Popular Post Thor 7,503 Posted August 13, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted August 13, 2015 Hey, guys – I have a treat for you!Alcoa Premiere Theatre aka Fred Astaire's Premiere (1961-1963) was the first and only show where John Williams wrote ALL of the music for the entire run – both the first and second season. However, like so many anthology shows of the time, it was never released in any format. Same goes for the music (except the theme). So with the help of a TV collector, I got hold of 27 episodes (which is only half of what he did, but it's still a start). With some sparetime this week, I ripped some opening titles from the series to at least give you an idea of what this was about, and why it REALLY needs a proper release. Williams really got to flex his early musical muscles with all the different stories the show provided.The audio and video quality of the episodes was mostly abysmal – which is reflected in the cues below. But it's what we have at the present time. While the opening titles only last some 30 seconds, they present the basic thematic ideas of the music in a given episode. As I hate clips with dialogue and sound effects, I only included these dialogue and sound-free opening titles – as well as a few prologues that only had vague sound, and where the music is allowed to shine on its own. There could be more 'music-only' cues later on in the episodes, but it was too time-consuming to go through everything. I'll do that later, as well as continue my quest for the missing episodes.Enjoy!First off, here is the theme for the series – this is the extended re-arrangement that was done for the Stanley Wilson album THEMES TO REMEMBER:http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/alcoatheme.mp3SEASON 1Episode 1: "People Need People" (October 10, 1961)Dr. Harry Wilmer has just 10 days to prove his radical method of treating violent war veterans will work.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/peopleneedpeople.mp3Full episode on Youtube Episode 2: "The Fugitive Eye" (October 17, 1961)Not been able to find episode.Episode 3: "The Fortress" (October 24, 1961)Shot down during the Korean War, Lt. Brown is held captive in a basement where the light is never turned off. They won't treat his mangled leg unless he gives his captors a confession.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/thefortress.mp3Episode 4: "Moment of Decision" (November 7, 1961)A landowner in the 20s has odd ways of showing his dislike for his new neighbor, an escape artist.Prologue: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/momentofdecision-prologue.mp3In this montage sequence, we're shown the escape artist's (Fred Astaire) many performances around the world. A superb, busy piece by Williams. There are a few sporadic applauses, but otherwise the music shines alone.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/momentofdecision.mp3Episode 5: "Family Outing" (November 14, 1961)Not been able to find episode.Episode 6: "The Witch Next Door" (November 28, 1961)Not been able to find episode.Episode 7: "The Breaking Point" (December 5, 1961)Not been able to find episode.Episode 8: "Delbert, Texas" (December 12, 1961)Not been able to find episode.Episode 9: "The End of a World" (December 19, 1961)Not been able to find episode.Episode 10: "The Cake Baker" (January 2, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 11: "Pattern of Guilt" (January 9, 1962)A reporter covers a series of murders all against perpetrated spinsters.Prologue: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/patternofguilt-prologue.mp3The prologue describes a man sneaking into the apartment of a sleeping woman.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/patternofguilt.mp3Episode 12: "The Hour of the Bath" (January 16, 1962)American agricultural expert Henry Detweiler is a prisoner of Vietnam under sentence of death.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/thehourofthebath.mp3Episode 13: "The Jail" (February 6, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 14: "Mr. Easy" (February 13, 1962)Andrew Whitbeck is bored of his successful business and decides to chuck it all and "enjoy himself".Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/mreasy.mp3Episode 15: "The Man with the Shine on His Shoes" (February 20, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 16: "The Doctor" (February 27, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 17: "Of This Time, Of This Place" (March 6, 1962)A college teacher's new job is made difficult by a brilliant, but uncompromising, student.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/ofthistimeofthisplace.mp3Episode 18: "Second Chance" (March 13, 1962)One-time bronc-rider Hoby Dunlap has served his sentence for defecting during the Korean War. But when he tries to return to the rodeo circuit, he finds that his reputation has preceded him.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/secondchance.mp3If the theme sounds familiar, it's because this episode was used as a pilot for the spin-off series Wide Country (1962-1963), where Williams' theme was arranged as the series' theme. Whether Williams did this new arrangement himself, I don’t know, but it was released on an LP compilation of TV themes. You can hear the Wide Country version here.Episode 19: "The Tiger" (March 20, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 20: "Seven Against the Sea" (April 3, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 21: "The Very Custom Special" (April 10, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 22: "All My Clients Are Innocent" (April 17, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 23: "The Rules of the Game" (May 1, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 24: "Once a Bachelor" (May 8, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 25: "Cry Out In Silence" (May 15, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 26: "A Place to Hide" (May 22, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 27: "The Boy Who Wasn't Wanted" (June 5, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 28: "It Takes a Thief" (June 19, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 29: "The Time of the Tonsils" (June 25, 1962)Not been able to find episode.SEASON 2Episode 1: "Flashing Spikes" (October 4, 1962)Ex-baseball player Slim Conway is accused of bribing Bill Riley, whose error cost his team a World Series game.