My co-workers and I were talking about old TV shows at lunch. Remember how the TV dramas of the 50s and 60s used to have voice-over introductions at the beginning of each episode? Some of these were pretty cool, and really set the mood. Some have become classics. Seems like few modern TV shows have these intros anymore (Law and Order is one exception.) Wonder why?

Because it was one of favorite shows as a kid, I like the opening sequence of "Ben Casey." Where the hand writes the symbols on the blackboard, and Sam Jaffe's voice says, "Man....woman...birth...death...infinity."


http://www.vinceedwards.tv/casey1.html

That curling wave on "Hawaii 5-0" that appears with no sound for just an instant before the theme song kicks in. That, my friends, is beautiful.

Ken

I Spy -- sillhouettes of them playing tennis transitioning James-Bond style to them holding guns, all very stylistically done.

Any Quinn-Martin production like The Fugitive,Cannon etc

Wasn't it Outer Limits that started out: "Do not adjust your set...we will control the horizontal...we will control the vertical..."

"Another challenge for the Green Hornet, his aid Kato, and their rolling arsenal the Black Beauty. On Police records a wanted criminal, the Green Hornet is really Britt Reid, owner-publisher of the Daily Sentinel, his dual identity known only to his secretary and the district attorney. And now, to protect the rights and lives of decent citizens, rides THE GREEN HORNET" {Green Hornet theme played by Al Hirt starts}

The narration is by William Dozier, producer of the show, who also narrated Batman. Awesome stuff!

Wasn't it Outer Limits that started out: "Do not adjust your set...we will control the horizontal...we will control the vertical..."

"Little did John Kent know as he slipped behind the wheel that day, that his truck had become his ticket to (swell music) the Twilight Zone..."

Out of the blue of the western sky.......

Out of the blue of the western sky.......

Was that Sky King?

Yup

I'm still trying to identify the march used in the old 50s Tvshow,"Rin Tin Tin".

I love the opening of "The Incredible Hulk" very much!

Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.

The Six Dollar Man on Sesame St was a great take-off of that... :D

"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 Western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver."

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/dressed/bek019.gif

That, dear friends is sheer poetry.

Ooohhhh, running home from school to sit in front of the big ol' b&w.

"Hi-yo Silver, awaaayyyyy!"

Sniffle...

That curling wave on "Hawaii 5-0" that appears with no sound for just an instant before the theme song kicks in. That, my friends, is beautiful

A particular favorite of mine as well since my handsome mug would invariably appear.

I have the original soundtrack if you are interested. I will even autograph it for you. :yes:

"Space...

...the final frontier. These are the voyages of..."

"This is the city. Los Angeles, California. I work here. I carry a badge. My name's Friday..."

That curling wave on "Hawaii 5-0" that appears with no sound for just an instant before the theme song kicks in. That, my friends, is beautiful.

Ken

Heck, the theme song itself was pretty good, too! Makes a great piece to get your legs moving in a gym... :banana:

But that curling wave? Um, OUCH! Surfed there once in the late seventies. in the off season. Dislocated my shoulder, trying not to get drowned by the undertow. No one had told me WHY they only surf there for half the year, but I figured it out pretty fast after that experience. :no:

They also used the curling wave right after a usually suspensful moment and before the commercial break. Very ominous. But the premise itself was omninous- nefariousness and evil in paradise.

I think Horatio Kane (David Caruso) in CSI Miami is a direct theft of my legendary character and alter ego in Hawaii 5-0.

1) "there is nothing wrong with your television"
2) Johnny River's singing "There's a man who leads a life of danger, To everyone he meets, he stays a stranger, With every move he makes, another chance he takes, Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow
3) Johnny Cash singing "Johnny Yuma was a rebel, He roamed through the West. Did Johnny Yuma, The Rebel. He wandered alone. He got fighting mad, this rebel lad, He packed no star and he wandered far, Where the only law was a hook and draw, The Rebel. Away, away, away rode The Rebel. "
Elvis originally sang the theme but the shows producer prefered the way Cash did it.

