"Stop Gap" (Truth or Consequences Theme)

Here's the classic theme to one of America's
1st true TV game shows
"Truth or Consequences"

[@bradgandy02]

"Hello there! We've been waiting for you! It's time to play Truth *(eh-ehhhhhh)* or Consequences!"

[@martinfelsenfeld6012]

...’and now ladies and gentlemen here’s the star of our show, Bob Barker!’

[@briwolfe1]

Don't forget Global Van Lines...This aired for years on WJAC TV in Johnstown, PA at 7pm right before prime time NBC shows aired at 7:30pm.

[@RadioFreeSpike]

That's the station my family would have watched in on, too. (We lived in State College.) "Next time you make your move, Don't forget Global Van Lines!" "And, Truth or Consequences is brought to you by Pontiac, the wide-bodied car."

[@bobthetvfan]

This was the theme song for the 1966-75 syndicated version of "T or C." I also remember "Get Happy" as the theme song of the NBC daytime version, but the radio theme was "Merrily We Roll Along," which was indeed the theme song of the "Merrie Melodies" cartoons ("Looney Tunes" used "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down"). Watching a clip a short time ago brought back memories of 1972-74 when what was then my local ABC station, WGHP High Point, NC, carried "Anything You Can Do" and "Truth or Consequences" back to back after the news each night; the two stunt-oriented shows made a good combo ("Beat the Clock" might have worked, too, but CBS affiliate WFMY had that one).

[@barrythomas615]

That's what I remember too, about "Get Happy" being the first TV theme for T/C. BTW, "Get Happy" was written by Harold Arlen, who wrote the original music for "The Wizard of Oz"

[@hulkjelly]

I had this theme in my head for the past 5 years and couldn't figure out to what show it was connected. I can now die in peace. Thank you!!!

[@MichaelValHietter]

I remember as a young, young child at the end of the Sixites, my bedtime was right after Truth or Consequences. The closing credits for the show included several cartoon faces, sporting either halos and devil horns. I really remember saying to Mom and Dad each night we watched the show, "Let me see the faces"--then after the credits were over, it was off to bed! Does anyone else remember those faces?

[@AlbieGray]

Brings back a flood of memories

[@biglittlemason2]

OMG....I want to cry right now, this brings back so many wonderful memories....thanks so much for sharing. Now I'm on a quest to finding other game show music themes. I miss Bob Barker too. Come back Bob barker

[@Hank13665]

Thanks, Noveltooner--you validated my memory of "Get Happy" as the theme for T or C during the NBC years circa 1956-57.

[@JeffWildcat64]

Wow this really bring back meories of watching the show in Detroit back in the 60s and 70s on WJBK TV 2. Thanks a lot nice memories.

[@batterymakermarkii2654]

I remember this song like the back of my hand. About busted a gut when I heard it again, on an episode of Ren and Stimpy

[@animaljsmith]

Judged solely as a piece of symphonic "pops" music, it holds up really well. Many themes of this era are underrated gems. Also, the 1962-69 theme to the CBS original version of "To Tell The Truth." And one more: the all-electronic closing theme to the original "Gambit." An amazing piece of work for its day.

[@Noveltooner]

The original theme from "Truth or Consequenses'" debut on NBC radio and through its NBC TV years was Harold Arlen's "Get Happy," the original "Marrie Melodies cartune" theme of the early 1930s. The recorded arrangement from the cartoons was used for the into and endings but was occasionally (and rarely) played on the organ. It became a monster hit for Judy Garland in her last MGM picture, 1950's "Summer Stock."

[@bobthetvfan]

I remember "Get Happy" as the theme of the 1956-65 TV version, but some tapes I have of the radio show have "Merrily We Roll Along" (aka "Mary Had a Little Lamb") as the theme; it was this one that was the theme song for "Merrie Melodies" ("Looney Tunes" used "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down"). "Stop Gap," however, is the one I think of when "T or C" is mentioned; it was the theme of the 1966-75 syndicated version.

