# Classic TV theme music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457 "2005-11-10T19:10:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/1 "2005-11-10T19:10:27Z")
I guess I watched a lot of TV when I was a kid. Give me the title of a '60s sitcom, and I’m more likely than not to be able to come up with the tune. Everybody remembers _I Dream Of Jeannie_ (which I’ve recently found out is a samba) and _Gilligan’s Island_. For the longest time though, I had trouble remembering the theme to _McHale’s Navy_. When I finally remembered it, oh, so many years ago, it’s now the first theme that comes to my head when I think of theme songs. _My Favorite Martian_ took a while to ‘stick’ as well. Anyone else find classic TV theme songs popping into his head? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/2 "2005-11-10T20:01:44Z")
Took me a minute to recall the theme form My Favorite Martian (it was a march). Westerns: I know there was a TV western that used the “Magnificent Seven” theme, but I can’t remember which show. It wasn’t **The Virginian** (which I think was the best theme in this catagory). Long before it was revealed on “Cheers,” I knew the lyrics to **Bonanza.** But I’d always assumed the lyrics to **Wagon Train** went: _“wagon train, wagon train, wagon train, oh wagon train; wagon tra-in, wagon train, wagon traiin!”_ (sing it and you’ll see). In the sub-catogory Westerns/Chuck Connors, kids could change tongue-clop along to the closing theme of **The Rifleman,** or change the wording to the theme song for **Branded:** _“Stranded, sittin’ on the toilet bowl. What do you do when you’re stranded…and you ain’t got a roll? You must prove you’re a man… and wipe with your hand.”_ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/3 "2005-11-10T20:08:49Z")
For the 60’s: Star Trek, Bewitched, Addams Family & Get Smart. I would recognize but cannot hum: My Three Sons, Munsters, Lost in Space & Andy Griffith. Gilligan & I dream of Jeannie are definite. Gilligan is the only theme song I could sing from the 60’s. Jim ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/4 "2005-11-10T20:14:56Z")
It’s not really classic, but it should be.\*\* Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law\*\*, in my mind the best TV theme song ever. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/5 "2005-11-10T20:22:19Z")
The original Battlestar Galactica theme song. I fully recognize now that the 70’s series sucks ass on ice, but every time I hear the theme it still sends chills up my spine. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/6 "2005-11-10T20:26:35Z")
I could almost write the musical score to _Hawaii 5-0_ from memory. Others that come to mind quickly are _The Rockford Files_, _The Waltons_, _All In The Family_, _Sanford and Son_, and for some reason I can’t fathom, _Love, American Style_. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/7 "2005-11-10T20:30:28Z")
> [@Slithy Tove](#): > > Took me a minute to recall the theme form My Favorite Martian (it was a march). > > Westerns: > I know there was a TV western that used the “Magnificent Seven” theme, but I can’t remember which show. …\* Elmer Bernstein wrote the themes for\*\* Johnny Staccato\*\* and\*\* Riverboat\*\*. You might be remembering the theme from “Magnificent Seven” from the Marlboro commercials. For a l-o-n-g time you could say “A horse is a horse” and around you people would follow up with “of course, of course.” ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/8 "2005-11-10T20:33:07Z")
The 70’s: That’s a horse of a different Color. Mary Tyler Moore I could sing, you would ask me to stop, but I could sing it. M_A_S\*H, I even remember the lyrics from the movie (Suicide is Painless…) Know the lyrics: All In the Family, WKRP, Jeffersons, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Welcome Back Carter. Hum the Tune: Barney Miller, Taxi, Alice, Maude, Bob Newhart, Columbo, Good Times. I forgot Hogan’s Heroes for 60’s ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/9 "2005-11-10T21:20:37Z")
I even remember the lyrics to the Bob Newhart Show theme. > [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > …and for some reason I can’t fathom, _Love, American Style_. Damn you! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/10 "2005-11-10T21:23:46Z")
Two of my faves were **Garrison’s Guerillas** and **Mannix**. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/11 "2005-11-10T21:32:15Z")
Rolling rolling rolling Though the streams are swollen Keep them doggies rolling…RAWHIDE ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/12 "2005-11-10T21:33:17Z")
_The Ghost And Mrs. Muir_, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/13 "2005-11-10T22:32:05Z")
“And then there’s Maude!” ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/14 "2005-11-10T22:32:09Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I guess I watched a lot of TV when I was a kid. Give me the title of a '60s sitcom, and I’m more likely than not to be able to come up with the tune. Everybody remembers _I Dream Of Jeannie_ (which I’ve recently found out is a samba) and _Gilligan’s Island_. For the longest time though, I had trouble remembering the theme to _McHale’s Navy_. When I finally remembered it, oh, so many years ago, it’s now the first theme that comes to my head when I think of theme songs. _My Favorite Martian_ took a while to ‘stick’ as well. > > Anyone else find classic TV theme songs popping into his head? “And then there’s Maude!” ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/15 "2005-11-10T23:24:37Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > _The Ghost And Mrs. Muir_, anyone? I wish someone would show this and the Nanny & the Professor. Neither are available on NetFlix. In fact neither are availalbe in any format. I don’t remember either theme song though. If you want to hear a theme song from a sitcom try this site [http://www.sitcomsonline.com/g.html](http://www.sitcomsonline.com/g.html) I like the Ghost one, I had completely forgotten it. Very Disney Like. The Nanny and the Professor is pretty Groovy. Give it a listen. Jim ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/16 "2005-11-10T23:35:58Z")
You know probably the best 60’s theme song was **The Monkees**. Sorry for the multi Posting, you got me into reliving my youth mode. How about Mr. Ed “A Horse is a Horse …” I just listened to **My Favorite Martian** It reminds me of Bullwinkle. **The Beverly Hillbillies** “Come a listen to my Story about a man named Jed” I’ll stop now, sorry. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/17 "2005-11-11T00:45:53Z")
Oh yeah. Can’t remember what I did at work today, but I can remember all the words to “F-Troop”. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/18 "2005-11-11T00:56:39Z")
Peter Gunn Theme, love it to this day. Surfside Six [Surside Six, —Surfside Six, —, In MIAMI BEACH!](http://www.mythemes.tv/series/surfside.htm) 77 Sunset Strip [77 Sunset Strip, snap, snap](http://www.mythemes.tv/series/77sunset.htm) And my fave, [The Hawaiian Eyyeeeee!](http://www.mythemes.tv/series/hawaiian.htm) P.S. Was this Robert Conrad’s first TV appearance? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/19 "2005-11-11T01:30:46Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Anyone else find classic TV theme songs popping into his head? Well, I do now. _Thanks._ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457/20 "2005-11-11T02:35:52Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Well, I do now. > > _Thanks._ Heh heh heh. It’s working… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-tv-theme-music/330457.md?page=2)