"Another challenge for the Green Hornet, his aid Kato, and their rolling arsenal the Black Beauty. On Police records a wanted criminal, the Green Hornet is really Britt Reid, owner-publisher of the Daily Sentinel, his dual identity known only to his secretary and the district attorney. And now, to protect the rights and lives of decent citizens, rides THE GREEN HORNET" {Green Hornet theme played by Al Hirt starts}

The narration is by William Dozier, producer of the show, who also narrated Batman. Awesome stuff!

The Green Hornet theme was actually "Flight of the Bumblebee" played by Al Hirt. :thmbsp:

Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.

Sounds like AK'ers...

Kenwood, receiver. A unit barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the technology. We have De-oxit!

A particular favorite of mine as well since my handsome mug would invariably appear.Hey, did you know that Traci Lords named herself after you?

She added an "S".

Amongst other things. :D

I just loved the opening theme song by Nilsson for: "The courtship of Eddies father"

Another cool opening was "The Rockford Files". The theme music was always kicked off with a few moments of funny dialouge.


Russ

The Green Hornet theme was actually "Flight of the Bumblebee" played by Al Hirt. :thmbsp:

Sorry to tell you, but Nada!
Flight of the Bumblebee was used for the Green Hornet radio shows. The soundtrack for the tv show was done by Billy May. There is some FOTBB influence there, but it is a completely different, but VERY cool, piece of music. One of my prize possessions is the original soundtrack album.
There are references all over the interweb about FOTBB being the TV theme. I need to get on Wikipedia sometime and change it there too!

Thanks for some cool flashbacks:

That "Outer Limits" : "Do not adjust your set, we control the vertical, we control the horizontal..." used to freak me out when I was about 7 years old. My dad finally explained it was just an o-scope trace -- showed me one -- and not to worry. That show regularly used to send me hiding behind the couch. Had quite an over-active imagination in those days...

Sky King! What an opening it had.

And of course, Hawaii 5-0 with its Ventures opening and scanty (for '60s) clothes girls.

If you were a Superman fan (who wasn't?) its opening was mighty impressive. I want to go see "Hollywoodland" which is a movie about typecast George Reeves who played Superman and died under mysterious circumstances.

Hasn't anyone mentioned the campy (and repetitious) opening theme to "Batman" with Adam West, or the "Monkees" : "Here we come, walking down the street..." Stupid shows, but huge in the '60s.

I still get warm 'n' fuzzy over the Black Beauty....it's basically a Mopar version of the suicide-door Lincoln, a guy named Elwood Engel designed both of 'em. A review of all of the American luxocars at the time said the '65 Imperial was really the best of the lot. But yeah, that jazzy music, & the Black Beauty..Oh, man...<grin>

I still get warm 'n' fuzzy over the Black Beauty....it's basically a Mopar version of the suicide-door Lincoln, a guy named Elwood Engel designed both of 'em. A review of all of the American luxocars at the time said the '65 Imperial was really the best of the lot. But yeah, that jazzy music, & the Black Beauty..Oh, man...<grin>

There is some really interesting info on the web about the Black Beauty. I have always wanted to get an Imperial of that vintage. That car totally changed my desire for cars. Maybe that is why I drive an Olds 98 (last traditional AMERICAN looking sedan that GM put out.) and LOVE fender skirts.
As an interesting aside, a lot of people credit George Barris with the design, as he did the Batmobile for the other superhero show of the time. However, it was actually the great Dean Jeffries who did the work. While Jeffries is arguably the greatest customizer of his time, he was apparently a total wacko and a pain to deal with. Not that unusual amongst great artists....

Naked City, an amazingly smart, sophisticated detective show from 1958 always ended each episode with:

"There are eight million stories in the Naked City. This has been one of them."

