Uploaded April 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
One of early TV's longest-running sitcoms, 'Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet' began on the radio, then went to ABC TV (for a few years co-existing with the radio edition). Ozzie Nelson was director, writer, executive producer, and star; his real-life family played themselves. Characters broke the fourth wall on occasion, and after three seasons Ozzie convinced ABC to allow viewers to see Mom and Dad sleeping in the same bed (a first for a major network). Ozzie had a talent for spotting future stars (Kent McCord, Tuesday Weld, Mark Harmon et al), and he helped make son Rick a musical superstar. Over the years the tv series had over a half-dozen different closing themes (we've chosen the best-remembered), but the openings all used a motif heard on the radio show to introduce the first act of the story.
00:00 Opening titles with sponsor plug (Listerine). From season three.
01:13 Opening titles with sponsor plug (Hotpoint). From season four. That little dancing pixie would later move to Minneapolis and call herself 'Mary Richards'.
02:30 End credits. The first end credits theme was the main theme of the radio show. It was based on a song by Ozzie Nelson ('Mary, I'm in Love With You') with a few adaptive touches by Billy May. It was arranged without an ending so that it could repeat itself and then fade out when needed. Three end credits rolls are seen here: season three (beginning with Hotpoint plug), season one, and season five. As the credits roll the voiceovers are silenced so you can hear the music.
04:45 Opening titles with Kodak extension. In season five when Kodak came on board the opening theme was extended to play under the sponsor's commercial. The voiceovers and narration are muted here so you can hear just the music, something that never happened on the show itself.
05:55 End credits. A new closing theme was introduced a few seasons into the Kodak years. 'Nelson Family Theme' is a jazz combo number composed by Ozzie. Again voiceovers have been muted.
06:50 End credits. A different arrangement of 'Mary I'm in Love With You' came on the scene shortly after the 'Nelson Family Theme'. This full orchestra version is more like the treatment heard on the radio show. Voiceovers muted.
08:06 End credits. 'Malt Shop Blues' is so named because it often played in the background during scenes set in the Campus Malt Shop. The composer is unclear but it's so similar to the 'Nelson Family Theme' Ozzie is a likely suspect. It's here in its entirety, without voiceovers, as never heard on the show itself. (The credit to Jimmie Haskell for 'special music' is unrelated to the themes or scoring of the episode. Haskell arranged and produced Rick's singing segments.)
09:40 Opening titles, season 14. For its final season the show was seen in color.
10:08 End credits. 'Buzz's Bounce' is a ditty by Buzz Adlam, written in 1947. Adlam had composed the background score for early seasons of O&H.
Extras:
11:30 Opening titles with Kodak commercial, voiceovers and narration included. That date you see with David would become Mrs David Nelson and join the series in its tenth season.
13:00 Clairol commercial.
13:58 Opening titles with Coca-Cola commercial (starring The Brothers Four and Anita Bryant).
One of early TV's longest-running sitcoms, 'Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet' began on the radio, then went to ABC TV (for a few years co-existing with the radio edition). Ozzie Nelson was director, writer, executive producer, and star; his real-life family played themselves. Characters broke the fourth wall on occasion, and after three seasons Ozzie convinced ABC to allow viewers to see Mom and Dad sleeping in the same bed (a first for a major network). Ozzie had a talent for spotting future stars (Kent McCord, Tuesday Weld, Mark Harmon et al), and he helped make son Rick a musical superstar. Over the years the tv series had over a half-dozen different closing themes (we've chosen the best-remembered), but the openings all used a motif heard on the radio show to introduce the first act of the story.
00:00 Opening titles with sponsor plug (Listerine). From season three.
01:13 Opening titles with sponsor plug (Hotpoint). From season four. That little dancing pixie would later move to Minneapolis and call herself 'Mary Richards'.
02:30 End credits. The first end credits theme was the main theme of the radio show. It was based on a song by Ozzie Nelson ('Mary, I'm in Love With You') with a few adaptive touches by Billy May. It was arranged without an ending so that it could repeat itself and then fade out when needed. Three end credits rolls are seen here: season three (beginning with Hotpoint plug), season one, and season five. As the credits roll the voiceovers are silenced so you can hear the music.
04:45 Opening titles with Kodak extension. In season five when Kodak came on board the opening theme was extended to play under the sponsor's commercial. The voiceovers and narration are muted here so you can hear just the music, something that never happened on the show itself.
05:55 End credits. A new closing theme was introduced a few seasons into the Kodak years. 'Nelson Family Theme' is a jazz combo number composed by Ozzie. Again voiceovers have been muted.
06:50 End credits. A different arrangement of 'Mary I'm in Love With You' came on the scene shortly after the 'Nelson Family Theme'. This full orchestra version is more like the treatment heard on the radio show. Voiceovers muted.
08:06 End credits. 'Malt Shop Blues' is so named because it often played in the background during scenes set in the Campus Malt Shop. The composer is unclear but it's so similar to the 'Nelson Family Theme' Ozzie is a likely suspect. It's here in its entirety, without voiceovers, as never heard on the show itself. (The credit to Jimmie Haskell for 'special music' is unrelated to the themes or scoring of the episode. Haskell arranged and produced Rick's singing segments.)
09:40 Opening titles, season 14. For its final season the show was seen in color.
10:08 End credits. 'Buzz's Bounce' is a ditty by Buzz Adlam, written in 1947. Adlam had composed the background score for early seasons of O&H.
Extras:
11:30 Opening titles with Kodak commercial, voiceovers and narration included. That date you see with David would become Mrs David Nelson and join the series in its tenth season.
13:00 Clairol commercial.
13:58 Opening titles with Coca-Cola commercial (starring The Brothers Four and Anita Bryant).
