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MARTIN SHORT - Hollywood and the Stars

"What's that song that they always play when Martin Short makes his grandiose entrance on Late Night with David Letterman?"

And the answer is: "Hollywood and the Stars," perhaps one of the finest, but most obscure of television theme songs. David L. Wolper's short-lived series was ahead of its time, offering a half hour on great movies, stars and genres. Some might fondly remember Joseph Cotten narrating the episode on horror movies, with vintage clips of Karloff and Lugosi.

Back in the early 60's, there wasn't quite so much respect for old movies, and certainly not for guys like Karloff and Lugosi. Clearly Martin Short (who once graced the cover of my magazine RAVE) was one of the few avid, star-struck kids who watched "Hollywood and the Stars" and believed so fondly in movie magic.

Elmer Bernstein wrote the theme, and also penned another memorable TV theme: "National Geographic." You can almost hear the iconic opening trumpet notes, right? Well, time now for the strings to take over, and that rather haunting, and somewhat sadly nostalgic theme for "Hollywood and the Stars." Bernstein's forte was film scores, earning Oscar nominations and/or wins for "The Magnificent Seven," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Walk on the Wild Side," "Hawaii," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "True Grit," "Trading Place,""Age of Innocence," "Far from Heaven" and many more.

Bernstein's non Oscar-nominated film scores include: "Animal House," "Airplane," "I Love You Alice B. Toklas," "Cast a Giant Shadow," "Hud," "The Carpetbaggers," "Baby the Rain Must Fall," "Birdman of Alcatraz," "Sweet Smell of Success," "Fear Strikes Out," "Ten Commandments" and "The Great Escape."

YOUR LINK TO hearing and downloading HOLLYWOOD AND THE STARS, Martin Short's theme

"DAVY CROCKETT" Theme sung by STEVE ALLEN

Steve Allen once said to me, all seriousness not aside, "My predominant gift, is for music." Most would say he was gifted with one of the quickest, funniest minds of all time, the original hip quipster. Or quipping hipster. Come to think of it, he was never given enough credit for being hip, either. But as a musician…Steve rarely got any credit at all. One of the snider remarks aimed at his piano was that for all the thousands of songs he wrote, "can anyone name TWO?"

There was "This Could Be the Start of Something Big," yes…and some might have heard his "Gravy Watlz" (if not know it by title). But many singers, from Andy Williams to Ann Jillian, have produced albums solely of Steve's songs. He wrote movie soundtracks, musicals (including "Sophie" and "Alice in Wonderland") and made regular attempts at getting into the Top 10 with novelty singles…either sung or spoken.

Which leads us to "Davy Crockett," an unusual novelty that will have you wondering, "well, when is this going to become a parody?" Steve's serious about his "predominant gift" here, offers an amiable version of a song that was covered quite a bit back in 1955. (The flip side was "Very Square Dance"). The phenomenon of Walt Disney's version of the Davy Crockett story (as played by Fess Parker, and not dwelling on The Alamo tragedy) meant kids were buying up huge amounts of coloring books, coonskin caps, little yellow 78's of the theme song and…some of 'em did buy this one. In the photo, then-"Tonight Show" host Steve is pictured with band leader Skitch Henderson, as he's admired by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme.

Your link to hearing and downloading DAVY CROCKETT sung by STEVE ALLEN