Earle Hagen
Composer
About This Interview
Earle Hagen (1919-2008) was interviewed for five hours in Palm Springs, CA. Hagen described the pleasure of working with producers Sheldon Leonard and Danny Thomas, and creating the themes, as well as writing the music for: The Danny Thomas Show, The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy, and Mod Squad, to name a few. The interview was conducted by Jon Burlingame on November 17, 1997.
Related To This Video
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Earle Hagen was inducted (posthumously) into the 20th Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.
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Highlights
Earle Hagen on writing the theme to The Andy Griffith Show (03m 21s)Chapters
- Chapter 1
- Introduction
- On his early years and education; on his interest in music and learning the trombone
- On his first professional work in bands; on joining Benny Goodman's band; on joining Tommy Dorsey's band; on touring and arranging music
- Chapter 2
- On arranging and recording with some of the big bands of the time
- On joining the staff of CBS as a trombone player; on serving in World War II in Army Air Corps Radio Production Unit; on deciding to study composition; on arranging and conducting at various studios
- Chapter 3
- On the definitions of an arranger and a composer; on working as an arranger on motion pictures at 20th Century Fox
- On leaving 20th Century Fox and partnering with Herbert W. Spencer; on starting in television; on the compensation structure for television composers; on recording and arranging for various labels
- Chapter 4
- On the technical aspects of recording music on film
- On composing and conducting music for The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room for Daddy)
- On his work on the series Where's Raymond? starring Ray Bolger
- Chapter 5
- On the difference between composing for film and television
- On his work on The Andy Griffith Show
- Chapter 6
- On the technical elements (i.e. click tracks, early small television speakers, etc.) involved in composing for film/TV
- On working on The Dick Van Dyke Show
- On working on Gomer Pyle, USMC; on working on multiple shows and the people who worked with him
- On the beginnings of his work on I Spy
- Chapter 7
- On composing the theme for I Spy; on NBC not initially okaying Bill Cosby for the co-starring role on I Spy
- On orchestrating the music for I Spy; on some of the series' musical themes
- Chapter 8
- On the business of creating music for television
- On working on That Girl; on using library music for a series
- On creating the music for The Mod Squad
- Chapter 9
- On using the theme he wrote for the town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show as the theme for the spinoff on composing the theme for Mayberry RFD
- On his work in music education
- On creating the music library for Mary Hartman Mary Hartman sight-unseen; on his work on The Dukes of Hazzard; on his work on Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
- On his retirement; on the role of music in television and film
- Chapter 10
- On his thoughts on new technologies in music; on his career achievements; on his advice to aspiring composers; on how he'd like to be remembered; on the body of work he created
- On some of the individuals he worked with in his career
- On some photos illustrating his career
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