Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Mahlon Merrick Papers, 1953-1967
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Merrick, Mahlon
- Title
- Mahlon Merrick Papers
- Dates
- 1953-1967 (inclusive)19531967
- Quantity
- 6, (7 linear feet of shelf space.), (121 items.)
- Collection Number
- Cage 361
- Summary
- Published and unpublished musical compositions and arrangements, principally for television; also an opera and a symphony. Included are copies of compositions by Merrick's arranger, Carl Brandt.
- Repository
-
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open for research use.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Hailing from Centralia, Washington, Mahlon Merrick graduated from Washington State University in 1923 with bachelors’ degrees in both education and music. After a brief teaching experience in schools in the Redmond, Washington, Merrick devoted himself to a career in music.
Beginning as a saxophonist at the Old Italian Gardens in Spokane’s Davenport Hotel, Merrick’s career led him to Hollywood where he was associated with a number of popular television series including The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and The Bob Cummings Show. For thirty years he remained the musical director for comedian Jack Benny. A versatile composer, a number of his works appear under the pseudonym, "Gene LaGrande."
In 1965, Mr. Merrick retired to Palm Springs, California. In September of the following year, however, he made a guest appearance at Washington State University for the first performance of the Cougar Marching Song which he had composed for his alma mater. On August 7, 1969, at the age of 69 years, Mr. Merrick succumbed to cancer.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Mahlon Merrick collection of musical compositions includes marches, television background music and themes, listening music, an opera, and a symphony. The Gillette Look Sharp March is Merrick's best known composition.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[Item Description]. Cage 361, Mahlon Merrick Papers. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Series 1, Compositions and Arrangements, consists of sheet music, orchestrations, and original manuscripts. Although most of these compositions are unrelated, two comprehensive works are included: the opera, Sun Stone and the symphony Song of Youth.
Series 2, Miscellaneous Papers, consists of Mr. Merrick’s arrangements of the background music for the National Football League television programs, mementos of his career, and compositions by his arranger, Carl Brandt.
The compositions are arranged in alphabetical order in each series; however, the indicated oversize material has been placed at the end of the collection in alphabetical sequence.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series 1: Compositions and ArrangementsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description |
|---|---|
| Box/Folder | |
| 1 / 1 | Anyone for Venice |
| 1 / 1 | April Prelude |
| 1 / 1 | Baby You're the Sweetest
One |
| 1 / 1 | Benny Medley |
| 1 / 1 | The Bee, original |
| 1 / 1 | The Be Sharp March |
| 1 / 1 | Bridge of Sighs |
| 1 / 1 | Come and See |
| 1 / 1 | Concerto for Lefthanded
Glockenspiel |
| 1 / 1 | Crinoline Curtain |
| 1 / 1 | Curfew |
| 1 / 1 | The Curious Cat |
| 1 / 2 | Dancing Slipper |
| 1 / 2 | December Song |
| 1 / 2 | Drifting Sands |
| 1 / 2 | Ebony Rhapsody |
| 1 / 3 | The Gillette Look Sharp
March |
| 1 / 4 | Hearse Race |
| 1 / 4 | Highway to Oblivion |
| 1 / 4 | I Ain't Down Yet |
| 1 / 4 | I'm Wearing the Latest Shade of
Blue |
| 1 / 4 | Impact Theme |
| 1 / 4 | Infinite Melody |
| 1 / 4 | Just Another April |
| 1 / 4 | Katy Did |
| 1 / 4 | Kickoff March |
| 1 / 4 | Lady of the Evening |
| 1 / 4 | Last Dance |
| 1 / 4 | Lasting Love |
| 1 / 4 | Little Walk |
