Search for Tomorrow Opening titles 1951-1986

[gymnastix]

If any actors, directors, producers, writers or CBS staff have kines or video from the 1967-75 years of "Search For Tomorrow," especially episodes with the following actors, please upload them on You Tube, and make copies of your videos for The Paley Center in NYC..

[gymnastix]

The actors on these highly-sought episodes of "Search For Tomorrow" are: Robby Benson, Jill Clayburgh, Joan Copeland, Anthony George, Ken Harvey, Joel Higgins, Leigh Lassen (aka "Natalie Israel"), Christopher Lowe, Robert Mandan, Dino Narazzano, Tommy Norden, Susan Sarandon, Courtney Sherman, Peter Simon. and Kelly Wood.

Once again, if you have any video/kines of "Search For Tomorrow" episodes with the aforementioned actors, please upload to You Tube, with copies to New York's Paley Center..

[soap1919jt]

"Somewhere in the Night" was a pretty piece; however, it did not match such a title as "Search for Tomorrow" . . . at least not musically. The second theme (1974 thru 1981) was in my opinion, the one that most closely matched.

[kdizzle79]

Mr. Brady at @2:24

[mark40511]

I agree. The 74 to 81 and 81 to 82 were great. I also loved the First NBC version.....I think when NBC first started airing it wasn't there a tad bit longer version and there was a female voice over advertising a P&G product?

[thegreenhornet95]

@mark40511 You are so right. The 74-81 were the best.

[gymnastix]

@thegreenhornet95 Miller also composed a piece called "Signature For Search For Tomorrow," used very briefly in 1974. I don't remember its melody, would be nice if it would surface somehow.

I have a sentimental attachment to the first "Search For Tomorrow" theme, as it was used the longest. But the first version of the second theme, "We'll Search For Tomorrow," was prettier and the better one. I also liked its vocals version, used sometimes over the closing credits.

[thegreenhornet95]

@gymnastix I like the Search For Tomorrow theme as well. I'm also attached to it as well as it is so beautiful. You're right, the second one was much prettier, by far (1974-81). That was better and more beautiful by far. It could really touch a person's heart.

[gymnastix]

@thegreenhornet95 Also, live organ or piano trumps recorded orchestral and synthesizer renditions hands-down.

"Somewhere In The Night" (whether instrumental or vocals version, though I prefer the instrumental) was a catchy tune, but more suited to a prime time, action adventure series than to a soap, especially "Search For Tomorrow."

If anything, with "Night" in its title, would have been more appropriate for "The Edge Of Night."

[thegreenhornet95]

@gymnastix Yeah, you are so right. The Somewhere In The Night theme would have been more appropriate for something like "The Edge of Night". You are right about that. Or a prime time action adventure. I don't think it was appropriate for Search For Tomorrow which is why I never liked it. (Hope I don't offend those who do like it.) But for something like you said "The Edge of Night" it would have been just fine.

[msgreeneyez26]

The last opening them seemed like the David Forsythe show, just saying...

[summer01590]

AND NOW SEARCH FOR TOMMORROW FROM NBC

[453c]

The last theme song from 86 was kinda scary/creepy.

[JeterSwisherFan88]

@453c Yeah...I never watched the show but I HAVE heard 'Somewhere in the Night' by Billy Chinnock, and his sung version was better than the weird version that opened SFT itself in its final year, 1986.

[ayla8251]

beautiful music tribute. miss search for tomorrow.wonder what happened to everyone (RIP Larry and Mary)

[kristinamelendez12]

does any one have Search for tomorrow of robby benson?

[TimsDale4ever]

OMG something just rushes through me when any of these soaps' themes from the 70's pop up which was when all of these gorgeous full orchestra versions were first starting to be used. I get all flushed. It was a MAGNIFICENT time that I still miss to this day. Others like LOVE OF LIFE, AW, ATWT, GL. It just complelely blows my mind that all of this at some point was deemed "not good enough", and alas today we have none of this. ???

[SoapsGoldenAge]

the 74 to 81 one was the superior opening, in my opin. LOVED it.

[TimsDale4ever]

@SoapsGoldenAge You're right of course -- but the 81-82 version was still good too. I quit watching when it moved to NBC and "thought" I didn't like the look and feel of the show toward the end. Oddly, I would love to see those last 4 years now as I'm sure they would far surpass anything on today's shows.

