alone And all that he'll ever own Is just a badge and a gun, and he's known As the Lawman.
MAVERICK Western 1961-1962 ABC
Click here to hear the theme song.
| Bret Maverick | James Garner |
| Bart Maverick | Jack Kelly |
| Samantha Crawford | Diane Brewster |
| Cousin Beauregard Maverick | Roger Moore |
| Brent Maverick | Robert Colbert |
Who is the tall dark stranger there?
Maverick is the name Ridin' the trail to who knows where, Luck is his companion, Gamblin' is his game. Smooth as a handle on a gun, Maverick is the name Wild as the wind in Oregon Blowin' up a canyon, Easier to tame. Riverboat, ring your bell. Fare-thee-well, Annabelle. Luck is the lady that he loves the best. Natchez to New Orleans, Livin' on jacks and queens, Maverick is a legend of the West.
HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL by Johnny Western, Richard Boone and Sam Rolfe
Click here to hear this theme
Western 1957-1963 CBS
| Paladin | Richard Boone |
| Hey Boy | Kam Tong |
| Hey Girl | Lisa Lu |
Have Gun, Will Travel Reads the card of a man, A knight without armor In a savage land. His fast gun for hire Heeds the calling wind. A soldier of fortune Is the man called Paladin. Paladin, Paladin, Where do you roam? Paladin, Paladin, Far, far from home.
SUPERMAN 1951-1957 syndicated
Click here for the Superman opening.
| Superman/Clark Kent | George Reeves |
| Lois Lane | Phyllis Coates |
| Lois Lane | Noel Neill |
| Jimmy Olson | Jack Larson |
| Perry White | John Hamilton |
| Inspector William Henderson | Robert Shayne |
Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman! Yes, it's Superman, strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman! Who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights the never ending battle for truth, justice and the American way!
(OK, so this is not a theme song, but I remember it from my youth and it brings me pleasure!)
THE LONE RANGER Western 1959-1957 ABC
Click here for the LONE RANGER opening.
| The Lone Ranger | Clayton Moore |
| Tonto | Jay Silverheels |
A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-yo, Silver! The Lone Ranger! With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early West. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear... The Lone Ranger rides again!
BOURBON STREET BEAT Detective Drama 1959-1960 ABC
Click here to hear the theme song.
| Cal Calhoun | Andrew Duggan |
| Rex Randolph | Richard Long |
| Melody Lee Mercer | Arlene Howell |
| Kenny Madison | Van Williams |
Bourbon Street Beat! Bourbon Street Beat! There is a throb And a wail and a sob in the beat Of Bourbon Street. Bourbon Street Beat! Bourbon Street Beat! The heart throb you find When you're beatin' behind the scenes In New Orleans. This is your theme, The music for a man who thinks to a dream A painted dream that comes apart at the seam: This is the blues. Bourbon Street Beat! Bourbon Street Beat! Yesterday's sorrow And hope for tomorrow Will meet to the beat Of Bourbon Street.
SURFSIDE SIX Detective Drama 1960-62 ABC
Even back in 1960, when I was only 13, the appeal of this theme song was that it was so awful.
Click here for the SURFSIDE SIX theme.
| Ken Madison | Van Williams |
| Dave Thorne | Lee Patterson |
| Sandy Winfield II | Troy Donahue |
| Daphne Dutton | Diane McBain |
| Cha Cha O'Brien | Margarita Sierra |
| Lt. Snedigar | Donald Barry |
| Lt. Gene Plehan | Richard Crane |
| Mousie | Mousie Garner |
Surfside Six! What's that? Surfside Six! An address? Surfside Six! Where is it? In Miami Beach. Surfside Six! Who lives there? Surfside Six! Young bachelors? Surfside Six! And where is it? In Miami Beach. Soft guitars under the stars They can lead you to another's arms. See the waves kissing the shore While you are kissing someone you adore. Surfside Six! It's an address? Surfside Six! For a houseboat? Surfside Six! And where is it? In Miami Beach.
THE MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS Situation Comedy 1959-1963 CBS
Click here for Real Audio version.
| Dobie Gills | Dwayne Hickman |
| Maynard G. Krebs | Bob Denver |
| Herbert T. Gillis | Frank Faylen |
| Winifred (Winnie) Gills | Florida Friebus |
| Zelda Gilroy | Sheila James |
| Thalia Menninger | Tuesday Weld |
| Milton Armitage | Warren Beatty |
| Riff Ryan | Tommy Farrell |
| Melissa Frome | Yvonne Lime |
| Davey Gillis | Darryl Hickman |
| Mr. Leander Pomfritt | William Schallert |
| Clarice Armitage | Doris Packer |
| Mrs. Blossom Kenney | Marjorie Bennett |
| Mrs. Chatsworth Osborne, Sr. | Doris Packer |
| Chatsworth Osborne, Jr. | Steve Franken |
| Mrs. Ruth Adams | Jean Byron |
| Dr. Burkhart | Jean Byron |
| Dean Magruder | Raymond Bailey |
| Duncan Gillis | Bobby Diamond |
| Lt. Merriweather | Richard Clair |
Dobie! Dobie! Dobie: Wants a gal who's dreamy. Dobie: Wants a gal who's creamy.
