Does anyone know who composed the music for this series? Was it specifically for the series or adapted from the classics? I don't remember the main theme but after 50 years I can still hear music played during each episode in my head.
shareThe "Special theme Music" (according to the end credits of the show) was composed by David Rose. The same guy who wrote the hit instrumental"The Stripper". Other TV credits include theme from the series "Bonanza" and music for "Little House on the Prairie".
I feel reasonably certain that most of the music used in the series "Men Into Space" was written especially for that show. However, I cannot find any confirming info on this. Also, It's possible some of the score music could have turned up in later TV and movies as this was not an unusual practice.
The only other name I can find dealing with the music for the show is"Milton Lustig" who is listed as musical editor.
Yes, the Main Title and End Titles music was by David Rose, former MGM studios music director, and originally hired composer of the discarded music score for FORBIDDEN PLANET (MGM, 1956). However, he is probably most popularly remembered as both the composer and conductor of the 1943 hit song "Holiday For Strings" which became the theme song for The Red Skelton Show on CBS-TV in the 1950s. David Rose and Red Skelton were close friends. This music, for MEN INTO SPACE, was written and performed expressly for this television series. Milton Lustig was ZIV-TV's music editor who placed library music written by David Rose, "Ray Lewellyn" (a pseudonym used by both David Rose and Ray Noble), Ray Noble, and others for the scene sequence music in the series.
I've always loved this theme music, which was released commercially only on one LP album, "DOUBLE IMPACT" by Buddy Morrow, on RCA Victor Records in 1960. It was reissued on CD in the 1990s by BMG/RCA.
Dejael
Much of the background music for this series came from the same library as other ZIV productions, such as "Sea Hunt". "Men Into Space" was unique in many respects, not the least of which was the fact that unlike most other ZIV productions, its initial run was carried by a major television network I(i.e. CBS), rather than being syndicated. Another factoid that no one other than geeks like myself would ever remember or appreciate: The initial run of "Men Into Space" was sponsored by none other than Longines, the renowned maker of Swiss wrist watches, and long-time sponsor of classical music and opera performances in television's early days. How many of you remember the opening credits of "Men Into Space" being followed immediately by Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata", Longines' long-time television theme music, as the announcer proclaims that the the show was sponsored by "Longines"?
shareyes much of the same music is used on SEA HUNT-which gives not musical credits at all....
38 episodes in a season-i think that 25 is tops now