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Ed Wolfrum kindly sent in
this article from the October 1966 issue of Broadcasting
Magazine, which described itself as the Business Weekly of
Television and Radio. It
shows the thinking behind such an extensive undertaking. Theme
Productions first appeared in Yellow Pages in September
1966. It was also advertising under the name B.A. Starr
which used the address 13305 Dexter. "The Detroit sound intends to compete
with the Dallas sound". So say James W Panagos and Carl
Porter, broadcasters turned jingle makers, who have formed
Theme Productions Inc. They are offering four new packages
of station ID's, jingles and other musical creations
"featuring the same talent that Detroit agencies are
using for many of the top automotive commercials today and
backed with bands of up to 34 musicians". One
of the new packages employs an unusual "psychedelic
sound" patterned after the psychedelic (electronic)
music trend in nightclubs, especially on the West Coast. In
addition the new company is offering format, contest and
promotion services on both a custom and syndicated basis.
Mr.
Panagos, president of Theme Productions, formerly was
regional sales manager at WCHB in Inkster, Michigan, and
before that had been manager at WJMO Cleveland. Mr. Porter,
Theme vice president, was local sales manager at WCHB. While
working together at the Detroit market station they
developed a format called "Soul Radio". Commercials
too > Theme Production packages have already been
sold to 10 top market stations, Mr. Porter said last week,
but since they will not begin until December or January the
stations have asked not to be identified until then for
competitive reasons. Theme also is producing several
radio commercials for agency-advertiser clients but it's
principal business will be station oriented, he said. Quincy
Jones, freelance Hollywood film composer, is under exclusive
contract to Theme for the scoring of station ID's. His
recent film credits include "Mirage", "The
Pawnbroker" and "Walk Don't Run". as well as
NBC's "Hey Landlord". Continued
on next page >>
Notes thanks to David Meikle.
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