1961: Route 66 Closing 

If ever there was a perfect TV-show theme song, this is it. Every single instrument is right on point. Nelson Riddle was the (Bat)man!

A great tune. I hear this at least once a week on the overnight show on CFZM.

Producers Leonard and Silliphant wanted everyone who worked their shows, no matter what jobs, to get full credit on air. That's why some ''Route 66" (and their other show, ABC's "Naked City") credits ran so very, VERY long. A "Route 66" episode shot at Lake Havasu, AZ in 1962 must've had 2:30 or more in end credits!

@EONSFTFAN 'This has been a Screen Gems Film Production from the Hollywood Studios of Columbia Pictures'...this started disappearing some time in the mid-80s, and in some cases, has reappeared in their near-original forms (i.e. WGN reruns of Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie - with 'Sony Pictures' tacked on at the end)..i hated having these cut..i assume they're back for nostalgia sake.......

Awesome President Kennedy era New Frontier Television 😊

@Banner4real035 You said it. This program, I recall, sold a great deal of Chevrolet cars, inasmuch as Chevrolet was the shows' core sponsor. Did you know that this theme song has words? In the 1960's, they were sung by a singer named Teri Thornton.

In the case of "ROUTE 66", the standard studio I/D. announcement was this: "This has been a Screen Gems film production, from Columbia Pictures; Herbert B. Leonard, executive producer..".

Oh, by the way, its presentation, not production in the announcement.

@Banner4real035 My bad on at least two counts. First, it was not Roman who went in to Kwana, but Mr. Ivy's late son Thomas. And also, Kwana did not actually say it was rape. The story line does imply it tosome extent, though. Nevertheless, one of the best episodes of this magnificent but relatively obscure series!

@disabled1955 I agree. It gets more and more like that every season. More's the pity.

@Banner4real035 maybe someone is thinking in terms of how much money they save by not having opening & closing themes like days of yore, while at the same time shoving more ads (for themselves) down our throats..i guess they don't care about coming across as nothing more than a business machine..any and all sentimentality there may have been on television is gone.........

@disabled1955 Actually the announcement would have been read like this for Route 66, "This has been a Screen Gems film presentation from Columbia Pictures, Herbert B. Leonard, executive producer'. Naked City had the same announcement on that show.

do not shutdown account!

Pop quiz-Who is Bing Russell's more celebrated son?

@Juliaflo that would be....Kurt!!

@disabled1955 That's right. Here's wishing you a health Columbus Day holiday.

Jack Hosner

Who is the announcer

Occasionally Columbia Pictures Television 1988 is plastering Screen Gems Torch Lady!

BTW, I just realized that the so-and-so who raped poor Kawana was played by the same actor who later co-starred in M*A*S*H the movie, as Frank Burns, everyone's favorite villain! LMAO!

They don't even HAVE opening and closing theme music for most TV shows these days. No matter; most of them are garbage, especially compared to this series.