MovieChat Forums > Night Gallery (1969) Discussion > A story about the theme music

A story about the theme music

posted 10 years ago by Tresix
14 replies | jump to latest

There is a guy at my job who is a big "Twilight Zone" fan, particularly the intro. He had never seen "Night Gallery" and, for a while, Me-TV showed "NG" in "TZ"s time slot. I told him that I liked this show and its theme. The next day he told me that he watched "NG" but didn't really like it. About the theme, he said it was "too creepy". My response: "It's the theme to a horror show. It's SUPPOSED to be creepy!" 

"There will be blood. Oh, yes, there WILL be blood."-Jigsaw; "Saw II"

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

I fill the street outside with that theme through speakers every Halloween. Very atmospheric.

[–] LucusNon 10 years ago

NG's themes are alright, although I still favor the
"original" TZ theme by Bernard Herrmann:
https://youtube.com/watch?t=2&v=HS7FiMl-u4w

[–] RipCity 10 years ago

I really like the theme used for the first two seasons, but can't stand the one they used for season 3. The one used for the pilot film is okay as well.

Veni, vidi, vermicelli
I came, I saw, I had pasta

[–] Tresix 10 years ago

I'm no fan of the season three opening either. It sounds so disjointed and the paintings coming from odd angles instead of in the linear way of the first two seasons doesn't work for me either.

"There will be blood. Oh, yes, there WILL be blood."-Jigsaw; "Saw II"

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

Yeah, I'd say season 3's theme lacks subtlety like it's trying too hard.

[–] antonasmodeus 10 years ago

I was a toddler when NG first aired and was absolutely terrified anytime I saw and heard the intro! So much so that my parents would sometimes tell me that if I didn't behave, Rod Serling was gonna take me away to the Night Gallery. It gave me nightmares for years but it also helped keep me in check...hehe

[–] Tresix 10 years ago

I was 8 and would hide under the covers during the opening credits.

"There will be blood. Oh, yes, there WILL be blood."-Jigsaw; "Saw II"

[–] antonasmodeus 10 years ago

Haha, yes that's a good place to hide. Unfortunately I had uncles that would torment me any time I tried hiding under the covers when ever something scary came out on the tube. I'm still amazed I made it outta my childhood with my sanity intact!

[–] AndrewHNPX12 10 years ago

It's interesting that each season of Night Gallery had a slightly different theme. The season 1 theme is very dark and moody, having kind of a classic horror feel to it. Season 2 used a faster and somewhat more energetic variation on the theme. And season 3 changed it completely, using a vastly inferior, jumpy theme that sounds like it was written for people with ADD.

[–] Tresix 10 years ago

I have an episode from the first season on my iTunes/iPod and can hardly hear it. Season two's theme is the one that really crept me out.

"There will be blood. Oh, yes, there WILL be blood."-Jigsaw; "Saw II"

[–] antonasmodeus 10 years ago

Does anyone know if a ringtone exists of the scary NG intro music?

[–] Tresix 10 years ago

I've been looking for it too, but haven't had any luck.

"There will be blood. Oh, yes, there WILL be blood."-Jigsaw; "Saw II"

[–] Thrivingdead 9 years ago

Which season? Is 2 the favourite?

... Sanity and Happiness are an impossible combination ...

[–] sleepingtiger (712) 7 years ago

Yeah, and that original theme (which I prefer, and have always loved because of its genuinely eerie, creepy-sounding spookiness, as well as creeping me out as a kid---it made me think of a snake slithering around in a room somewhere, hiding, and just waiting to jump out and bite you,lol) was also one of the first TV show themes to be played entirely on a synthesizer---composed by Gil Melle, who also did the equally memorably and creepy "Night Stalker" theme. The season 3 one with all the loud, shrieking, blaring horns/violins was unnecessary,frankly.