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/flashingspikes.m4aFull episode on Youtube (in multiple parts) For many years, this was confused as an obscure feature film in Williams' filmography. A few years ago, someone released complete audio rips of this score on a bootleg.Episode 2: "Guest in the House" (October 11, 1962)Fascinating and original story of a war hero turned grifter who returns to an air force buddy's life and helps his family through a crisis.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/guestinthehouse.mp3Episode 3: "The Long Walk Home" (October 18, 1962)If high school football coach Paul Watson doesn't lose a championship game, a blackmailer threatens to circulate a certain photograph.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/thelongwalkhome.mp3Episode 4: "The Voice of Charlie Pont" (October 25, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 5: "Mr. Lucifer" (November 1, 1962)The Devil Himself is a hard-bitten businessman with a group of somewhat bumbling yes-men on staff and a curvy assistant in the person of Iris Haines. Together they use their best temptations in an attempt to thwart the honesty and decency of a young suburban couple.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/mrlucifer.mp3Full episode on Youtube (in multiple parts)Episode 6: "The Masked Marine" (November 8, 1962)A marine sergeant is irritated by a private and decides to teach him a lesson.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/maskedmarine.mp3Episode 7: "Ordeal in Darkness" (November 15, 1962)Always independent, John Miller forges ahead despite temporary blindness. His wife, however, believes he should depend more on their teenaged son.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/ordealindarkness.mp3Episode 8: "Whatever Happened to Miss Illinois?" (November 22, 1962)A reporter asks that question about Miss Illinois and other losers of national contests.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/whateverhappenedtomissillinois.mp3Episode 9: "The Hands of Danofrio" (November 29, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 10: "The Contenders" (December 6, 1962)Three unprincipled actresses vie for the best-performance award at a film festival.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/thecontenders.mp3Episode 11: "The Way from Darkness" (December 13, 1962)Not been able to find episode.Episode 12: "The Potentate" (December 20, 1962)Disquieting is the word for Stefan Tamarov's first visit to New York City. As Minister of Economics and Foreign Trade for a Communist satellite country, Tamarov has no trouble with his official duties; it's the 'little' things that bother him. His daughter Svezda is seeing an American reporter much too often, and his best friend Andreas Vrim, his country's UN delegate, has confided a few thoughts to Stefan that could be interpreted as treason.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/thepotentate.mp3Episode 13: "Blues for a Hanging" (December 27, 1962)Ted Miller, a down-on-his-luck musician, was in a drunken fight last night, and begins to think he could have murdered a man. His loving girlfriend Connie refuses to believe this and together they piece together what really transpired.Prologue: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/bluesforahanging-prologue.mp3In this prologue, Ted Miller (Fred Astaire) has turbulent dreams involving jazz.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/bluesforahanging.mp3Episode 14: "Impact of an Execution" (January 3, 1963)A doctor could persuade the governor to stay a killer's execution but he's in no hurry to do so.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/impactofanexecution.mp3Episode 15: "Lollipop Louie" (January 10, 1963)Happy-go-lucky Lollipop Louie leaves his California fishing boat to head for the big city.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/lollipoplouie.mp3Episode 16: "The Glass Palace" (January 17, 1963)There's trouble afoot when ice skater Vince Gallard begins to slip: a coming ice show depends on him.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/theglasspalace.mp3Episode 17: "Five, Six, Pick Up Sticks" (January 24, 1963)After several years in Europe, a temperamental jazz drummer returns to the U.S.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/fivesixpickupstick.mp3Episode 18: "George Gobel Presents" (January 31, 1963)Not been able to find episode.Although it aired as part of Alcoa Premiere, this was a variety show that was otherwise independent of the series. As such, it had no Williams involvement.Episode 19: "The Hat of Sergeant Martin" (February 7, 1963)Marines Michael Lujack and Clinton Martin fight over women, but fight well together when it comes to Latin American revolutionaries. They're stationed in a turbulent country South of the Border during the Thirties and assigned to hunt down insurgents in the mountains.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/thehatofsergeantmartin.mp3Episode 20: "Blow High, Blow Clear" (February 14, 1963)Doyle, a young seaman just arrived from New Orleans, is in a quandary: His friend Harlan is deeply disturbed over parental problems, and Doyle has stumbled onto something in the French Quarter which could throw Harlan - and his family - into a real spin.