Who Began Integrating Theme Songs Into Television?
The tune is catchy. It has a hook that can reel you in like a fish on a line. You find yourself humming it out loud in public without meaning to. I am talking about t.v. theme songs. In some instances, the music becomes more popular that the show itself. But, who’s idea was it anyways to pair music and telelvison?
There is no one person that can take the credit for the invention of the television theme song. In the late 40s and 50s, most t.v. theme songs were instrumental pieces witten by unknown artists. The first recognizable song was the William Tell Overture. When you heard the opening notes, you had to ask yourself, ” Who was that masked man?”
Certain instrumentals will forever be linked to cowboys while others fly high with superheros. In the 60s, there was a surge of jazz music that went hand and hand with cop and detective shows. It was in the mid to late sixties that lyrical styles took over for jazz intros and the backstory got worked into the theme for sitcoms. Just sit right back.
Whatever the reason, theme songs seem to be a thing of the past. Those were the days.