[thegreenhornet95]

@SoapsGoldenAge I totally agree with you. The 74-81 opening was superior indeed and the 81-82 opening was just as beautiful. Why anyone would want to completely change it is beyond me.

[joemontco]

What a warm and loving tribute to a wonderful show that I still miss to this very day. Thank you for showing us that even today, SFT is appreciated and loved for what it always was, first-class top-notch daytime drama. Somewhere in heaven Mary Stuart and Larry Haines are smiling.

[alphauktelepictures]

@joemontco I agree, i'm sure at one time it was the pinnacle of daytime viewing, if only CBS had left it at 12:30, bring it back i say!

[gymnastix]

@alphauktelepictures What use would there be in bringing "Search For Tomorrow" back now? Without Mary Stuart, that soap opera has lost its heart and soul, and without Larry Haines its wit. Plus many others are now gone too--Carl Low, Ann Williams, and Ken Harvey, among them.

Soap operas on broadcast television are on the way out, anyway. It remains to be seen if soaps will succeed on the Internet, to be tested by the migration there of "All My Children."

[gymnastix]

@alphauktelepictures Don'tget me wrong, I miss "Search For Tomorrow" too. But sometimes, in fact usually, it is just impossible to recapture the past by bringing something back. Be happy you have good memories of "Search" when you enjoyed it.

What is a shame is that virtually no episodes were salvaged (either on kinescope or videotape) from the best years of "Search," between 1965-75, most specifically from 1967-72, when the soap had its best cast, and storylines to match the great acting.

[gymnastix]

@alphauktelepictures I also agree with you CBS should have left well enough alone, and kept "Search" in its 12"30 p.m. perch, where it had reigned for years.

The fact "The Hung & The Breastless" has done so well in that slot so many years disproves CBS' theory of soaps not drawing viewers at that time. And even with a slight loss of viewers, "Search" still outperformed its audience draw at 2:30 p.m. on CBS, which itself outdrew the 12:30p slot on NBC.

[gymnastix]

@alphauktelepictures It is my fondest wish that at least four videotaped (or kinescoped) episodes, representing the best cast members in the best years of "Search" will, somehow, be unearthed.

I would like to see one episode with Robett Mandan and Joan Copeland, one episode with Jill Clayburgh, one episode with Robby Benson, and one episode with Susan Sarandon, the latter two also including longer-term cast members Ken Harvey, Leigh Lassen, Dino Narazzano, and Anthony George.

[gymnastix]

@alphauktelepictures Mandan played "Sam Reynolds" 1965-70, the favorite of all Mary Stuart's suitors. Copeland played "Andrea Whiting" 1967-72, the best antagonist on "Search," possibly in all of daytime.

Lassen was the next-to-last "Patty," daughter of "Jo," and played the role longer than any actress but another "LL," Lynn Loring, the first "Patty." Narazzano was "Patty's" first husband, "Dr. Len Whiting," son of "Sam" and "Andrea."

[gymnastix]

@alphauktelepictures Harvey was "Doug Martin," the next-to-last husband of "Eunice," "Jo's" sister. And George played "Dr. Tony Vincent," the next-to-last husband of "Jo."

I forgot to mention I would also like one of those four episodes to include real-life spouses Peter Simon and Courtney Sherman, who played marrried lawyers "Scott Phillips," & Cathy Parker Phillips," as well Chris Lowe, who played their adopted son, "Eric Leshinsky." "Scott" was the son of "Doug Martin."

[gymnastix]

@alphauktelepictures Peter Simon, like Mary Stuart, moved over to "(The) Guiding Light." playing "Dr, Ed Bauer" longer than even Mart Hulswit by the time "GL" was canceled. Courtney Sherman-Simon played shorter-run roles on several soaps, as well writing for daytime dramas.

[softwater88]

alphauktelepictures . . . Thank you soooo much for posting this montage. I used to be a big fan of "Search For Tomorrow." But I think that a correction is needed on the "used from 1981-1982" segment. The "1981-1982" segement was actually discontinued in late 1981. I remember it very well cause it was my all time favorite theme. I thought it was too beautiful!! I wish that soaps were still like this and that beautiful orchestrated music was still in vogue. I miss this sooooo stinkin' much.

