View Full Version : Pals Of The Saddle- Walter Scharf


ethanedwards
August 17th, 2008, 11:18 AM
WALTER SCHARF

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Information From IMDb

Date of Birth
1 August 1910, New York, New York, USA

Date of Death
24 February 2003, Brentwood, California, USA (heart failure)

Mini Biography

Born and raised in New York City, the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, Walter Scharf started playing music at an early age, helping his uncle play the piano for silent films. He got his first real Broadway gig at the age of 17, orchestrating George Gershwin's "Girl Crazy." He also played in several college shows written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Later, he worked as a session musician in the early years of recording, along with Glenn Miller and the Dorsey brothers. He took his earnings and studied at New York University, even spending a year and a half studying in Berlin, witnessing the rise of the Nazis in 1932.

Back in New York, he became the accompanist for the legendary chanteuse Helen Morgan, who introduced him to the world of film with "Manhattan Melodrama." Her sometime substitute, Alice Faye, coaxed Walter to join Rudy Vallee's orchestra, playing at the Embassy Club, and eventually going to Hollywood with them to make "Sweet Music" at Warner Brothers. His film music career continued through six decades working extensively with stars such as Shirley Temple, Al Jolson, Irving Berlin, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Martin and Lewis, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, and Michael Jackson.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Gregg Wager

Spouse
Betty Scharf (? - 24 February 2003) (his death) 2 children

Trivia

Child: daughter Susan.