| 1 / 4 | Main Event (part in oversize,
folder C) |
| 1 / 4 | Main Title |
| 1 / 4 | Mike's Dream |
| 1 / 4 | Mister Moon |
| 1 / 4 | Montage |
| 1 / 4 | Morning is Crying |
| 1 / 4 | Music for Playboys to Play
by |
| 1 / 4 | Musical Show |
| 1 / 5 | Nellie |
| 1 / 5 | Nevertheless |
| 1 / 5 | Night Mare |
| 1 / 5 | October Prelude |
| 1 / 5 | Paradise |
| 1 / 5 | Park Avenue Promenade |
| 1 / 5 | Practical Dreamer |
| 1 / 5 | Private Secretary |
| 1 / 6 | The Red and Gold |
| 1 / 6 | Richard Couer de Lion |
| 1 / 6 | Rochester Opening |
| 1 / 6 | Romantic Dance |
| 1 / 6 | Romantic Reunion |
| 1 / 6 | Six Flags over Texas (part in
oversize, folder C) |
| 1 / 6 | Stringers Assorted |
| 1 / 6 | Strange Enchantment |
| 1 / 6 | Stranger in the
Manger |
| 1 / 6 | Summer Idyl |
| 1 / 6 | Sweet and Lovely |
| 1 / 6 | Swinging Q |
| 2 / 7-8 | Symphony #1 in B flat- Song of
Youth (part in oversize, folder G) |
| 2 / 9 | To a Wild Rose |
| 2 / 9 | Tommy the Timid Little
Turkey |
| 2 / 9 | Two Gentlemen from
Siam |
| 2 / 9 | Two to Go |
| 2 / 9 | When You Belong to Me |
| 2 / 9 | Whispering Pines (part in
oversize, folder H) |
| 2 / 9 | Picnic for Percussion |
| 2 / 10 | The Wistful Corpse |
| 2 / 10 | With the Rain and
Wind |
| 2 / 10 | The Woman on the Gentleman's
Mind |
| 2 / 10 | When You Say |
| 2 / 10 | Wind Bells |
| 2 / 10 | You're my Particular
One |
| 2 / 10 | Zigeunerweisen |
| 2 / 10 | Zulu Wu Wu |
| Oversize / A | Cherry Coke |
| Oversize / A | Cougar Marching Song |
| Oversize / A | Criminal Humnal |
| Oversize / A | Crisis |
| Oversize / A | Crooks Tour |
| Oversize / A | Death at Dawn |
| Oversize / A | Dialogue |
| Oversize / A | Dialogue for Piano and
Orchestra |
| Oversize / A | The Dixie Drag |
| Oversize / B | Encore Espanola |
| Oversize / C | The Fickle Finger of
Fate |
| Oversize / C | Homicide Sweet
Homicide |
| Oversize / C | How are You Fixed for
Blades |
| Oversize / C | The Impatient Corpse |
| Oversize / C | Lethal Leer |
| Oversize / C | The Little Noose |
| Oversize / C | March #1 |
| Oversize / C | Mayhem in the AM |
| Oversize / C | Main Event (part in Box 1, folder
#4) |
| Oversize / C | Max Factor Signature |
| Oversize / C | Optional Signature |
| Oversize / C | Seven Winds |
| Oversize / C | Six Flags over Texas (part in Box
1, folder #6) |
| Oversize / D | Songs of the Islands |
| Oversize / E-F | The Sun Stone |
| Oversize / G | Symphony #1 in B~ - Song of Youth
(part in Box 2, folder #7) |
| Oversize / H | Whispering Pines (part in Box 2,
folder 9) |
| Oversize / H | Zigeunerweisen |
Series 2: Miscellaneous PapersReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2 / 11 | Mementos 8
items.
|
1957-1967 |
| 2 / 12 | Carl Brandt
compositions |
|
| 2 / 12 | Morning After |
|
| 2 / 12 | Prairie Duster |
|
| 2 / 12 | Snow Flurries |
|
| 2 / 12 | Song of the Wind |
|
| 2 / 12 | Wind of the Southern
Sea |
|
| 2 / 12 | Wind in the Reeds |
|
| Oversize / K | Voo-Doo Woo Woo |
|
| Oversize / I-J | N.F.L. Program |
|
| Oversize / I-J | Assault and Battery |
|
| Oversize / I-J | The Atlantans |
|
| Oversize / I-J | Bone Breaker |
|
| Oversize / I-J | March |
|
| Oversize / I-J | Bonus Boy |
|
| Oversize / I-J | Broker Field |
|
| Oversize / I-J | Chicago Bears |
|
| Oversize / I-J | Down the Field |
|
| Oversize / I-J | First Quarter |
|
| Oversize / I-J | He Flies Thru the Air |
|
| Oversize / I-J | Kick Off |
|
| Oversize / I-J | The N.F.L. March |
|
| Oversize / I-J | The N.F.L. Signature |
|
| Oversize / I-J | Point After |
|
| Oversize / I-J | Run Back |
|
| Oversize / I-J | Tight End |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Music -- Manuscripts
Personal Names
- Brandt, Carl
- Merrick, Mahlon, ca. 1900-1969 --Archives (creator)
Occupations
- Composers--Washington (State)--Manuscripts
Finding aid prepared by Pat Graham
Pidcock
2012
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