[gymnastix]

@softwater88 Even better than the beautiful, orchestrated soaps music was the beautiful, live music, played on organ, or organ and piano, not only in the main title and closing credits sequences, but as incidental music throughout the program..

[stanbrown32]

I think I remember the clouds rolling by differently, too--like they were coming forward, toward the viewer. Maybe that was a midshow break? From about 1974-1976?

[WallenpaupackRE]

Well, the one from 86 is cheesy enough! LOL. I would love to see the giant eyeball one though!

[thegreenhornet95]

@WallenpaupackRE I couldn't agree more!

[soap1919jt]

This is very good work. A couple of notes: Search went to color in 1967, and by the mid-60s there was a variation of the original theme that had a stronger organ. I'm glad that they did not air the one featuring the eyball. That sounds creepy....lol

[mccommas2]

My grandma used to watch this in the 1970's. I remember the clouds rolling away differently than is shown here.

[NelsonAspen]

That was a treat, thanx! You might think the final one from '86 is cheesy, but you should have seen some of the other versions that didnt make the cut: including vid clips spinning in and out of a giant eyeball!

[alphauktelepictures]

thanks, glad you liked it, does the eyeball version exist? it sounds like an excuse NOT to watch search for tomorrow

[NelsonAspen]

I had it on tape (it never aired) and made the mistake of lending it to a colleague from "Another World," who never gave it back... He has since died and that eyeball may never be seen again. It was pretty awful! Same theme as the last version, tho.

[NelsonAspen]

@SoapsGoldenAge U should def post them...what a treat! Cheers mate :)

[thegreenhornet95]

@NelsonAspen I agree with you about the cheesy part. I also add lame. The 74-81 was most beautiful such as 81-82. They should have fought to keep that theme when they changed networks. Just like the Young and the Restless still has the same theme. They changed it for a while and I guess it didn't work out. They should have done the same thing with Search for Tomorrow and kep that pretty 70s- early 80s theme.

[thegreenhornet95]

@NelsonAspen I happen to agree with you about the 86 version. However, I think it's more than cheesy - I think it's pure crap! (No offense to those that like it.) The one from 74-81 was the best. The 81-82 one was nice too. They sound similar, except I think one was a piano and one was a synthesizer. Either way, they were both beautiful and should have stayed. The music is so sweet and beautiful that it just touches my heart.

[gymnastix]

@thegreenhornet95 There was also an alternate, vocal version of the 1974-81 piano theme, used over the closing credits.

There was also another musical piece called "Interchange," by original organist Cht Kinsbury played onthe first broadcast only) Bill Meeder, that was used, I think, as "bumper" music mid-show, for a few years before 1969, when Ashley Miller replaced the deceased Meeder as organist until 1974, when the program's music was taken over by Elliot Lawrence Productions.

[gymnastix]

@gymnastix @gymnastix That was supposed to have read as follows:

There was also another musical piece called "Interchange," by Bill Meeder, the original organist of "Search" (from 1951-69, although Chet Kinsbury played on the first broadcast only) that was used, I think, as "bumper" music mid-show, for a few years before 1969, when Ashley Miller replaced the deceased Meeder as organist until 1974, when the program's music was taken over by Elliot Lawrence Productions.

[thegreenhornet95]

@gymnastix I heard the vocal version.  It's very pretty. It's on here somewhere. I could send it to you if you like. It's really beautiful.

[gymnastix]

@thegreenhornet95 Thank you.

I'm referring to the vocals version of the closing theme music used from 1974-78, not of "Somewhere In The Night," or any vocals version used in the NBC years (1982-86) of "Search."

I have an audio file of the 1974-78 vocals version of "We'll Search For Tomorrow." But if you may send me (via the You Tube message system) the URL to a video of it, that would be great, will save me having to "search" (pun intended) for it myself.

[thegreenhornet95]

@gymnastix You're welcome. I knew what you meant. I was referring to the vocal version of the 1974-78 theme as well. (See further below). I was just meekly agreeing with you hands down in every aspect. Sure I'll send you the vocal version. It's so beautiful and pretty. It really warms my heart and melts it as well. It's just so touching and beautiful. :)