Filmography

Music Department

1. "Salvage 1" (composer: theme music) (18 episodes, 1979)
- Hard Water: Part 2 (1979) TV episode (composer: theme music)
- Hard Water: Part 1 (1979) TV episode (composer: theme music)
- Confederate Gold (1979) TV episode (composer: theme music)
- The Energy Solution (1979) TV episode (composer: theme music)
- Up, Up and Away (1979) TV episode (composer: theme music)
(13 more)
2. A Real American Hero (1978) (TV) (composer: song "Walking Tall")
... aka Hard Stick
3. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) (conductor) (music arranger)
4. The Cheyenne Social Club (1970) (conductor)
5. If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969) (conductor)
6. "National Geographic Specials" (composer: theme music) (1 episode, 1969)
- Hippo! (1969) TV episode (composer: theme music)
7. "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" (composer: theme music) (1 episode, 1968)
- Whales (1968) TV episode (composer: theme music)
8. Funny Girl (1968) (conductor) (music supervisor) (orchestrator)
9. "Mission: Impossible" (conductor) (3 episodes, 1966-1967)
- The Bank (1967) TV episode (conductor)
- The Survivors (1967) TV episode (conductor)
- The Ransom (1966) TV episode (conductor)
10. "The Wild Wild West" (conductor) (1 episode, 1967)
- The Night of the Assassin (1967) TV episode (conductor)
11. The Long Duel (1967) (composer: additional music) (uncredited)
12. Tickle Me (1965) (music conductor)
13. Honeymoon Hotel (1964) (musical director)
14. The Nutty Professor (1963) (conductor) (musician: "I'm In the Mood for Love") (uncredited)
... aka Dr. Jerkyll and Mr. Hyde
15. My Six Loves (1963) (conductor)
16. Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962) (TV) (composer: incidental music) (conductor)
17. It'$ Only Money (1962) (conductor)
18. Pocketful of Miracles (1961) (conductor)
19. The Errand Boy (1961) (conductor)
20. The Ladies Man (1961) (conductor)
21. "Shirley Temple's Storybook" (conductor) (5 episodes, 1960-1961)
... aka The Shirley Temple Theatre (USA: third season title)
- The Terrible Clockman (1961) TV episode (conductor)
- Pippi Longstocking (1961) TV episode (conductor)
- Babes in Toyland (1960) TV episode (conductor)
- The House of the Seven Gables (1960) TV episode (conductor)
- The Reluctant Dragon (1960) TV episode (conductor)
22. "Startime" (musical director) (1 episode, 1959)
... aka Ford Startime
... aka Lincoln-Mercury Startime
- The Jazz Singer (1959) TV episode (musical director)
23. Don't Give Up the Ship (1959) (conductor)
24. Rock-a-Bye Baby (1958) (music adaptor)
25. King Creole (1958) (music adaptor) (uncredited)
26. Missile Monsters (1958) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
27. The Sad Sack (1957) (musical director)
28. The Joker Is Wild (1957) (musical director)
... aka All the Way (USA: reissue title)
... aka The Joker (USA)
29. Loving You (1957) (conductor) (music arranger) (musical director) (uncredited)
30. Three Violent People (1956) (conductor)
31. Bundle of Joy (1956) (conductor: background score) (music adaptor: background score)
32. Hollywood or Bust (1956) (conductor) (music arranger)
33. Pardners (1956) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
34. Three for Jamie Dawn (1956) (music supervisor)
35. The Leather Saint (1956) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
36. Time Table (1956) (musical director)
37. Artists and Models (1955) (conductor) (music arranger)
38. You're Never Too Young (1955) (conductor) (music arranger)
39. Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1955) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
40. Drums Across the River (1954) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
41. The French Line (1954) (conductor) (music arranger)
42. War Arrow (1953) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
43. Francis Covers the Big Town (1953) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
44. Seminole (1953) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
45. Hans Christian Andersen (1952) (musical director)
46. Horizons West (1952) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
47. Steel Town (1952) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
48. Yankee Buccaneer (1952) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
... aka Yankee Pasha (USA)
49. The Cimarron Kid (1952) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
50. Little Egypt (1951) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
... aka Chicago Masquerade (UK)
51. Cattle Drive (1951) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
52. Comin' Round the Mountain (1951) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
53. Lost Planet Airmen (1951) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
54. Hollywood Story (1951) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
55. The Fat Man (1951) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
56. Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
... aka Meet the Invisible Man
57. Target Unknown (1951) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
58. Mystery Submarine (1950) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
59. Kansas Raiders (1950) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
60. Undercover Girl (1950) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
61. South Sea Sinner (1950) (musical director)
... aka East of Java (UK)
62. Deported (1950) (musical director)
63. Covered Wagon Raid (1950) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
64. Spy Hunt (1950) (musical director)
... aka Panther's Moon (UK)
65. Sierra (1950) (musical director)
66. Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (1950) (musical director)
... aka Take the Stage (UK)
67. The Invisible Monster (1950) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
68. I Was a Shoplifter (1950) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
69. Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town (1950) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
... aka Going to Town (UK)