Dobie: Wants a gal to call his own. Is she blond, is she tall, Is she dark, is she small, Is she any kind of dream boat at all?
No matter, he's hers and hers alone, 'Cause Dobie has to have a girl to call his own.
Dobie!
HAWAIIAN EYE Detective Drama 1959-1963 ABC
Click here to hear the theme song.
| Tom Lopaka | Bob Conrad |
| Tracy Steele | Anthony Eisley |
| Cricket Blake | Connie Stevens |
| Kazuo Kim | Poncie Ponce |
| Greg MacKenzie | Grant Williams |
| Quon | Mel Prestidge |
| Moke | Doug Mossman |
| Philip Barton | Troy Donahue |
Hawaiian Eye! Hawaiian Eye! Hawaiian Eye! The soft island breeze Brings you strange melodies And they tell of exotic mysteries Under the tropical spell of: Hawaiian Eye! Hawaiian Eye! Hawaiian Eye! Where love and adventure await. This is your fate And you cannot stray from-- You can't run away from: Hawaiian Eye! Hawaiian Eye! Hawaiian Eye! Eye! THE ADDAMS FAMILY Situation Comedy 1964-1966 ABC Click here for ADDAMS FAMILY theme.
| Morticia Frump Addams | Carolyn Jones |
| Gomez Addams | John Astin |
| Uncle Fester Frump | Jackie Coogan |
| Lurch | Ted Cassidy |
| Grandmama Addams | Blossom Rock |
| Pugsley Addams | Ken Weatherwax |
| Wednesday Friday Addams | Lisa Loring |
| Cousin Itt | Felix Silla |
| Thing | Ted Cassidy |
CAR 54, WHERE ARE YOU?
Situation Comedy 1961-1963 NBC
Click here
to hear the theme song.
| Officer Gunther Toody | Joe E. Ross |
| Officer Francis Muldoon | Fred Gwynne |
| Lucille Toody | Bea Pons |
| Captain Martin Block | Paul Reed |
| Officer O'Hara | Albert Henderson |
| Officer Anderson | Nipsey Russell |
| Officer Antonnucci | Jerome Guardino |
| Officer Riley | Duke Farley |
| Officer Murdock | Shelley Burton |
| Officer Steinmetz | Joe Warren |
| Officer Leo Schnauser | Al Lewis |
| Officer Kissel | Bruce Kirby |
| Officer Ed Nicholson | Hank Garrett |
| Officer Nelson | Jim Gormley |
| Sylvia Schnauser | Charlotte Rae |
| Officer Wallace | Frederick O'Neal |
There's a hold-up in the Bronx, Brooklyn's broken out in fights, There's a traffic jam in Harlem That's backed up to Jackson Heights. There's a Scout troop short a child, Khrushchev's due at Idlewyld, Car 54, where are you?
SUPER CHICKEN (Music by Stan Worth; lyrics by Sheldon Allman) Only 17 episodes were ever made 1967-68.
Click here for the SUPER CHICKEN theme.
| Super Chicken | Bill Scott |
| Fred | Paul Frees |
| Narrator | Paul Frees |
| Other Voices | June Foray, Daws Butler |
When you find yourself in dangerWhen you're threatened by a stranger When it looks like you might take a lickin' (Buck buck buck buck) There is one thing you should learn When there is no one else to turn to C-a-l-l for Superchicken! Fred, if you're afraid you'll have to overlook it! Besides you knew the job was dang'rous when you took it. He will drink his supersauce And throw the bad guys for a loss And he will bring them in alive and kickin' (Buck buck buck buck) There is one thing you should learn When there is no one else to turn to C-a-l-l for Superchicken! (Buck buck buck buck) C-a-l-l for Superchicken! (Buck buck!)
GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE (Music by Stan Worth; lyrics by Sheldon Allman) Only 17 episodes were ever made 1967-68.
| George | Bill Scott |
| Ursula | June Foray |
| Ape | Paul Frees |
| District Commissioner | Paul Frees |
| Narrator | Paul Frees |
Click here for Real Audio version.