Not TV, but I have always liked this one... Click the old radio on the right.

http://www.radiohof.org/adventuredrama/cbsradio.html

CBS Radio Mystery Theatre, hosted by E. G. Marshall.

Miami Vice.

Flamingos, babes in bikinis, cigarette boats (no doubt running cocaine AND bikini babes!) and Crockett and Tubbs in the Ferrari Daytona Spyder all overlaid with that great themesong! Whew! Now that's a mood-setter!

Although y'all were in diapers, maybe you remember the theme to Peter Gunn. That set a mood, too.

Naked City, an amazingly smart, sophisticated detective show from 1958

The 1948 film noir that inspired it, down to the ending phrase, was very good, too.

Yeah, baby...Peter Gunn. Mancini. 1958. Jazz. Black & White. About says it all..Detectives were "Hard Boiled", drank martinis, smoked 4 packs of Luckys a day, ate nothing but steak 'n' baked potatoes, wore sharkskin suits, women were "Dames" & knew when to keep their traps shut.

women were "Dames" & knew when to keep their traps shut.

And wore stockings (real stocking, not pantyhose) and high heels. Gams.

Yep, an' remember how it was absolutely SCANDALOUS if the seam of a Dame's hose wasn't ramrod straight...Hell, she might have been "Loose" or something...<grin>

"It's"


Monty Python

Yep, an' remember how it was absolutely SCANDALOUS if the seam of a Dame's hose wasn't ramrod straight...Hell, she might have been "Loose" or something...<grin>

Yeah, but the best part of all was when she turned around and bent over to straighten her seams... :drool:

Police Squad -- different celebrity gets killed in opening credits every episode.

Police Squad -- different celebrity gets killed in opening credits every episode.

Florence Henderson machine gunned down while carring a plate full of fried chicken.

Ditto to chili555 in re: Miami Vice. Another good one, albeit not as exciting as Miami Vice, was the tape recorder (and the tape that subsequently burned up) on Mission Impossible.

Mr. Lucky with the infinite blackness of space and stars, the roulette wheel and two dice caroming down onto a black surface. Then the big black cat winks.......:thmbsp:

Anyone know this one?

Mark "Rent-boy" Renton: [narrating] Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons.

Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.

How could you not watch the show after that intro.:yes:. Not to mention the sound effect that has been used by everyone.

Miami Vice.

Flamingos, babes in bikinis, cigarette boats (no doubt running cocaine AND bikini babes!) and Crockett and Tubbs in the Ferrari Daytona Spyder all overlaid with that great themesong! Whew! Now that's a mood-setter!

Although y'all were in diapers, maybe you remember the theme to Peter Gunn. That set a mood, too.

I usually set the VCR to tape Miami Vice, since I was usually out with my girlfriend on Friday nights.

Out for dinner and then a stop by "Camelot Music", which usually resulted in the purchase of some new music to take home.

I purchased a new TV with Stereo Sound primarily because of Miami Vice!

Superfriends

In the Great Hall of the Justice League, there are assembled the worlds 4 greatest heros. Created by the cosmic legends of the Universe, Superman, Wonderwoman,Batman, Aquaman, and the three junior superfriends, Wendy, Marvin, and wonderdog.

Their mission, to fight injustice, to right that which is wrong, and to serve all mankind.

Have to love you-tube some times.

Hah, coming home from school and sitting in front of the B&W TV, try after dinner sitting in the living room in front of the console radio. Waiting for the creaking door of the Inner Sanctum, or "Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of men ...". Then "Glory be Casey, 'tis the Green Harnet". These shows depended mainly on the imagination, probably the reason so few made it on TV. Speaking of that when we first got our TV Dad and I were watching the boxing. Here were two fighters in a clutch in the middle of the ring, but the old radio announcer Dan Dunphy was going on as if they were murdering each other - talk about spin.

Then Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Fibber McGee and Molly, Fireside Theatre, all gone.

Oh Poncho! Oh Cisco! Oh brother...

