Saturday, May 31, 2008

THE HAT SQUAD: BEHIND THE SCENES

Our enjoyment of Toobworld is derived from more than those characters we see on the screen. The TV Universe is enriched by the music which most of those characters can't even hear, for example. And of course, there are the writers, directors, cinematographers...


This week we lost three legends behind the scenes, and one of them was truly a giant in his field.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Earle H. Hagen, who co-wrote the jazz classic "Harlem Nocturne" and composed memorable themes for "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "I Spy," "The Mod Squad" and other TV shows, has died. He was 88.

Hagen, who is heard whistling the folksy tune for "The Andy Griffith Show," died Monday night at his home in Rancho Mirage, his wife, Laura, said Tuesday. He had been in ill health for several months.

TV SERIES

"Eight Is Enough" (1977)
"Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (1976)
"Big Eddie" (1975)
"Planet of the Apes" (2 episodes, 1974)
"Doc Elliot" (1973)
"The New Perry Mason" (1973)
"The Mod Squad" (1968)
"The Don Rickles Show" (1972)
"Mayberry R.F.D." (1968)
"The Andy Griffith Show" (1960)
"I Spy" (1965)
"That Girl" (1965)
"The Danny Thomas Hour" (1967)
"The Guns of Will Sonnett" (1967)
"The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961)
"Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." (1964)
"The Bill Dana Show" (1963)
"It's a Man's World" (1962)
"Guestward Ho!" (1960)
"The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959)
"Love and Marriage" (1959)
"Hey, Jeannie!" (1956)
"It's Always Jan" (1955)
"Where's Raymond?" (1953)
"Make Room for Daddy" (1953)


SELECTED TV MOVIES
The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1986) (TV)

Return to Mayberry (1986) (TV)
Muggable Mary, Street Cop (1982) (TV)
Stand by Your Man (1981) (TV)
Farewell to the Planet of the Apes (1981) (TV)
The Hustler of Muscle Beach (1980) (TV)
Alex and the Doberman Gang (1979) (TV)
Featherstone's Nest (1979) (TV)
True Grit: A Further Adventure (1978)
Having Babies (1976) (TV)



LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alexander "Sandy" Courage, an Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated arranger, orchestrator and composer who created the otherworldly theme for the classic "Star Trek" TV show, has died. He was 88.

TV SERIES
"Star Trek: New Voyages" (2004)
"The Waltons" (1972-1981)
"Eight Is Enough" (1977)
"Apple's Way" (1974)
"Medical Center" (1972)
"Land of the Giants" (1969)
"Star Trek" (1966)
"Lost in Space" (1966)
"Judd for the Defense" (1967)

"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" (1964)
"The Loner" (1966)
"Daniel Boone" (1965)
"Bus Stop" (1961)

"National Velvet" (1960)
"Riverboat" (1960)

SELECTED TV MOVIES

A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion (1993) (TV)
A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain (1982) (TV)
Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain (1982) (TV)
A Wedding on Walton's Mountain (1982) (TV)
The Waltons: A Decade of the Waltons (1980) (TV)


PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) — Joseph Pevney, who directed some of the best-loved episodes of the original "Star Trek" television series, has died. He was 96.Pevney directed 14 episodes of the 1960s series, including "The City on the Edge of Forever," in which Capt. Kirk and Spock travel back in time to the Depression, and "The Trouble With Tribbles," in which the starship Enterprise is infested with cute, furry creatures.


TV SERIES
"Trapper John, M.D." (1979)
"CBS Schoolbreak Special" ( 1984)
- Contract for Life: The S.A.D.D. Story
"The Rousters" (1983)
"The Paper Chase" (1983)
"Little House on the Prairie" (1982)
"Palmerstown, U.S.A." (1981)

"Hagen" (1980)
"The Rockford Files" (1979)
"How the West Was Won" (1979)
"The Incredible Hulk" (1978)

"The Secret Empire" (1979)
"Grandpa Goes to Washington" (1979)
"Sword of Justice" (1978)
"Fantasy Island" (1978)
"Lucan" (1978)
"The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" (1977)
"Lanigan's Rabbi" (1977)
"Executive Suite" (1976)
"Petrocelli" (1974)

"Emergency!" (1974)
"Mobile One" (1975)
"Search" (1972)
"Bonanza" (1968)
"The Partners" (1972)
"Cade's County" (1971)
"The High Chaparral" (1968)
"Adam-12" (1969)
"The Virginian" (1969)
"Marcus Welby, M.D." (1969)
"Star Trek" (1967)

"Mission: Impossible" (1967)
"Laredo" (1967)
"T.H.E. Cat" (1966)
"The Fugitive" (1966)
"12 O'Clock High" (1966)
"Pistols 'n' Petticoats" (1966)

"The Legend of Jesse James" (1966)
"The Munsters" (1964)
"The Loner" (1965)
"The Big Valley" (1965)

"Kraft Suspense Theatre" (1965)
"The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" (1962)
"Bewitched" (1965)
"Wagon Train" (1959)
"Going My Way" (1962)
"Ben Casey" (1962)
"The New Breed" (1962)
"Bus Stop" (1961)
"Johnny Staccato" (1959)


TV MOVIES
Mysterious Island of Beautiful Women (1979) (TV)
Who Is the Black Dahlia? (1975) (TV)

My Darling Daughters' Anniversary (1973) (TV)
Destination Space (1959) (TV)

I always find it morbidly interesting to find that in any given year, famous people with connections to each other pass away. This year we've had Abby Mann & Richard Widmark ("Judgement At Nuremberg") within days of each other, for example.

As you can see from above, Joseph Pevney and Alexander Courage had that 'Star Trek' connection. But this year another 'Star Trek' director passed away, Herbert Kenwith. And both composers, Courage and Hagen were 88 when they died...


Thank you, Gentlemen, for your contributions.....


BCnU.....
Toby OB

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