George, George, George of the Jungle, Strong as he can be. Ah-ah-ah-ah! Watch out for that tree! George, George, George of the Jungle, Lives a life that's free. Ah-ah-ah-ah! Watch out for that tree! When he gets in a scrape He makes his escape With the help of his friend, An ape named Ape. Then away he'll schlep On his elephant Shep While Fella and Ursula Stay in step W-i-t-h George, George, George of the Jungle, Friend to you and me. Ah-ah-ah-ah Watch out for that tree! Watch out for that----tree! George, George, George of the Jungle, Friend to you and me! ROBIN HOOD Adventure 1955-1958 CBS Click here for the ROBIN HOOD theme.
| Robin Hood | Richard Greene |
| Maid Marian | Bernadette O'Farrell |
| Maid Marian | Patricia Driscoll |
| Sir Richard | Ian Hunter |
| Friar Tuck | Alexander Gauge |
| Little John | Archie Duncan |
| Little John | Rufus Cruikshank |
| Sheriff of Nottingham | Alan Wheatley |
| Prince John | Donald Pleasence |
SUGARFOOT Western 1957-1961 ABC
Click here to play theme.
| Tom "Sugarfoot" Brewster | Will Hutchins |
Sugarfoot, Sugarfoot, Easy-lopin', cattle-ropin' Sugarfoot, Carefree as the tumbleweeds
Ajoggin' along with a heart full of song And a rifle and a volume of the Law.
Sugarfoot, Sugarfoot,
Never underestimate a Sugarfoot.
Once you get his dander up
Ain't no one who's quicker on the draw.
You'll find him on the side of law and order From the Mexicali border To the rolln' hills of Arkansas. Oh, Sugarfoot, Sugarfoot Easy-lopin', cattle-ropin' Sugarfoot Ridin' down to cattle town Ajoggin' along with a heart full of song And a rifle and a volume of the Law. (thanks to Jeffrey Northrup for corrections to this!)
CHEYENNE 1955-1963 ABC Click here to play the CHEYENNE theme.
| Cheyenne Bodie | Clint Walker |
| Smitty | L.Q. Jones |
| Bronco Layne | Ty Hardin |
| Wyatt Earp | Hugh O'Brian |
| Bat Masterson | Mason Alan Dinehart, III |
| Ben Thompson | Denver Pyle |
| Bill Thompson | Hal Baylor |
| Abbie Crandall | Gloria Talbot |
| Marsh Murdock | Don Haggerty |
| Doc Fabrique | Douglas Fowley |
| Ned Buntline | Lloyd Corrigan |
| Jim "Dog" Kelly | Paul Brinegar |
| Jim "Dog" Kelly | Ralph Sanford |
| Mayor Hoover | Selmer Jackson |
| Deputy Hal Norton | William Tannen |
| Doc Holliday | Douglas Fowley |
| Doc Holliday | Myron Healy |
| Kate Holliday | Carol Stone |
| Shotgun Gibbs | Morgan Woodward |
| Virgil Earp | John Anderson |
| Nellie Cashman | Randy Stuart |
| Old Man Clanton | Trevor Bardette |
| Emma Clanton | Carol Thurston |
| Sheriff Johnny Behan | Lash LaRue |
| Sheriff Johnny Behan | Steve Brodie |
| Curley Bill Brocius | William Phipps |
| Johnny Ringo | Britt Lomond |
| Mayor Clum | Stacy Harris |
| Doc Goodfellow | Damian O'Flynn |
| Morgan Earp | Dick London |
| Patty/Cathy Lane | Patty Duke |
| Martin Lane | William Schallert |
| Natalie Masters | Jean Byron |
| Ross Lane | Paul O'Keefe |
| Richard Harrison | Eddie Applegate |
| J.R. Castle | John McGiver |
| Nicki Lee | Susan Melvin |
| Sue Ellen | Kitty Sullivan |
| Ted | Skip Hinnant |
| Maggie | Alberta Grant |
| Gloria | Kelly Wood |
| Eileen | Ann Alford |
| Roz | Robyn Miller |
SUPERGRAN TyneTees TV Children's Fantasy Sitcom 1985 Click here to hear the theme.
| Supergran | Gudrun Ure |
| Scunner Campbell | Ian Cuthbertson |
| Willard | Iam Towell |
| Edison | Holly English |
| Inventor Black | Bill Shine |
| Tub | Lee Marshall |
| Postie | Peter Sowerbutts |
| Steve Zodiac | Paul Maxwell |
| Professor Matic | David Graham |
| Venus | Sylvia Anderson |
| Lieutenant Ninety | David Graham |
| Robert the Robot | Gerry Anderson |
| Zoonie | David Graham |
| Commander Zero | John Bluthal |
| John Drake | Patrick McGoohan |