Fred Steiner - Perry Mason Theme (Park Avenue Beat)

Most people have never heard of Fred Steiner, but most would recognize one of the most famous themes ever composed for a television show that for "Perry Mason". The show starring Raymond Burr as the famous attorney based on a character created by Erle Stanley Gardner ran from 1957 to 1966, and every episode began with Fred's theme which actually had a title, "Park Avenue Beat". He also composed for several other tv programs including the original "Star Trek" series.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Fred Steiner
• Perry Mason Theme
• Park Avenue Beat
• Raymond Burr

[44032]

Why "Park Avenue Beat" if it's the theme from Perry Mason? What does he ahve to do with Park Avenue?

I always thought it spounded like somehting s tropper would dance to. And Mason strips away the falsehoods to get at the truth..

[Nocaro]

@44032 I don't think the music was originally written for the Perry Mason show although it was obviously used as its theme. But you'd have to ask the writer why "Park Avenue Beat".

[yooperlooper]

One of the very best TV show themes

[nebishes]

love this song,,,,, in blues bros 2000,,,, bari sax was good

[drsteerforth]

@44032 Fred Steiner, who wrote the theme, was also an arranger for TV shows, but I don't know if he wrote "Park Avenue Beat" especially for "Perry Mason" or it was among his repertoire of music that he composed and was just adopted for the show. Incidentally, Fred died last June (2011) at the age of 88. He was born in New York City, so that may explain the Park Avenue connection.

[44032]

@drsteerforth Ironically it was Perry Mason that filled the Saturday Night timeslot when the original "Jackie Gleason Show" went off the air in 1957.

[drsteerforth]

@44032 Yes, I just did a search, and Wikipedia mentioned "Los Angeles". In that case, I have no idea why "Park Avenue Beat" is the theme song, but it's one of the greatest in TV history along with Jackie Gleason's "Melancholy Serenade". Same genre of music, I think.

[44032]

@drsteerforth No it was in Los Angeles. I've been watching the show for eyars and have many of the epsiodes on tape.

[drsteerforth]

@44032 I think Perry Mason's office was located on Park Avenue in New York City.

[clarkhum]

This, I believe, is the Tee Vee Toons recording.

[sleedolfine15]

Great theme song and a great example of formulaic ensemble acting. It amazing how closely the series mirrored the novels.

[godkingzulu]

He also did the score for the Amazing Stories ep Life on Death Row and a couple of episodes of Tiny Toon Adventures. Oh, yeah, he did the themes to Dudley Do-Right and the Bullwinkle Show. Talk about versatile!!