Dragnet (theme song)
Encyclopedia
"Dragnet" is an instrumental
theme
from the radio and television show of the same name. It was composed by Walter Schumann
for the radio show, and was also used on the subsequent television series and later syndication of the TV series under the name "Badge 714". The theme is in two parts: an opening signature "Main Title" (the ominous "Dum - - - de - DUM - DUM") and the "Dragnet March" used over the end credits.
A 1953
recording by the Ray Anthony
band that combined the "Main Title" and "Dragnet March" became a popular music
chart hit (reaching #2 on the Billboard
chart).
After the theme became a chart hit, the publishers of the score for the 1946 film version of The Killers
composed by Miklós Rózsa
challenged the authorship of the copyright of the Dragnet "Main Title". They contended that Walter Schumann had visited the sound stage in 1946 when Miklós Rózsa was recording "The Killers", and so had picked up (perhaps unconsciously) the melody of a cue for that film known as "Danger Ahead". A settlement between publishers resolved the case by allowing both composers and publishers to share the royalties for the short opening signature "Main Title", which became known as "Danger Ahead" after that. The "Dragnet March" remained the exclusive composition of Schumann.
Film and television composer Nathan Scott
, who began orchestrating for Schumann beginning in 1952, later became Dragnets second composer following Schumann's departure from the series.
The theme (both sections, including "Danger Ahead" and the "Dragnet March") was later covered by the band Art of Noise to become the theme music for the 1987 film
based on the TV show. Its familiar opening signature was also adopted as a jingle
for Tums
antacid
medication. The version performed by the Frank Chacksfield
Orchestra was used by Radio Veronica
as the opening theme to the Dutch Top 40 and Tipparade.
A dramatic rendition of the opening signature can be heard at the beginning of each stage in the 1980 video game Wizard of Wor
, with the last note occurring on the "DOUBLE SCORE DUNGEON" screen.
A parody of the theme opened the 1967 Eric Burdon and The Animals hit "San Franciscan Nights
". A sample of it was used in the 1973 song "Armed and Extremely Dangerous" by First Choice
.
The 2003 Dick Wolf
-produced version of Dragnet used a modified version of the "Danger Ahead" theme composed by Mike Post
.
Theme tune for each new member of Belgian local radio Radio Minerva.
A variant on the Main Title is used in the video game Donkey Kong
.
The opening signature is frequently played during NHL
hockey games by the home team (Detroit
is one example) whenever a member of the opposing team has drawn a penalty.
WFAN
uses the theme during its 20/20 traffic reports.
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
theme
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
from the radio and television show of the same name. It was composed by Walter Schumann
Walter Schumann
Walter Schumann was an American composer for film, television, and the theater. His notable works include the score for The Night of the Hunter and the Dragnet Theme...
for the radio show, and was also used on the subsequent television series and later syndication of the TV series under the name "Badge 714". The theme is in two parts: an opening signature "Main Title" (the ominous "Dum - - - de - DUM - DUM") and the "Dragnet March" used over the end credits.
A 1953
1953 in music
-Events:*February 6 – Contralto Kathleen Ferrier, already terminally ill with cancer, leaves Covent Garden Opera House on a stretcher after being taken ill on the second night of her run in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice....
recording by the Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony is an American bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor.- Biography :...
band that combined the "Main Title" and "Dragnet March" became a popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
chart hit (reaching #2 on the Billboard
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart).
After the theme became a chart hit, the publishers of the score for the 1946 film version of The Killers
The Killers (1946 film)
The Killers is a 1946 American film noir directed by Robert Siodmak. It is based in part on the short story of the same name by Ernest Hemingway. The film features Burt Lancaster in his screen debut, as well as Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, and Sam Levene...
composed by Miklós Rózsa
Miklós Rózsa
Miklós Rózsa was a Hungarian-born composer trained in Germany , and active in France , England , and the United States , with extensive sojourns in Italy from 1953...
challenged the authorship of the copyright of the Dragnet "Main Title". They contended that Walter Schumann had visited the sound stage in 1946 when Miklós Rózsa was recording "The Killers", and so had picked up (perhaps unconsciously) the melody of a cue for that film known as "Danger Ahead". A settlement between publishers resolved the case by allowing both composers and publishers to share the royalties for the short opening signature "Main Title", which became known as "Danger Ahead" after that. The "Dragnet March" remained the exclusive composition of Schumann.
