Earle Hagen's Countrified Theme
It wasn't planned that way. As a composer, Earle Hagen excelled at capturing the tone of every show he worked on. Yet, the task of creating a theme song for The Andy Griffith Show proved somewhat daunting. When he decided to create something simple, something that could be whistled, the tune unfolded in about an hour.
That same night, a demo of the show's opening theme was recorded, with Earle Hagen whistling the tune and his 11-year-old son Deane snapping his fingers. The following morning, the recording was presented to the show's executive producer, Sheldon Leonard. The concept was a winner! Leonard loved the theme and suggested the now-famous (and much parodied) opening sequence where Andy and Opie walk along a country road with fishing poles over their shoulders.
Andy Griffith and Ron Howard
The Andy Griffith Show Theme Song Lyrics
The Fishin' Hole
Well, now, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at The Fishin' Hole,We may not get a bite all day, but don't you rush away.
What a great place to rest your bones and mighty fine for skippin' stones,
You'll feel fresh as a lemonade, a-settin' in the shade.
Whether it's hot, whether it's cool, oh what a spot for whistlin' like a fool.
What a fine day to take a stroll and wander by The Fishin' Hole,
I can't think of a better way to pass the time o' day.
We'll have no need to call the roll when we get to The Fishin' Hole,
There'll be you, me, and Old Dog Trey, to doodle time away.
If we don't hook a perch or bass, we'll cool our toes in dewy grass,
Or else pull up a weed to chaw, and maybe set and jaw.
Hangin' around, takin' our ease, watchin' that hound a-scratchin' at his fleas.
Come on, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at The Fishin' Hole,
I can't think of a better way to pass the time o' day.
Music by Earle Hagen & Herbert W. Spencer
Words by Everett Sloane
Earle Hagen:
While sitting at home wracking my brain for an idea for a theme for the Griffith show, it finally occurred to me that it should be something simple, something you could whistle. With that in mind, it took me about an hour to write the Andy Griffith theme.
Earle Hagen's Autobiography
A Few Facts About Earle Hagen
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Born in Chicago, Illinois, as a boy he moved with his family to Los Angeles, California, where he learned to play the trombone in junior high school, and graduated from Hollywood High School. He left home to join traveling big bands, at age 16, and played with Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Ray Noble. While with Noble he wrote "Harlem Nocturne", on the road in 1939, as a tribute to Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges. The piece was recorded by several artists, including Earl Bostic, The Viscounts, Sam Taylor, Herbie Fields, Randy Brooks, and The Lounge Lizards, and was later used as the theme to television's Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.
In order to make extra money he began teaching trombone in the 1930s. He went to work for CBS in 1940, as a staff musician, but then enlisted in the military in 1941. Hagen was an orchestrator and arranger for motion picture studio 20th Century Fox in 1940s and early 1950s, and worked on films like Call Me Madam and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. He began writing for television when he left Fox in 1952 with partner Herbert Spencer. Hagen met television show producer Sheldon Leonard when he scored the Danny Thomas series Make Room for Daddy.
Hagen's most ambitious body of work, however, came from his work on I Spy, for which he won an Emmy in 1968. Sheldon Leonard, the producer and creator of I Spy, bucked the trend of using canned music for television shows and instead decided to create original soundtracks for every episode. Since every episode of I Spy was set in a different location, Hagen made liberal use of world music in his soundtracks which were mostly written and performed within the West coast jazz genre. (Hagen did not claim the West coast jazz affiliation for himself, instead inventing the term "semi-jazz," which he defined as a union of global themes with American jazz.)
Earle Hagen:
It was hard work, with long hours and endless deadlines, but being able to write something one day and hear it a few days later appealed to me.
