Fred Steiner

Composer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his four-hour interview, Fred Steiner (1923-2011) talks about breaking into the business as an arranger/orchestrator in network radio in the 1940s and details some of the first radio scores he wrote for legendary producer-director Norman Corwin. He discusses his work as composer for the radio series This Is Your F.B.I., his move to Los Angeles, and his compositions for the anthology series Playhouse 90. Steiner speaks on composing the jazzy theme for Perry Mason and describes several of the episode scores he wrote for landmark series The Twilight Zone and Star Trek. Steiner reminisces about CBS West Coast music director Lud Gluskin, and explains his own studies in musicology -- including receiving a Ph.D. from USC. B-roll consists of several photos from Steiner's career conducting for radio's This Is Your F.B.I. and a shot of the scoring stage at 20th Century Fox. Karen Herman conducted the interview on June 25, 2003 in Sante Fe, NM.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"(Outstanding scores have) music that you can listen to over and over again and say, 'gee, I think that was a good job…' I was listening to the re-runs of 'Gunsmoke' and some of the old scores I haven't heard for 50 years.  And I'm kind of impressed by that - that was music that sounded different from most of the stuff that you were hearing on TV in those days for western films.  If I like listening to it again, then maybe it had something."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Fred Steiner on scoring various made-for-television movies
03:47
Fred Steiner on then-current projects
02:45
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his experience of World War II, composing music for propaganda; on learning to score by watching his father score cartoons
On his early jobs in radio working for Van Cleave, who became a mentor; on composition teacher Norman Lockwood, who was a mentor to him
On the challenges on composing for radio; on some of the radio shows he scored, including "Columbia Presents Corwin" with Norman Corwin; on his earliest experiences with television

Chapter 2

On composing for the radio show "Cathy and Elliott Lewis On Stage"; on composing and arraigning for early television, and how it was different from doing the same for radio; on the craft and composing and arranging for television, and tailoring the music to fit the star
On how he got work in the early days of television; on the process of composing for a pilot; on the Hollywood Blacklist
On how he started composing for feature films, and on favorites of his that he's worked on; on what makes for an outstanding score; on composing for My Favorite Husband

Chapter 3

On the sound stages he's recorded on; on the logistics of a recording session for a television score; on following union regulations for musicians in recording sessions
On composing for Playhouse 90; on playing the music live for Playhouse 90 instead of recording it in advance; on collaborating with Playhouse 90 producer Martin Manulis and director John Frankenheimer
On composing for the Playhouse 90 episodes "The Comedian" and "A Sound of Different Drummers"; on the process of composing a score of a Playhouse 90 episode; on what he learned composing for Playhouse 90

Chapter 4

On Lud Gluskin; on getting around the Petrillo ban on live music
On composing for Gunsmoke; on composing for Navy Log; on composing the theme song for Perry Mason

Chapter 5

On moving to Mexico to reconnect with his family; on music he did while living in Mexico; on composing for Gerald McBoing Boing
On composing for The Bullwinkle Show for Jay Ward; on composing for various animated series
On composing for Tiny Toons in the style of the old Warner Brothers cartoons; on composing for The Twilight Zone

Chapter 6

On composing for The Twilight Zone and on working for Rod Serling and producer Buck Houghton; on composing for specific episodes of The Twilight Zone
On composing for Star Trek; on composing for the Star Trek episode "The Corbomite Maneuver"; on composing for the Star Trek episodes "Who Mourns for Adonais?" and "Charlie X"; on composing for the Star Trek episode "Mudd's Women"
On composing for the Star Trek episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"; on composing for the Star Trek episode "Balance of Terror"; on composing for the Star Trek episode "Mirror Mirror"

Chapter 7

On scoring specific episodes of Star Trek; on scoring the theme of Beany and Cecil; on scoring several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show
On scoring various made-for-television movies; on scoring several episodes of Bonanza; on scoring O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
On scoring several episodes of Hec Ramsey; on scoring several episodes of Hawaii Five-O; on his studies in musicology

Chapter 8

On writing his dissertation on Alfred Newman, and his study of musicology; on his favorite film scores; on how the business has changed regarding scoring
On scoring episodes of Dynasty; on working on the feature film "The Color Purple" with Quincy Jones; on working on Death of a Salesman
On working on the updated Twilight Zone and Amazing Stories; on composing for Star Trek: The Next Generation; on some of his favorite feature film scores