Film and television composer Nathan Scott
Nathan Scott (composer)
Nathan Scott was an American film score and television composer. He composed, conducted, arranged and orchestrated more than 850 separate credits in television, as well as the music for more than 100 films...
, who began orchestrating for Schumann beginning in 1952, later became Dragnets second composer following Schumann's departure from the series.
The theme (both sections, including "Danger Ahead" and the "Dragnet March") was later covered by the band Art of Noise to become the theme music for the 1987 film
Dragnet (1987 film)
Dragnet is a 1987 film comedy starring Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks, directed by Tom Mankiewicz, based on the television crime drama of the same name starring Jack Webb. The screenplay is written by Aykroyd, Alan Zweibel and Mankiewicz. The original music score is by Ira Newborn...
based on the TV show. Its familiar opening signature was also adopted as a jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
for Tums
Tums
TUMS is an antacid made of sucrose and calcium carbonate manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline in St.Louis, Missouri, USA. It is a non-prescription drug and available at many retail stores, including drug stores, grocery stores and mass merchandisers. It provides relief from acid indigestion, heartburn,...
antacid
Antacid
An antacid is a substance which neutralizes stomach acidity.-Mechanism of action:Antacids perform a neutralization reaction, increasing the pH to reduce acidity in the stomach. When gastric hydrochloric acid reaches the nerves in the gastrointestinal mucosa, they signal pain to the central nervous...
medication. The version performed by the Frank Chacksfield
Frank Chacksfield
Frank Chacksfield was an English pianist, organist, composer and conductor of popular light orchestral easy listening music, who had great success in Britain and internationally in the 1950s and early 1960s.-Life and career:...
Orchestra was used by Radio Veronica
Radio Veronica
Radio Veronica was an offshore radio station that began broadcasting in 1960, and broadcast from offshore for over fourteen years. It was set up by independent radio, TV and household electrical retailers in the Netherlands to stimulate the sales of radio receivers by providing an alternative to...
as the opening theme to the Dutch Top 40 and Tipparade.
A dramatic rendition of the opening signature can be heard at the beginning of each stage in the 1980 video game Wizard of Wor
Wizard Of Wor
Wizard of Wor is an arcade game from 1981 , developed by Midway. Other systems it was ported to include the Atari 800, Commodore 64, the Atari 2600, Atari 5200 and the Bally Astrocade as "The Incredible Wizard". The title of the game is often misspelled as "Wizard of War"...
, with the last note occurring on the "DOUBLE SCORE DUNGEON" screen.
A parody of the theme opened the 1967 Eric Burdon and The Animals hit "San Franciscan Nights
San Franciscan Nights
"San Franciscan Nights" is a 1967 song performed by Eric Burdon and The Animals, with words and music by the group's members, Eric Burdon, Vic Briggs, John Weider, Barry Jenkins, and Danny McCulloch...
". A sample of it was used in the 1973 song "Armed and Extremely Dangerous" by First Choice
First Choice (band)
First Choice was an American girl group vocal music trio from Philadelphia. The group produced the disco hits "Armed and Extremely Dangerous", "Smarty Pants", "The Player", "Love Thang", "Let No Man Put Asunder" and "Dr. Love". They were signed to soul label Philly Groove Records and to disco label...
.
The 2003 Dick Wolf
Dick Wolf
Richard Anthony "Dick" Wolf is an American producer, specializing in crime dramas such as Miami Vice and the Law & Order franchise. Throughout his career he has won several awards including an Emmy Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.-Early life:Wolf was born in New York City, the son...
-produced version of Dragnet used a modified version of the "Danger Ahead" theme composed by Mike Post
Mike Post
Mike Post is an American multi-Grammy and Emmy Award winning composer best known for scoring some of the most popular TV theme songs in the United States, for primetime series such as Law & Order, NYPD Blue, The Rockford Files, LA Law, Quantum Leap, Magnum, P.I., Hill Street Blues, among numerous...
.
Theme tune for each new member of Belgian local radio Radio Minerva.
A variant on the Main Title is used in the video game Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong (video game)
is an arcade game released by Nintendo in 1981. It is an early example of the platform game genre, as the gameplay focuses on maneuvering the main character across a series of platforms while dodging and jumping over obstacles. In the game, Jumpman must rescue a damsel in distress, Lady, from a...
.
The opening signature is frequently played during NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
hockey games by the home team (Detroit
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
is one example) whenever a member of the opposing team has drawn a penalty.
WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
uses the theme during its 20/20 traffic reports.