Thanks for sharing all of these shows from the past - it's fun to visit with favorite characters/actors again. I loved this show when I was in high school - I had a crush on Jackie Cooper and adored Cleo. It was the first time that I'd seen a show where the dog got to talk, and have remembered Cleo ever since - never had a Basset, but always loved them.
The theme heard here was a "stock cue" composed by Merrick (even though Lou Kosloff composed the majority of the episode's score)- I've also heard it on at least one kinescope of Jan Murrray's mid-'50s game show, "DOLLAR A SECOND". And it was a slight variation of Mahlon's end theme, "J and M Stomp", heard in the filmed episodes of "THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM" between 1955 and '64.
Lou Kosloff and Mahlon Merrick were two different people, Steve- Kosloff was a session musician on various recordings in the '30s (he was a violinist) before he began composing and conducting music for various radio shows (including "BLONDIE" and "THE LIFE OF RILEY"). Mahlon Merrick {who also composed and conducted music for radio shows, and "stock cues" under several aliases, including "Claude Sweeten" and "Gene LeGrande"} was best known as Jack Benny's arranger and conductor for 30 years.
This episode originally aired near the end of the first season, on May 31, 1956; incidentally, the theme (composed by Mahlon Merrick) was also used during the end credits of the final season of "THE LIFE OF RILEY" (1957-'58).
R.I.P., Miss Patricia Breslin.
Juliaflo 2 months ago
Thanks for sharing all of these shows from the past - it's fun to visit with favorite characters/actors again. I loved this show when I was in high school - I had a crush on Jackie Cooper and adored Cleo. It was the first time that I'd seen a show where the dog got to talk, and have remembered Cleo ever since - never had a Basset, but always loved them.
Shadepuppy 3 months ago
I LOVE CLEO...MORE CLEO PLEASE!!!
ccmcootie50 1 year ago
I had a Little Golden Book about Cleo.
dandydonaldo 1 year ago
The theme heard here was a "stock cue" composed by Merrick (even though Lou Kosloff composed the majority of the episode's score)- I've also heard it on at least one kinescope of Jan Murrray's mid-'50s game show, "DOLLAR A SECOND". And it was a slight variation of Mahlon's end theme, "J and M Stomp", heard in the filmed episodes of "THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM" between 1955 and '64.
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
Lou Kosloff and Mahlon Merrick were two different people, Steve- Kosloff was a session musician on various recordings in the '30s (he was a violinist) before he began composing and conducting music for various radio shows (including "BLONDIE" and "THE LIFE OF RILEY"). Mahlon Merrick {who also composed and conducted music for radio shows, and "stock cues" under several aliases, including "Claude Sweeten" and "Gene LeGrande"} was best known as Jack Benny's arranger and conductor for 30 years.
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
Mahlon Merrick's screen name credit was Lou Kosloff..
SteveCarras 2 years ago
This episode originally aired near the end of the first season, on May 31, 1956; incidentally, the theme (composed by Mahlon Merrick) was also used during the end credits of the final season of "THE LIFE OF RILEY" (1957-'58).
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
Thank you SOO much for posting! I've been dying to see Cleo again after all these years!
sunsetswest 2 years ago