Soundtrack music from the first silent forward. If it was written for the moving image, we'll play it. Library music included; popcorn optional.

December 13, 2016: DR. LILLIAN GERSHENSON CARSON on Joseph Gershenson (Universal Pictures Music Head 1949-69)
Dr. Lillian Gershenson Carson discusses her father Joseph Gershenson's legacy. Russian-born Gershenson was orchestra leader at the Palace Theater on Broadway during the heyday of Vaudeville then Head of Music for the RKO-Keith Theaters' silent films nationwide before becoming a short film pioneer producer and music director. In 1939, Universal Pictures hired him to produce short film musicals and serials in Hollywood and later executive produce over 40 feature length films including early Westerns and "Universal Monsters" films. Eventually as the Music Department head from 1949-69, Gershenson supervised (and conducted) for over 300 films such as Touch of Evil, The Glenn Miller Story, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Magnificent Obsession, Abbott & Costello's Little Giant, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Sweet Charity. He even gave Henry Mancini, Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Quincy Jones and the studio musicians now known as "The Wrecking Crew" some of their first jobs. Other collaborators include Vic Mizzy, Francis Lai, Leonard Rosenman, Hans J. Salter and Frank Skinner.

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