Memory Lane: ‘Syncopated Clock’

Do you remember Leroy Anderson? He was one of the most popular composers in America, in his time; and one of his best-known pieces was Syncopated Clock. It was chosen as the theme music for “The Late Show,” in the 1950s. Of course I never saw The Late Show, it was way past my bedtime. But Syncopated Clock was also the theme for “The Early Show.”

I offer it as a stress buster. Oh, those old movies on black-and-white TV!

Anderson was also famous for his Sleigh Ride, featuring a simulated horse (was it laughing or just neighing? I could never decide), The Phantom Regiment, and other numbers that became embedded in our pop culture. I still love to whistle a few of them.

If you’re old enough to remember these, I’m sure you still enjoy them–when you get a chance to hear them. If you’re young–well, there’s some wonderful great music waiting for you.

Remember This?

Leroy Anderson had this hit tune in 1951, The Syncopated Clock.

I remember it as the theme music of The Early Show, back in television’s infancy. It was also the theme of The Late Show, but I wasn’t allowed to stay up anywhere near that late.

I was whistling this tune at the Y when a man stopped me in the hall. “I’m going nuts,” he said, “trying to remember what that’s called!” When I told him, he was delighted. “Of course, that’s it–The Early Show! I knew I’d heard it before, long ago.”

Long ago indeed.