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Earle Hagen

Composer

"...And I said, What do you think about this for the Andy Griffith show? He listened to it and he said, 'I'll tell you what, I'll shoot Andy and Ronnie walking along the lake with a couple of fishing poles over their shoulder.'  Great. That was the way it was done. I had never whistled before in my life. And never since."

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

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Shows

  • Andy Griffith Show, The
  • Danny Thomas Show, The aka Make Room for Daddy
  • Dick Van Dyke Show, The
  • Dukes of Hazzard, The
  • Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
  • Guestward Ho!
  • Guns of Will Sonnett
  • I Spy
  • Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
  • Mayberry R.F.D.
  • Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
  • Mod Squad, The
  • That Girl
  • Where's Raymond?

People

  • Robert Culp
  • Sheldon Leonard
  • Carl Reiner

Topics

  • Diversity in Television
  • TV Theme Songs

Professions

  • Music Professionals

Featured Content

Earle Hagen was inducted (posthumously) into the 20th Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.Emmy Hall of Fame Logo

Resources

Earle Hagen Autobiography

Autobiography: Memoirs of a Famous Composer-Nobody Ever Heard of by Earle Hagen

 

Scoring for Film

Book: Scoring for films: A complete text by Earle Hagen

YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
  • Highlights
  • Interview
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Highlights

  • Earle Hagen on writing the theme to <i>The Andy Griffith Show</i>Earle Hagen on writing the theme to The Andy Griffith Show
    Clip begins at: 10:45, Duration: 03m 21s
  • Earle Hagen on writing the theme to <i>The Andy Griffith Show</i>Earle Hagen on writing the theme to The Andy Griffith Show
    Clip begins at: 09:08
  • Earle Hagen on composing music for Don Knotts' character on <i>The Andy Griffith Show</i>Earle Hagen on composing music for Don Knotts' character on The Andy Griffith Show
    Clip begins at: 14:06, Duration: 04m 03s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • Introduction
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On his early years and education; on his interest in music and learning the trombone
    Clip begins at: 01:00
  • On his first professional work in bands; on joining Benny Goodman's band; on joining Tommy Dorsey's band; on touring and arranging music
    Clip begins at: 09:01
  • Part 2
  • On arranging and recording with some of the big bands of the time
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • 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
    Clip begins at: 08:15
  • Part 3
  • On the definitions of an arranger and a composer; on working as an arranger on motion pictures at 20th Century Fox
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • 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
    Clip begins at: 18:57
  • Part 4
  • On the technical aspects of recording music on film
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On composing and conducting music for The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room for Daddy)
    Clip begins at: 03:36
  • On his work on the series Where's Raymond? starring Ray Bolger
    Clip begins at: 20:34
  • Part 5
  • On the difference between composing for film and television
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On his work on The Andy Griffith Show
    Clip begins at: 05:48
  • Part 6
  • On the technical elements (i.e. click tracks, early small television speakers, etc.) involved in composing for film/TV
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On working on The Dick Van Dyke Show
    Clip begins at: 10:09
  • On working on Gomer Pyle, USMC; on working on multiple shows and the people who worked with him
    Clip begins at: 19:10
  • On the beginnings of his work on I Spy 
    Clip begins at: 22:46
  • Part 7
  • On composing the theme for I Spy; on NBC not initially okaying Bill Cosby for the co-starring role on I Spy
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On orchestrating the music for I Spy; on some of the series' musical themes
    Clip begins at: 08:53
  • Part 8
  • On the business of creating music for television
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On working on That Girl; on using library music for a series
    Clip begins at: 09:59
  • On creating the music for The Mod Squad
    Clip begins at: 14:00
  • Part 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
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On his work in music education
    Clip begins at: 02:39
  • 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
    Clip begins at: 11:28
  • On his retirement; on the role of music in television and film
    Clip begins at: 22:53
  • Part 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
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On some of the individuals he worked with in his career  
    Clip begins at: 05:16
  • On some photos illustrating his career
    Clip begins at: 19:52