70. The Kid from Texas (1950) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
... aka Texas Kid, Outlaw (UK)
71. Tarnished (1950) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
72. Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
... aka Foreign Legion (USA: short title)
73. Abandoned (1949) (musical director)
... aka Abandoned Woman
74. Flame of Youth (1949) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
75. The James Brothers of Missouri (1949) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
76. King of the Rocket Men (1949) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
77. City Across the River (1949) (musical director)
78. Ma and Pa Kettle (1949) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
... aka The Further Adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle
79. Mexican Hayride (1948) (conductor) (music arranger)
80. Out of the Storm (1948) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
81. Sons of Adventure (1948) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
82. Casbah (1948) (musical director)
83. California Firebrand (1948) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
84. Are You with It? (1948) (composer: incidental music) (uncredited) (musical director)
85. Spoilers of the North (1947) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
86. I've Always Loved You (1946) (musical director)
... aka Concerto (UK)
87. Murder in the Music Hall (1946) (musical director)
... aka Midnight Melody (USA: reissue title)
88. Dakota (1945) (musical director)
89. The Woman Who Came Back (1945) (musical director)
90. Mexicana (1945) (musical director)
... aka Beyond the Border (USA: reissue title)
91. Love, Honor and Goodbye (1945) (musical director)
92. Trail of Kit Carson (1945) (composer: stock music) (uncredited) (music department head) (uncredited)
93. Earl Carroll Vanities (1945) (musical director)
... aka Moonstruck Melody (USA: reissue title)
94. Lake Placid Serenade (1944) (musical director)
... aka Winter Serenade (USA: reissue title)
95. Brazil (1944) (musical director)
... aka Stars and Guitars (USA: reissue title)
96. Zorro's Black Whip (1944) (musical director) (uncredited)
97. Haunted Harbor (1944) (musical director) (uncredited)
... aka Pirates' Harbor (USA: reissue title)
98. Atlantic City (1944) (musical director)
... aka Atlantic City Honeymoon (USA: reissue title)
99. Man from Frisco (1944) (musical director)
100. The Tiger Woman (1944) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
... aka Perils of the Darkest Jungle (USA: reissue title)
101. Cowboy and the Senorita (1944) (musical director)
102. Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid (1944) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
... aka Henry Plays Cupid (UK)
103. The Fighting Seabees (1944) (musical director) (uncredited)
... aka Donovan's Army
104. Casanova in Burlesque (1944) (musical director)
105. Captain America (1944) (musical director) (uncredited)
... aka Return of Captain America (USA: reissue title)
106. The Masked Marvel (1943) (musical director)
... aka Sakima and the Masked Marvel (USA: TV title)
107. Sleepy Lagoon (1943) (musical director)
108. Nobody's Darling (1943) (musical director)
109. Someone to Remember (1943) (musical director)
... aka Gallant Thoroughbred (USA: reissue title)
110. Silver Spurs (1943) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
111. Secret Service in Darkest Africa (1943) (musical director) (uncredited)
... aka Manhunt in the African Jungles (USA: reissue title)
112. Thumbs Up (1943) (musical director)
113. Daredevils of the West (1943) (musical director)
114. Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour (1943) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
... aka Henry Gets Glamour (UK)
115. Chatterbox (1943) (musical director)
116. Shantytown (1943) (composer: incidental music) (uncredited) (musical director)
117. Hit Parade of 1943 (1943) (musical director)
... aka Change of Heart (USA: reissue title)
118. Ice-Capades Revue (1942) (musical director)
... aka Ice-Capades
... aka Rhythm Hits the Ice (USA: reissue title)
119. Secrets of the Underground (1942) (musical director)
120. Flying Tigers (1942) (musical director)
121. Holiday Inn (1942) (composer: incidental music) (uncredited) (music arranger) (uncredited)
122. Romance on the Range (1942) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
123. This Gun for Hire (1942) (orchestrator) (uncredited)
124. Blue, White and Perfect (1942) (orchestrator) (uncredited)
125. Louisiana Purchase (1941) (composer: incidental music) (uncredited) (orchestrator) (uncredited)
126. Mr. Bug Goes to Town (1941) (orchestrator) (uncredited)
... aka Bugville (USA: alternative title)
... aka Hoppity Goes to Town (UK)
127. Birth of the Blues (1941) (orchestrator) (uncredited)
128. Puddin' Head (1941) (orchestrator)
... aka Judy Goes to Town (UK)
129. Rookies on Parade (1941) (orchestrator)
... aka Jamboree (UK)
130. Sis Hopkins (1941) (composer: incidental music) (uncredited)
131. Las Vegas Nights (1941) (composer: incidental music) (uncredited)
... aka The Gay City (UK)
132. Michael Shayne: Private Detective (1940) (orchestrator) (uncredited)
133. Hit Parade of 1941 (1940) (composer: stock music) (uncredited) (orchestrator)
... aka Romance and Rhythm (USA: reissue title)
134. Pier 13 (1940) (orchestrator) (uncredited)
135. Lucky Cisco Kid (1940) (orchestrator) (uncredited)
136. Barricade (1939) (orchestrator) (uncredited)
137. Suez (1938) (composer: stock music) (uncredited)
138. Sally, Irene and Mary (1938) (composer: incidental music) (uncredited)
139. Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937) (composer: additional music) (uncredited)
140. Thin Ice (1937) (composer: incidental music) (uncredited)
... aka Komet, Der (Canada: English title)
... aka Lovely to Look at (UK)
141. You Can't Have Everything (1937) (composer: incidental music) (uncredited)
142. Seventh Heaven (1937) (orchestrator) (uncredited)
143. Follow the Fleet (1936) (music arranger) (uncredited)