Kolchak the Night Stalker. Darren McGavin strolls in, takes his hat off, grabs a cup of coffee, and settles to his desk with his tape recorder; the music is bright, featuring him (presumably) whistling a tune. a close-up of the typewriter reveals him writing a story--"the monster dragged the woman's body...";--and then the lights blink out and the music gets ominous...
there's a frame of the electric fan, stopped, and a close up of his eye as he turns to look at...?
awesome show.

Anyone know this one?
Trainspotting's not quite vintage yet...


Try this:

The street that wears a fancy label
That's glorified in song and fable.
The most exciting people pass you by
Including a private eye.

The start of my favorite movie: "Call me Ishmael"

"Another challenge for the Green Hornet, his aid Kato, and their rolling arsenal the Black Beauty. On Police records a wanted criminal, the Green Hornet is really Britt Reid, owner-publisher of the Daily Sentinel, his dual identity known only to his secretary and the district attorney. And now, to protect the rights and lives of decent citizens, rides THE GREEN HORNET" {Green Hornet theme played by Al Hirt starts}

The narration is by William Dozier, producer of the show, who also narrated Batman. Awesome stuff!

I loved the Green Hornet. Just an F.Y.I the creator of the Green Hornet also created the Lone Ranger and in fact both characters are related hence the Reid name John Reid (Ranger), Britt Reid (Hornet). Great, Great Grandfather or something like that.

Yup

And the two kids were Penny, and I think Will? that was one of my favorites, along with "Sea Hunt" for some strange reason.

Russellc

I loved the Green Hornet. Just an F.Y.I the creator of the Green Hornet also created the Lone Ranger and in fact both characters are related hence the Reid name John Reid (Ranger), Britt Reid (Hornet). Great, Great Grandfather or something like that.

And Bruce Lee played the role of "Kato" as well.

Russellc

The start of my favorite movie: "Call me Ishmael"

Moby Dick? Mine ends with "Rosebud"

Russellc

Out of the night,
When the full moon is bright,
Comes the horseman known as Zorro.
This bold renegade
Carves a "Z" with his blade,
A "Z" that stands for Zorro.

Zorro, Zorro, the fox so cunning and free,
Zorro, Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z.

He is polite,
But the wicked take flight
When they catch the sight of Zorro.
He's friend of the weak,
And the poor and the meek,
This very unique senor Zorro.

Zorro, Zorro, the fox so cunning and free,
Zorro, Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z.

Zorro, Zorro, Zorro, Zorro, Zorro.

Richard Boone's gravelly voice, a pistol pointed at us, he narrates a summary of the episode's plot. The the gun goes into the holster.

His business card fills the screen:

Have Gun - Will Travel

Wire Paladin, San Francisco.

Often, the episodes began with him sitting in the lobby of his San Fran hotel reading a newspaper. A few pithy comments, and he circles an article or ad, gives it to Heyboy (porter or something in the hotel, never really defined) to mail with his card.

One of the homeliest characters ever to have his own series, and ALWAYS dressed completely in black when he went to work, no matter how hot and dusty the trail.

Out of the night,
When the full moon is bright,
Comes the horseman known as Zorro.
This bold renegade
Carves a "Z" with his blade,
A "Z" that stands for Zorro.

Zorro, Zorro, the fox so cunning and free,
Zorro, Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z.

He is polite,
But the wicked take flight
When they catch the sight of Zorro.
He's friend of the weak,
And the poor and the meek,
This very unique senor Zorro.

Zorro, Zorro, the fox so cunning and free,
Zorro, Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z.

Zorro, Zorro, Zorro, Zorro, Zorro.


I think we have a winner here! :yes:

Another amazing "karma" thread. Thank you.

For my two cents, it was the amazing trumpets of the Dragnet theme that caught my attention. The music from the first season had an echo indicative of a large music hall, something that disappeared in following seasons and rendered the music flat and not as inspiring.

Trainspotting's not quite vintage yet...


Guess I should have read the first post.