Search for Tomorrow - Early 80s Opening Theme

[mark40511]

I never understood why when SFT went from CBS to NBC that it went down in ratings? I mean, what difference does it make which network it's on, if you're big fan of a show, why would anyone stop watching simply because it switched networks. That always puzzled me.

[andysasser]

@mark40511 - Two reasons:

1) NBC had problems clearing the show at the 12:30 slot. Many affiliates failed to clear The Doctors before Search moved, and many of these affiliates failed to clear Search.  Thus, in many markets, Search left CBS and was unavailable.

2) At 12:30 on NBC, Search was now competing against The Young and the Restless, one of the most popular soaps at the time. Many fans who were loyal to CBS soaps didn't make the move to NBC with Search.

[GenXorcist1976]

@andysasser

I've never understood that expression "clear .... whatever program". It conjures up images of clearing a runway for take-off. What exactly does that mean, "failed to clear SEARCH"??

[andysasser]

@GenXorcist1976

Clearance, in this context, means that an NBC affiliate agreed to air the program. In broadcasting parlance, clearance refers to the number or percentage of affiliates airing the program. In the case of Search, I have heard anecdotally that many affiliates chose not to air Search (failed to clear the program), opting to air syndicated fare, local news, etc. in the time slot.

[GenXorcist1976]

@andysasser

Oh OK, that makes sense. That must explain why "The Bold and the Beautiful" (even though I never watched it except for the :Lauren/Sheila catfight stuff) always aired on an independent network - KSTW here in Seattle - and NOT on the CBS affiliate KIRO for years until it got more popular, I want to say about 1995 or so. Thanks for clearing that up!

[soap1919jt]

This brings back so many fond memories. I loved both versions of this theme equally. The logo, as georgeous as it is also has a bit of an eerie look to it. That T definitely looks like it could prick someone! ...lol

[TheAngiehubbard]

Michael Nouri Debuts as Caleb McGraw on (ALL MY CHILDREN) May 24th watch weekdays on ABC!

[gymnastix]

Yes, I caught him in passing one day. "Steve Kaslo" has certainly grown "long in the tooth," hasn't he?

Do you also remember Meg Bennett, the prettiest "Liza Walton Kaslo?" Bennett was the one most associated with Nouri's "Kaslo."

But I think for many, Sherry Mathis was the best "Liza Walton Kaslo Sentell,"

played the role longest of the five women in the role.

Sadly, Mathis passed away while only in her 40's.

[gymnastix]

@TheAngiehubbard I'm actually old enough I remember Denise Nickerson as the first "Liza." Nickerson had played "Amy Jennings" on the ABC horror soap 'Dark Shadows" before joining the cast of "Search for Tomorrow," was also "Virginia" in "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factor y."

Following Nickerson as "Liza" was teenager Kathleen Beller, also pretty, seeming almost like an animated porcelain doll.

[gymnastix]

@TheAngiehubbard The fifth and last "Liza Walton Kaslo Sentell Kendall" was played by Louise Gideon, proficient, but the least memorable of the quintet of actresses that played this pivotal character on "Search" for 15 years.

[AWfan1999]

I loved this theme. I wished they had kept during the NBC run.

[jmsweat]

I always thought it changed when it went to NBC...but actually I read that all P&G soaps underwent logo and theme changes in the Fall of 1981. This theme last aired in December 1981, so the new theme was used for a few months on CBS before the show moved to NBC on March 29, 1982.

[thegreenhornet95]

@jmsweat This theme is the best. They should have kept it - it's so beautiful.

[rhsharp]

I agree that it's unlikely that NBC will take ATWT, but I wish they would. It's funny - when I was growing up, our NBC station ran ATWT because there was no CBS station in the area. So I grew up thinking ATWT was an NBC show!

[AWfan1999]

I don't think it was a mistake for P&G to move Search to NBC. CBS cancelled the show and, to keep it alive, P&G pitched the show to NBC and they accepted it. I hope NBC takes ATWT after CBS cancels it, but that's highly unlikely.

[fatmanfiftythousand]

It was a mistake and CBS only cancelled the show because of P&G wanting what they got from NBC. I'm willing to bet that they didn't see the plummeting ratings coming, though- at the very least, the ratings were starting to pick up at 2:30.

[jmsweat]

The NBC move was a mistake on P&G's part. We always watched the CBS lineup of shows and started watching Capitol when SFT left to NBC. I think this is what many viewers at the time did since the ratings were about half of what they had been on CBS.

[TimothySEnglish]

CBS has had a history of being a bloodthirsty network for quite some time of any shows they feel are underperforming they pull from the air. NBC was the only viable option at the time for "Search" giving P&G the time slot they desired. As for ATWT, that show has been dying a slow death for quite some time. It would be nice if NBC picked it up, but I think for quite some time they've been trying to get out of the daytime drama business.

[freeek04]

frankly I think we need to move all the soaps to air between 3 and 7pm with 7-8 for news. That way the 8 remaining shows won't suffer the same fate as so many have in my generation (Another World, for example)

[ajwrangler1977]

That's exactly what time they air in the UK and Australia.

