Post #535655 by molo on Fri, Jun 11, 2010 4:53 PM

On 2010-06-11 15:52, Donnabeach wrote:
Correct Molo. There were alot of elements that made the show popular and the Mort Stevens theme was certainly one of the biggns'. But to say the Ventures cover played a big part in the early success of the show is a bit of a stretch. And I am a Ventures fan too. :)

Oh but it did, and you're selling their impact on the show short. I lived on the isles at that time and can recall the kind of airplay the Ventures received by way of it [shades of what the Rascals experienced with "My Hawaii" around that same time, to the point of it becoming a chart topping hit on the islands]. As the story goes, CBS started running radio promos but without any background music. Then a Hawaiian radio DJ decided to use The Ventures' recording behind the ads. In no time, listeners began calling the station to find out who was playing the Five-0 theme they were hearing, which in turn started the wheels rolling for it to ultimately climb to #4 on the singles charts -nationwide- by April 1969.

This is over and beyond what the Mort Stevens' theme was contributing by way of weekly impact. It goes without saying the two remain in many ways inextricably linked (or more accurately, hopelessly intertwined). To this day many consider the two to be one, and even fewer know the exact differentiation.

With that said, I don't doubt that repositioning the show had an impact every bit as great. Competing against Rowan & Martin would have been rough at the time, since that show had already caught on.

Edit PS. I should clarify from earlier that Freeman wrote episodes for Route 66, but just prior to Hawaii Five-0 produced Hang "em High starring Clint Eastwood, which included a memorable theme by Dominic Frontiere. Freeman was also a producer for The Untouchables TV series during the early 60's, with theme music performed by bandleader Nelson Riddle.

[ Edited by: molo 2010-06-11 16:57 ]