Composer:

1. "Casablanca" (1 episode, 1983)
- Master Builder's Woman (1983) TV episode
2. Twilight Time (1982)
... aka Suton
3. This Is Elvis (1981)
4. Midnight Offerings (1981) (TV)
5. The Long Days of Summer (1980) (TV)
6. The Scarlett O'Hara War (1980) (TV)
... aka Moviola: The Scarlett O'Hara War (USA)
7. "From Here to Eternity" (1980) TV series
8. "Blind Ambition" (1979) TV mini-series
... aka The John Dean Story
9. "From Here to Eternity" (1979) TV mini-series
10. The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal (1979) (TV)
11. "Salvage 1" (1979) TV series (unknown episodes)
12. Salvage (1979) (TV)
13. "Hawaii Five-O" (1 episode, 1978)
... aka McGarrett (USA: rerun title)
- A Death in the Family (1978) TV episode
14. When Every Day Was the Fourth of July (1978) (TV)
15. Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977)
... aka The Man in the Back Seat
... aka Walking Tall: The Final Chapter (USA)
16. "National Geographic Specials" (16 episodes, 1965-1976)
- In Search of the Great Apes (1976) TV episode
- This Britain: Heritage of the Sea (1975) TV episode
- Bushmen of the Kalahari (1974) TV episode
- The Big Cats (1974) TV episode
- Wind Raiders of the Sahara (1973) TV episode
(11 more)
17. Walking Tall Part II (1975)
... aka Legend of the Lawman (UK)
... aka Part 2, Walking Tall
... aka Walking Tall, Part II: The Legend of Buford Pusser (USA: long title)
18. Kicma (1975)
... aka Backbone (International: English title)
19. Journey Back to Oz (1974)
20. Walking Tall (1973)
21. "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" (11 episodes, 1968-1973)
- The Forgotten Mermaids (1973) TV episode
- The Smile of the Walrus (1972) TV episode
- A Sound of Dolphins (1972) TV episode
- Those Incredible Diving Machines (1970) TV episode
- The Return of the Sea Elephants (1970) TV episode
(6 more)
22. Strange Creatures of the Night (1973) (TV)
23. Ben (1972)
24. Plimpton! At the Wheel (1972) (TV)
25. Plimpton! The Man on the Flying Trapeze (1971) (TV)
26. Plimpton! Shoot-Out at Rio Lobo (1970) (TV)
27. Uncle Sam Magoo (1970) (TV)
28. The Cheyenne Social Club (1970)
29. A Storm in Summer (1970) (TV)
... aka The Merchant of Scarsdale (USA)
30. The Mystery of Animal Behavior (1969) (TV)
31. If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969)
32. Pendulum (1969)
33. "Mission: Impossible" (5 episodes, 1966-1967)
- The Bank (1967) TV episode
- The Survivors (1967) TV episode
- The Ransom (1966) TV episode
- Old Man Out: Part 2 (1966) TV episode
- Old Man Out: Part 1 (1966) TV episode
34. "The Wild Wild West" (1 episode, 1967)
- The Night of the Assassin (1967) TV episode
35. Tickle Me (1965)
36. "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (10 episodes, 1964-1965)
- The Gazebo in the Maze Affair (1965) TV episode
- The Love Affair (1965) TV episode
- The See-Paris-And-Die Affair (1965) TV episode
- The Deadly Decoy Affair (1965) TV episode
- The Terbuf Affair (1964) TV episode
(5 more)
37. Where Love Has Gone (1964)
38. Honeymoon Hotel (1964)
39. Guns of Diablo (1964)
40. The Funny Side of Life (1963)
41. The Nutty Professor (1963)
... aka Dr. Jerkyll and Mr. Hyde
42. My Six Loves (1963)
43. "Bonanza" (2 episodes, 1961-1963)
... aka Ponderosa (USA: rerun title)
- The Hayburner (1963) TV episode
- Land Grab (1961) TV episode
44. It'$ Only Money (1962)
45. World of Comedy (1962)
... aka Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy (USA: complete title)
46. Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
47. The Errand Boy (1961)
48. The Ladies Man (1961)
49. "Shirley Temple's Storybook" (2 episodes, 1960-1961)
... aka The Shirley Temple Theatre (USA: third season title)
- The Terrible Clockman (1961) TV episode
- The House of the Seven Gables (1960) TV episode
50. Cinderfella (1960)
51. The Bellboy (1960)
52. Don't Give Up the Ship (1959)
53. The Geisha Boy (1958)
54. Rock-a-Bye Baby (1958)
55. King Creole (1958)