Shows

  • Andy Griffith Show, The
    • Composer Earle Hagen on the origin of The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 05:48, Duration: 03m 20s
    • Earle Hagen on writing the theme to The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 09:08, Duration: 04m 58s
    • Earle Hagen on composing music for Don Knotts' character on The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 14:06, Duration: 04m 03s
    • Earle Hagen on scoring The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 18:09
  • Danny Thomas Show, The aka Make Room for Daddy
    • Earle Hagen on composing and conducting music for The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room for Daddy)
      Clip begins at: 03:36, Duration: 16m 58s
    • Composer Earle Hagen on the origin of The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 05:48, Duration: 03m 20s
  • Dick Van Dyke Show, The
    • Earle Hagen on working on the music (including composing the theme) for The Dick Van Dyke Show
      Clip begins at: 10:09, Duration: 08m 06s
  • Dukes of Hazzard, The
    • Composer Earle Hagen on his work on The Dukes of Hazzard
      Clip begins at: 12:43, Duration: 02m 35s
  • Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
    • Composer Earle Hagen on the pilot of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
      Clip begins at: 19:10, Duration: 01m 01s
  • Guestward Ho!
    • Composer Earle Hagen on using library music for Guestward Ho!
      Clip begins at: 13:15, Duration: 00m 45s
  • Guns of Will Sonnett
    • Earle Hagen on composing the theme for Guns of Will Sonnett 
      Clip begins at: 01:36, Duration: 01m 03s
  • I Spy
    • Composer Earle Hagen on beginning his work for I Spy
      Clip begins at: 22:46
    • Composer Earle Hagen on the amount of different material needed for I Spy
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 01m 50s
    • Composer Earle Hagen on writing the theme for I Spy
      Clip begins at: 01:51, Duration: 05m 00s
    • Composer Earle Hagen on NBC initially not approving Bill Cosby to co-star in I Spy because it feared repercussions from Southern affiliates
      Clip begins at: 06:51, Duration: 02m 02s
    • Composer Earle Hagen on orchestrating the music for I Spy; on some of the series' musical themes
      Clip begins at: 08:53
  • Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
    • Earle Hagen on creating the music library for Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman sight-unseen
      Clip begins at: 11:28, Duration: 01m 15s
  • Mayberry R.F.D.
    • Composer Earle Hagen on using the theme he wrote for the town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show as the theme for the spinoff Mayberry RFD
      Clip begins at: 00:58, Duration: 00m 20s
  • Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
    • Composer Earle Hagen on his work on Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
      Clip begins at: 15:18, Duration: 07m 34s
  • Mod Squad, The
    • Composer Earl Hagen on creating the music for The Mod Squad
      Clip begins at: 14:00, Duration: 14m 20s
  • That Girl
    • Composer Earle Hagen on working on That Girl
      Clip begins at: 09:59, Duration: 03m 16s
  • Where's Raymond?
    • Composer/conductor Earle Hagen on his work on the series Where's Raymond?
      Clip begins at: 20:34

People

  • Ray Bolger
    • Composer/conductor Earle Hagen on his work on the series Where's Raymond?
      Clip begins at: 20:34
  • Bill Cosby
    • Composer Earle Hagen on NBC initially not approving Bill Cosby to co-star in I Spy because it feared repercussions from Southern affiliates
      Clip begins at: 06:51, Duration: 02m 02s
  • Robert Culp
    • Composer Earle Hagen on NBC initially not approving Bill Cosby to co-star in I Spy because it feared repercussions from Southern affiliates
      Clip begins at: 06:51, Duration: 02m 02s
  • Sheldon Leonard
    • Earle Hagen on composing and conducting music for The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room for Daddy)
      Clip begins at: 03:36, Duration: 16m 58s
    • Composer Earle Hagen on beginning his work for Sheldon Leonard
      Clip begins at: 22:46
  • Walter Popp
    • Earle Hagen on composing and conducting music for The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room for Daddy)
      Clip begins at: 03:36, Duration: 16m 58s
  • Carl Reiner
    • Earle Hagen on working on the music (including composing the theme) for The Dick Van Dyke Show
      Clip begins at: 10:09, Duration: 08m 06s
  • Danny Thomas
    • Earle Hagen on composing and conducting music for The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room for Daddy)
      Clip begins at: 03:36, Duration: 16m 58s
  • Herbert W. Spencer
    • Earle Hagen on composing and conducting music for The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room for Daddy)
      Clip begins at: 03:36, Duration: 16m 58s
    • Composer/conductor Earle Hagen on his work on the series Where's Raymond?
      Clip begins at: 20:34

Topics

  • Historic Events and Social Change > Diversity in Television
    • Composer Earle Hagen on NBC initially not approving Bill Cosby to co-star in I Spy because it feared repercussions from Southern affiliates
      Clip begins at: 06:51, Duration: 02m 02s
  • Pop Culture > TV Theme Songs
    • Earle Hagen on the Danny Thomas Show / Make Room for Daddy theme song
      Clip begins at: 14:17, Duration: 00m 46s
    • Earle Hagen on writing the theme to The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 10:45, Duration: 03m 21s
    • Composer Earle Hagen on writing the theme for I Spy
      Clip begins at: 01:51, Duration: 05m 00s

Professions

  • Music Professionals > Composer
    • Earle Hagen on the difference between composing for film and television
      Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 04m 04s
    • Earle Hagen on writing the theme to The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 10:45, Duration: 03m 21s
    • Earle Hagen on composing music for Don Knotts' character on The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 14:06, Duration: 00m 58s
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