[@calvinwalker553]

I Could Just See STEVE MARTIN Dancing to This. 😃

[@justtim]

I'll bet I hadn't heard that music in over 30 years. Wow, what memories! It was a great game show, in fact the first I can ever remember watching. Thanks for sharing!

[@taratupa73]

Sweet, sweet memories! Used to watch 'T or C' as a kid! Thanks for posting!

[@toddmiller5656]

Very dignified theme song. Very much like Truth or Consequences itself. Then Bob went and did that one show for thirty-five years. You know, the one where people come on down, bid on a bunch of stuff, jump up and in a fit of hysteria and...... Yeah. That show.

[@saml760]

The show that made Bob Barker a TV star ! This theme was also used in some "Ren & Stimpy cartoons most notably "Stimpy"s Big Day".

[@1985OldSkool]

That was Bob Barker's big hit show before he became the host of "The Price Is Right" on CBS on Labor Day of 1972.

[@samrose66]

My mom was on this show back in either late 60's or early 70's when we lived in LA. I remember watching her on TV.

[@CENTRALISLIPCONCERTCHOIR]

I remember visiting the actual town, "Truth or Consequences, New Mexico" a number of years back! This was a fun show from what I remember.

[@bigfinewomanful]

This theme song kept running in my head today...i just knew where to go to pull it up. Thanks to you jd00720 for posting on KZbin.

[@jefam3]

I remember that the organist's name (on the Barker NBC version) was Don Isham. He was replaced by the recorded "Stop Gap" when the show went syndicated.

[@saml760]

they used to use this music on The Ren and Stimpy Show quite a bit as i remember.

[@imyourtrash]

This song was also in a Ren and Stimpy cartoon, Stimpy wins a contest for Gritty Kitty Cat Litter.

[@orrinsjuice1]

I grew Up in Truth or Consequences NM!!!

[@imyourtrash]

You can watch Family Guy on Hulu, and you can find lotsa cool stuff on youtube as well... Lucky we still have the internet!

[@veritasvg]

@briwolfe1 It aired on WJW in Cleveland at the same time. I was REALLY little (before kindergarten) but I remember.

[@jefam3]

To those of us old enough to remember TorC, this will always be the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of Bob Barker. As good as Barker was on TPiR, that's how much better he was on TorC, where his whole personality shone through, as he talked about his wife Dorothy Jo and his basset hound Mr. Baker.

[@vividwatch47]

I'm surprised that this isn't any of the theme compilation C.D.s.

[@ACLTony]

Putting aside the "trashy" cartoons of today, I so fondly remember hearing this theme when I was about 5 years old in the 60s. Was a wonderful time to be a kid then. Even with Vietnam and the hippy movement tv was much cleaner and offered a lot of material for the whole family.

[@frankp3]

Does anyone know why the audience was always hysterically laughing at the start of each show? I mean REALLY LAUGHING!!! Did the warm up announcer tell a really dirty joke 10 seconds before airtime or something? Dying to know about this...

[@RocketTCoyote]

Remembers the remaining Three Stooges as guests. Also Mel Blanc in a kiddie segment.

[@luvthoseclips]

This was the second theme to this show, & I remember it well! However, there was an original theme "before this one", which was played by an organ.....anyone recall that one, or perhaps have that recording to post on here?

[@toddwacha5108]

From Metromedia Square in Hollywood, California from 1966-74. Gone but not forgotten. I was by there when I was in L.A. in 1976.

[@imyourtrash]

There's still Adult Swim!! Family Guy is great, and lets not forget South Park on Comedy Central.

[@grindel324]

Mr. Horse didn't like it :(

[@fromthesidelines]

"Stop Gap" was also used as the closing theme of the 1963 "CBS Fall Preview Special", which was shown locally (at different times, a week before the new season began) by their affiliates...

[@jefam3]

I remember that the organist's name (on the Barker NBC version) was Don Isham. He was replaced by the recorded "Stop Gap" when the show went syndicated.