56. The Jerry Lewis Show (1958) (TV)
57. The Sad Sack (1957)
58. The Joker Is Wild (1957)
... aka All the Way (USA: reissue title)
... aka The Joker (USA)
59. Loving You (1957) (uncredited)
60. Three Violent People (1956)
61. The Birds and the Bees (1956)
62. Time Table (1956)
63. The Court Jester (1955) (uncredited)
64. 3 Ring Circus (1954)
... aka Jerrico, the Wonder Clown
65. Living It Up (1954)
66. Two Tickets to Broadway (1951)
67. South Sea Sinner (1950)
... aka East of Java (UK)
68. Deported (1950)
69. Winchester '73 (1950) (uncredited)
70. Peggy (1950) (uncredited)
71. Spy Hunt (1950)
... aka Panther's Moon (UK)
72. Sierra (1950) (uncredited)
73. Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (1950)
... aka Take the Stage (UK)
74. Buccaneer's Girl (1950)
75. Francis (1950) (uncredited)
... aka Francis the Talking Mule
76. Yes Sir That's My Baby (1949)
77. Take One False Step (1949)
78. Red Canyon (1949)
79. City Across the River (1949)
80. Mexican Hayride (1948)
81. The Countess of Monte Cristo (1948)
82. The Saxon Charm (1948)
83. Alias Billy the Kid (1946)
84. The Phantom Rider (1946) (uncredited)
... aka Ghost Riders of the West (USA: reissue title)
85. The Cheaters (1945)
... aka The Castaway (USA: reissue title)
86. Earl Carroll Vanities (1945) (uncredited)
... aka Moonstruck Melody (USA: reissue title)
87. Storm Over Lisbon (1944)
... aka Inside the Underworld (USA: reissue title)
88. The Lady and the Monster (1944)
... aka Monster & Tiger Man (USA: reissue title)
... aka The Lady and the Doctor (UK)
... aka Tiger Man (USA: reissue title)
89. Call of the South Seas (1944) (uncredited)
90. The Fighting Seabees (1944)
... aka Donovan's Army
91. Captain America (1944) (uncredited)
... aka Return of Captain America (USA: reissue title)
92. In Old Oklahoma (1943)
... aka War of the Wildcats (USA: reissue title)
93. Nobody's Darling (1943) (uncredited)
94. London Blackout Murders (1943) (uncredited)
... aka Secret Motive
95. Johnny Doughboy (1942)
96. Secrets of the Underground (1942) (uncredited)
97. The Glass Key (1942) (uncredited)
98. Henry Aldrich, Editor (1942) (uncredited)
99. Henry Aldrich for President (1941) (uncredited)
100. Mercy Island (1941)
101. Puddin' Head (1941) (uncredited)
... aka Judy Goes to Town (UK)
102. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) (uncredited)
... aka Sherlock Holmes (UK)
103. Frontier Marshal (1939) (uncredited)
104. Susannah of the Mounties (1939) (uncredited)
105. Return of the Cisco Kid (1939) (uncredited)
106. The Three Musketeers (1939) (uncredited)
... aka The Singing Musketeer (UK)
107. Josette (1938)
108. Nancy Steele Is Missing! (1937)
109. Poppin' the Cork (1933)

ethanedwards
August 17th, 2008, 11:29 AM
Another name not so well recognized,
Walter Scharf, was a prolific composer
and Musical Director, who worked with many big names.
He worked on many TV series,
including, The Man From Uncle, Ben Casey, Mission Impossible.
His film music career continued through six decades,
working extensively with stars such as
Shirley Temple, Al Jolson, Irving Berlin, Bing Crosby,
Danny Kaye, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley,
Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, and Duke.

He was the Composer/Musical Director
on 5 involving Duke,

Dakota (1945)
The Fighting Seabees (1944)
In Old Oklahoma (1943)
Flying Tigers (1942)
The Three Musketeers. (1939)

Jay J. Foraker
August 17th, 2008, 01:45 PM
If I'm not mistaken, Walter Scharf wrote the recognizable fanfare from the "National Geographic" series.

ethanedwards
August 17th, 2008, 02:32 PM
If I'm not mistaken, Walter Scharf wrote the recognizable fanfare from the "National Geographic" series.

Jay, you're quite right my friend,
in addition to his other wonderful work,
he became best-known for his music for the
National Geographic and
The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau documentaries,