Intrada announces the CD release of Jerry Goldsmith's music composed for The General Electric Theater, previously recorded with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and reconstructed and conducted by Leigh Phillips. Phillips spearheaded several Kickstarter campaigns to fund the recording of these scores for digital release. Now Intrada presents these recordings on compact disc, in a retro-styled package featuring extensive notes by Goldsmith authority Yavar Moradi, rare photos and a striking cover illustrated by Stephane Coedel.
The General Electric Theater was the longest running anthology TV series at ten seasons, largely featuring scores by Elmer Bernstein (featured on a previous Intrada release). Until Phillips had recorded the Goldsmith scores, they had never been available. While it is difficult to confirm how many scores Goldsmith composed for the series, his earliest is Hitler's Secret dating back to 1959, with the latest being The Bar Mitzvah of Major Orlovsky from 1962. This new album consists of some scores that survived in written form and others that Leigh Phillips was able to reconstruct by ear using the episode audio.
This set includes the following episodes: Hitler's Secret, The Last Dance, Sarah's Laughter, The Committeeman, The Legend That Walks Like a Man, My Dark Days, and The Bar Mitzvah of Major Orlovsky.
Also included is Autumn Love, a suite composed for the CBS music library.
The General Electric Theater aired from 1953 to 1962. Hosted by Ronald Reagan for much of its run, the show featured a wide range of dramatic and comedic stories, often showcasing well-known actors of the time. Each episode was a standalone story, covering themes from suspense to romance, and sometimes included adaptations of famous literary works. The series was notable for its high production values and contributions from prominent directors and writers, making it a significant part of television history during the 1950s and early 1960s.