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/blowhighblowclear.mp3Episode 21: "Chain Reaction" (February 21, 1963)Not been able to find episode.Episode 22: "Hornblower" (February 28, 1963)Not been able to find episode.Episode 23: "The Best Years" (March 7, 1963)Not been able to find episode.Episode 24: "Jeeney Ray" (March 14, 1963)When her grandmother dies, timid Jeeney Ray must move in with her hostile brother and sister-in-law.Prologue: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/jeeneyray-prologue.mp3This prologue shows Jeeney outside in the woods, making bird noises. Hence the brief 'chirping' in the clip.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/jeeneyray.mp3This is probably my favourite of all the Alcoa scores – so lovely and bittersweet, almost George Delerue-ian in style.Episode 25: "The Dark Labyrinth" (March 21, 1963)Not been able to find episode.Episode 26: "Of Struggle and Flight" (March 28, 1963)Karen Evans seems normal enough to her husband but now, for the second time, the Missing Persons Bureau has been sent searching for her, and this time her clothes have washed up on the beach.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/ofstruggleandflight.mp3Episode 27: "The Broken Year" (April 4, 1963)Eric and Hilary's romance becomes filled with hatred and bitterness when she blames herself for his crippling accident.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/thebrokenyear.mp3Full episode on Youtube.Episode 28: "This Will Kill You" (April 11, 1963)Not been able to find episode.Episode 29: "Million Dollar Hospital" (April 18, 1963)Young Dr. Grant answers a medical-journal ad offering a "rewarding practice" for $1,000,000 but the run-down emergency hospital he finds hardly seems a lucrative enterprise.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/milliondollarhospital.mp3Episode 30: "The Town That Died" (April 25, 1963)Adam Stark comes home to a decrepit town, where hostilities still flare over a prolonged strike that closed an important cannery.Prologue: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/thetownthatdied-prologue.mp3In this prologue, Adam Stark (Dana Andrews) arrives at and rummages through the seemingly deserted town. The prologue runs almost without sound and dialogue for an unprecedented 4 minutes.Opening titles: http://celluloidtunes.no/non-website/alcoa/thetownthatdied.mp3 Omen II, mrbellamy, Cerebral Cortex and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,359 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 I give this thread 15 thumbs up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmmusic 1,828 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 Thank you very much Thor for this colossal thread.I have one question:Do all these episodes you have have a Johnny Williams credit?I mean are they confirmed to have a score by him?edit: By the way, l have S1E4 if you want it! Also, you might find here some that you're missing.I already found 1 or 2.https://www.robertsvideos.com/browse.php3?All=&keywords=&NPAL=&MESECAM=&VHS=&DVD=&CDROM=&VHSEP=&VHSSP=&PAL=&SECAM=&MPAL=&alpha=A&catid=&page=20&incr=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balahkay 627 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 This is a nice treat! I'm really digging many of these opening titles. I really need to start delving more into Williams' 60s work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,503 Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 filmmusic -- yes, all the episodes I have are credited to Williams. As far as I know, he did everything in this series.I'd love to have your ep. 4! I think I have it somewhere, but I don't know where.Btw, I'm not sure why some of the clips have the embedded player and some don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 Great work as usual Thor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,359 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 Roald? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 Roald? I was on the phone while writing the post. I can't think of where Roald came to my mind! Anyway the post is fixed!Great stuff in here. We should have a special niche for this info on the actual JWFan website! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,359 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 I'm not sure why some of the clips have the embedded player and some don't.There's a limit of how many media embeds are allowed in one post. You passed the limit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,503 Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 I'm not sure why some of the clips have the embedded player and some don't.There's a limit of how many media embeds are allowed in one post. You passed the limit OK, no worries. As long as the clips play, it's all good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miguel Andrade 1,263 Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Thank you Thor! Amazing work!Looking forward to listen to this later tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,503 Posted September 9, 2015 Author Share Posted September 9, 2015 Added one more entry:Season 1, Episode 4: "Moment of Decision" (November 7, 1961)See list above for description and clips. Incanus and Jay 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TownerFan 4,983 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Thank you very much for your work and research, Thor. It's truly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmmusic 1,828 Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 @Thor 2 more episodes in your "Not been able to find episode" list. Jay 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,503 Posted March 4, 2022 Author Share Posted March 4, 2022 Brilliant, thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyD 1,223 Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 This is cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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