Emmy Award Winning Composer
Earle Hagen with His Emmy Award
Earle Hagen was the composer of choice for television production giants Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard. At one point in his busy career, he could be working on as many as six different productions simultaneously. He wrote distinctive opening themes for a number of shows, such as The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., The Mod Squad, That Girl, and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. He scored dozens of television shows, including Make Room for Daddy, The Mod Squad, Eight Is Enough and The Dukes of Hazzard. The steadfast composer was known to put in 16-hour workdays, seven days a week, for 40 weeks a year. For his work on I Spy, Earle Hagen received three Emmy Award nominations for outstanding achievement in musical composition. He won the award in 1968. Music and Books by Earle Hagen
The Andy Griffith Theme (Digitally Remastered 93)
Amazon Price: $0.89 (as of 07/09/2009) 
I Spy, Vol.5 No.10
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The Dick Van Dyke Show
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Advanced Techniques for Film Scoring (Book and CD)
Amazon Price: $39.15 (as of 07/09/2009)
Memoirs of a Famous Composer-Nobody Ever Heard of
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A Few Facts About The Andy Griffith Show
Courtesy of Wikipedia
The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960 and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in a fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina. His life is complicated by an inept but well-meaning deputy, Barney Fife (Don Knotts), a spinster aunt and housekeeper, Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), and a young son, Opie (Ron Howard). Local ne'er-do-wells, bumbling pals, and temperamental girlfriends further complicate his life.
Though neither Griffith nor the show won awards during its eight season run, series co-stars Knotts and Bavier accumulated a combined total of six Emmy Awards. The series was a hit, never placing lower than seventh in the Nielsen Ratings and ending its run at number one. The show spawned a spinoff series Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964), a sequel series, Mayberry R.F.D. (1968), and a reunion telemovie, Return to Mayberry (1986). The show's enduring popularity has generated a good deal of show-related merchandise. Reruns currently air across the United States, and the complete series is available on DVD.
The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
Some of Mayberry's Finest
Andy Griffith Show Marketplace
Your Favorite Andy Griffith Show Merchandise
The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete First Season
Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 07/09/2009)
The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Second Season
Amazon Price: $19.49 (as of 07/09/2009)
The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Third Season
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The Andy Griffith Show
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 07/09/2009)
The Way Back to Mayberry: Lessons from a Simpler Time
Amazon Price: $10.39 (as of 07/09/2009)
Etch A Sketch Art by George Vlosich III
Search The Andy Griffith Show on Amazon
The Andy Griffith Show Blog Posts
- andy griffith show vol 1 2
- Journey to Mayberry with this two volume set of episodes from THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. Packaged in a vintage style lunchbox this release includes eight episodes from the classic series.
- Echoes (Video): Sarah Palin and Andy Griffith : NO QUARTER
- In the original show (episode 10 of season one, ?Ellie for Council,? in reruns on TVLand), Andy redeems himself. When he hears Opie bashing women, and realizes that the boy is just parroting his father, Andy becomes ashamed of himself. ...
- Two Chairs No Waiting 39: Myra Lambert is a Raindrop
- While researching that comment, I was re-reading Neal Brower's wonderful book Mayberry 101 and ran across a nice insight for fan of The Andy Griffith Show and thought it was something you'd want to know or be reminded of if you have ...
- PUMA For Life: 50 years later and Andy Griffith is still relevant ...
- Over at The New Agenda they have a video from an old Andy Griffith show about a woman who decides to run for city council. Now mind you, this was filmed 50 years ago. At TNA, Judy Silver writes: In...
Welcome, Mayberry Fans...
Sit a Spell!
StephenC wrote...
Amazing how the opening lake is right in the heart of Hollywood, and still looks much the same. Great lens! I also did an Andy Griffith lens and it's amazing how this show is so loved. I think I have seen more of your lenses before, so just thought I would look around more of them!
Posted May 17, 2009
JoanneOtt wrote...
What a great lens! Love all the photos. It was a great show.
Posted March 05, 2009
Chris1392 wrote...
I still watch this show late nights on tv land. 5 stars and favor
Posted February 02, 2009
coopd wrote...
I love the Andy Griffith show! Especially Barney. Everytime I watch that show, the song goes through my head for hours :) Great lens! 5*
diana
Diana's Photography
Posted September 11, 2008
Courtesies
A Fan Salute to Earle HagenBoingBoing ~ Earle Hagen RIP
The Andy Griffith Show Website
TV Land ~ The Andy Griffith Show
Etch A Sketch Art by George Vlosich III
Internet Movie Database ~ Earle H. Hagen
CNN ~ 'Andy Griffith' Composer Dies at 88
TV Theme Composer Hagen Dies At Age 88
Internet Movie Database ~ The Andy Griffith Show
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