[33Mark221]

Before they switched to this tune (I think it was about 1975), the "Search for Tomorrow" music used to scare the crap out of me as a child. It sounded like a mournful dirge, and I was glad when it would finish.

[Chicago10281]

Remember the announcer, Dwight Weist?

[Chicago10281]

For you youngsters(and older people)out there,

"Search For Tomorrow" ran on CBS & NBC from 1951-1986!

[NEXTGENSKYN]

how the hell could it run on both stations i dont remember it being on nbc

[Chicago10281]

That's Easy! It first ran on CBS in 1951(when it was one of three soaps on that network)and then in later years, about 1982, NBC picked it up until it ended its run on Christmas Day of 1986!

[Soapking1965]

It premiered on CBS on Sept. 3 (Labor Day), 1951. It ran on CBS from 09/03/51 to 03/23/82. It switched to NBC on March 26, 1982 and ended on December 26, 1986.

[NEXTGENSKYN]

oh well sorry!!!! . my memory isnt that great

[jermainemack]

I would to see the closing credits for Search for Tomorrow when it ran on CBS back then!

[jjann09]

Classic....and beautiful!

By the way, is SAFEGUARD soap still around/

[thirtymphs]

Yes, you can buy it at most stores. If you can't find it at your local store, you can usually find it at bigger supermarkets.

[Davidt33]

Yes Safeguard is still around today.

[soap1919jt]

@Davidt33 Saw Safeguard in WalMart just the other day!

[grhdanny]

a little history...Elliot Lawrence Productions began producing music for SFT in the fall of 1974 (following a musician's strike that brought live organ music to an end on this show). this video is the second version ELP came up with (the first was played on harpsichord, piano and synthesizer), having been used from March 1980 to December 1981 when, on Xmas day, the third version came around...just a little history..

[soap1919jt]

@grhdanny Thanks for the info on SFT. I had no idea that a muscian's strike prompted the production of this SFT theme, and possibly many of the newer soap themes at that time...Very interesting!

[joninindiana]

Thank you so much for posting this!! I loved this theme as a young child, and it brings back some wonderful memories of time spent with my mother.

[fairnorth]

As a high school senior, I loved to look at Marie Cheatham(Stephanie) and Morgan Fairchild(Jennifer),and Meg Bennett(Liza) back in 1975. This theme brings back great memories! Thanks You/Tube!

[jmsweat]

This was one of my favorite themes from 80s soaps. They ruined it when the show moved to NBC. I was really young and just barely remember it on CBS.

[GenXorcist1976]

I know what you mean... I barely remember the CBS version, but it was my grandpa's favorite soap and he passed away in 1981 - and I remember seeing it with him so it HAD to be during CBS time. I also remember the trumpety NBC theme and actually liked it too.

[jmsweat]

I have such memories of watching daytime shows with my grandparents when I was young and home in the summers. We didn't have as many channels back then. I kind of miss how simple things were then.

[GenXorcist1976]

I couldn't agree with you more... you must be about my age. It seems like the vast majority of people on You Tube are youngsters (can't believe I'm 31 saying that!) saying things like "I wish I'd been alive in the 80's" and it makes me consider adding Metamucil to the grocery list...

[gymnastix]

It does my heart good to read comments like this, because much as I like some things about today's world (such as the Internet here and You Tube, computers, DVD players), overall, the quality and pace of life, and the fact that people had better manners and were more intelligent, were what made life better in the past (with your grandparents, who were probably, roughly, the same age as my parents).

Tom Brokaw didn't call his book about that generation, "The Greatest Generation," for nothing.

[jmsweat]

Yes, I have such good memories of watching soaps and game shows at my grandparents house in the 80s and things were simpler then with just 3 channels to watch. Definitely not the same today at all!

[gymnastix]

Interesting that your memories of watching soaps are with grandparents, whereas with me it was with my mother. That shows how much the world changed--because, in the era when I was a kid, more mothers were at home to watch soaps, whereas in your childhood, probably more mothers were working, so more grandparents watched soaps.

But I know what you mean--I miss those more simple times too. If I could only take my computer and DVD player back to those days, that would be the ideal world!

[rdiaz921]

That's a pretty good analysis. My mom worked part time. But she was mostly home with us kids. She cooked dinner every night. She was home when the bus dropped us off from school. She cooked breakfast on the weekends, lunch and dinner on the weekends was our problem.

[rdiaz921]

this was a reply to gymnastix..

[RolandTaylorJr]

The beautiful Search theme! Great!! Do you have this closing theme as well?

[BigSingh]

I remember this one.  Thanks for posting.

[Najee1020]

Wow! Do I remember that theme!!

[gymnastix]

Great upload of the memorable clouds opening sequence (used from the mid-1970's to the early 80's) from this first successful television soap opera!

Nice to hear announcer Dwight Weist's voice again, against the moving color images. So far here on You Tube have only been able to do so with a black & white upload of this soap.

[soap1919jt]

@gymnastix I luv David's voice. To hear it again brings back great memories!