Chapter 9

On then-current projects; on the importance of television scores; on advice to an aspiring television composer
On b-roll pictures from his career- conducting for the radio show "This Is Your FBI"; conducting for radio; conducing London Philharmonic; conducting score for "King Kong"; conducing London Philharmonic; conducting score for "King Kong"; screening a take; conducting using a widescreen; Lud Gluskin; at home with his wife; sheet music by Alfred Newman;
Shows

Amazing Stories

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Fred Steiner on working on the updated Twilight Zone and Amazing Stories
01:13

Andy Griffith Show, The

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Fred Steiner on scoring several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show
02:09

Beany and Cecil

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Fred Steiner on scoring the theme of Beany and Cecil
00:29

Bonanza

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Fred Steiner on scoring several episodes of Bonanza
00:42

Bullwinkle Show, The

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Fred Steiner on composing for The Bullwinkle Show for Jay Ward
06:29

Death of a Salesman

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Fred Steiner on working on Death of a Salesman
03:23

Dynasty

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Fred Steiner on scoring episodes of Dynasty
01:02

Gerald McBoing Boing

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Fred Steiner on composing for Gerald McBoing Boing
03:58

Gunsmoke

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Fred Steiner on composing for Gunsmoke
03:58
Fred Steiner on recurring themes he wrote for Gunsmoke
01:23

Hawaii Five-O

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Fred Steiner on scoring several episodes of Hawaii Five-O
00:22

Hec Ramsey

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Fred Steiner on scoring several episodes of Hec Ramsey
03:19

My Favorite Husband

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Fred Steiner on composing for My Favorite Husband
04:13

Navy Log

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Fred Steiner on composing for Navy Log
02:29

Perry Mason

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Fred Steiner on composing the theme song for Perry Mason
08:35

Playhouse 90

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Fred Steiner on composing for Playhouse 90
11:40
Fred Steiner on playing the music live for Playhouse 90 instead of recording it in advance
01:08
Fred Steiner on collaborating with Playhouse 90 producer Martin Manulis and director John Frankenheimer
00:45
Fred Steiner on composing for the Playhouse 90 episode "The Comedian"
00:41
Fred Steiner on composing for the Playhouse 90 episode "A Sound of Different Drummers"
00:57
Fred Steiner on the process of composing a score of a Playhouse 90 episode
02:27
Fred Steiner on what he learned composing for Playhouse 90
02:41

Playhouse 90: "The Comedian"

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Fred Steiner on composing for the Playhouse 90 episode "The Comedian"
00:41

Star Trek

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Fred Steiner on composing for Star Trek and on working with Gene Roddenberry
03:03
Fred Steiner on composing for the Star Trek episode "The Corbomite Maneuver"
02:28
Fred Steiner on composing for the Star Trek episodes "Who Mourns for Adonais?" and "Charlie X"
04:00
Fred Steiner on composing for the Star Trek episode "Mudd's Women"
00:48
Fred Steiner on composing for the Star Trek episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
02:00
Fred Steiner on composing for the Star Trek episode "Balance of Terror"
03:47
Fred Steiner on composing for the Star Trek episode "Mirror Mirror"
03:02
Fred Steiner on scoring specific episodes of Star Trek
13:46

Star Trek: The Next Generation

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Fred Steiner on composing for Star Trek: The Next Generation
01:03

Twilight Zone, The

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Fred Steiner on composing for The Twilight Zone
04:34
Fred Steiner on composing for The Twilight Zone and on working for Rod Serling and producer Buck Houghton
03:26
Fred Steiner on composing for specific episode of The Twilight Zone
07:17
Fred Steiner on working on the updated Twilight Zone and Amazing Stories
01:13
Topics

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Fred Steiner on composition teacher Norman Lockwood, who was a mentor to him
03:21
Fred Steiner on his early jobs in radio working for Van Cleave, who became a mentor
04:31

Historic Events and Social Change

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Fred Steiner on his experience of World War II, composing music for propaganda
01:01

Hollywood Blacklist

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Fred Steiner on the Hollywood Blacklist
07:43

Industry Crossroads

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Fred Steiner on the Hollywood Blacklist
07:43

