The Life of Riley
A radio sitcom moved to television twice, the second time with William Bendix finally allowed to play the part he had on radio.
The Life of Riley opens with a main title sequence of 36 seconds.
It arrived on NBC in 1949, when Kraft Television Theatre and Texaco Star Theater were also on the network.
The opening titles
Season 1
36sFan upload of the Bendix version's credits.
More comedy opening titles from the 1940s
1 sequence
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ER
James Newton Howard's theme over sliding doors, gurneys and light — the template every medical drama since has either copied or deliberately avoided.
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- Season 10