Pivotal Career Moments

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Fred Steiner on composition teacher Norman Lockwood, who was a mentor to him
03:21
Fred Steiner on his early jobs in radio working for Van Cleave, who became a mentor
04:31

Pop Culture

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Fred Steiner on composing the theme song for Perry Mason
08:35
Fred Steiner on composing for The Bullwinkle Show for Jay Ward
06:29

TV Theme Songs

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Fred Steiner on composing the theme song for Perry Mason
08:35
Fred Steiner on composing for The Bullwinkle Show for Jay Ward
06:29

Television Industry

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Fred Steiner on the Hollywood Blacklist
07:43
Fred Steiner on how the business has changed regarding scoring
02:26

War

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Fred Steiner on his experience of World War II, composing music for propaganda
01:01

World War II

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Fred Steiner on his experience of World War II, composing music for propaganda
01:01
Professions

Composer

View Profession
Fred Steiner on learning to score by watching his father score cartoons
02:40
Fred Steiner on the craft and composing and arranging for television, and tailoring the music to fit the star
04:51
Fred Steiner on the process of composing for a pilot
02:06
Fred Steiner on what makes for an outstanding score
01:06
Fred Steiner on on the sound stages he's recorded on
05:35
Fred Steiner on the logistics of a recording session for a television score
03:01
Fred Steiner on following union regulations for musicians in recording sessions
01:01
Fred Steiner on his studies in musicology
02:43
Fred Steiner on writing his dissertation on Alfred Newman, and his study of musicology
10:18
Fred Steiner on advice to an aspiring television composer
01:45

Music Professionals

View Profession
Fred Steiner on learning to score by watching his father score cartoons
02:40
Fred Steiner on the craft and composing and arranging for television, and tailoring the music to fit the star
04:51
Fred Steiner on the process of composing for a pilot
02:06
Fred Steiner on what makes for an outstanding score
01:06
Fred Steiner on on the sound stages he's recorded on
05:35
Fred Steiner on the logistics of a recording session for a television score
03:01
Fred Steiner on following union regulations for musicians in recording sessions
01:01
Fred Steiner on his studies in musicology
02:43
Fred Steiner on writing his dissertation on Alfred Newman, and his study of musicology
10:18
Fred Steiner on advice to an aspiring television composer
01:45
Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

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Fred Steiner on composing for Navy Log
02:29

Animation

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Fred Steiner on composing for various animated series
01:19

Children's Programming

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Fred Steiner on scoring the theme of Beany and Cecil
00:29

Classic Anthology Series

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Fred Steiner on composing for Playhouse 90
20:19
Fred Steiner on composing for The Twilight Zone
10:43
Fred Steiner on working on the updated Twilight Zone and Amazing Stories
01:13

Comedy Series

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Fred Steiner on scoring several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show
02:09

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

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Fred Steiner on scoring several episodes of Hawaii Five-O
00:22

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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Fred Steiner on scoring episodes of Dynasty
01:02

Legal Dramas

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Fred Steiner on composing the theme song for Perry Mason
08:35

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

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Fred Steiner on composing for Star Trek
19:08
Fred Steiner on scoring specific episodes of Star Trek
13:46
Fred Steiner on composing for Star Trek: The Next Generation
01:03

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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Fred Steiner on working on Death of a Salesman
03:23

Western Series

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Fred Steiner on composing for Gunsmoke
05:21
Fred Steiner on scoring several episodes of Bonanza
00:42
Fred Steiner on scoring several episodes of Hec Ramsey
03:19
Fred Steiner on scoring O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
02:00
People

John Frankenheimer

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Fred Steiner on collaborating with Playhouse 90 producer Martin Manulis and director John Frankenheimer
00:45

Buck Houghton

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Fred Steiner on composing for The Twilight Zone and on working for Rod Serling and producer Buck Houghton
03:26

Quincy Jones

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Fred Steiner on working on the feature film "The Color Purple" with Quincy Jones
05:24

Martin Manulis

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Fred Steiner on collaborating with Playhouse 90 producer Martin Manulis and director John Frankenheimer
00:45

Gene Roddenberry

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Fred Steiner on composing for Star Trek and on working with Gene Roddenberry
03:03

Rod Serling

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Fred Steiner on composing for The Twilight Zone and on working for Rod Serling and producer Buck Houghton
03:26

Jay Ward

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Fred Steiner on composing for The Bullwinkle Show for Jay Ward
06:29

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