ATSF Song

[ontheBNSF]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQlOml6vvA

I think a modern version of this should be made about the BNSF

[samfp1943]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQlOml6vvA

You'd get a movie about the Harvey House and its waitresses faster...

 

[Falcon48]

The guy who wrote "On the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe" was Harry Warren, the same guy who wrote "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" (which has a RR theme). He also did the music to some very familiar musicals and movies, not the least of which was 42nd Street. His name isn't nearly as familiar as his music.

[garyla]

Falcon48

The guy who wrote "On the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe" was Harry Warren, the same guy who wrote "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" (which has a RR theme). He also did the music to some very familiar musicals and movies, not the least of which was 42nd Street. His name isn't nearly as familiar as his music.

According to my sources, Harry Warren composed the music, but the lyrics were written by the more famous Johnny Mercer.

ATSF liked the song well enough to use in at least one TV commercial. See "Vintage Santa Fe Commercials" on YouTube.

[Falcon48]

garyla

Falcon48:

The guy who wrote "On the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe" was Harry Warren, the same guy who wrote "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" (which has a RR theme). He also did the music to some very familiar musicals and movies, not the least of which was 42nd Street. His name isn't nearly as familiar as his music.

According to my sources, Harry Warren composed the music, but the lyrics were written by the more famous Johnny Mercer.

ATSF liked the song well enough to use in at least one TV commercial. See "Vintage Santa Fe Commercials" on YouTube.

You're correct about Johnny Mercer being the lyricist. In popular music of the day, the musical composer and the lyricist were often separate people. Another piece of historic trivia is that it was originally used in a movie called "Harvey Girls" (it may hae been written for the film)and was sung by Judy Garland.

[Firelock76]

For a modern-day Santa Fe song, search "You Tube Johnny McCollum  'Santa Fe All The Way"   A rollicking piece of music, you won't be disappointed!

[Trainguy1988]

Out of curiosity, is the original song in the public domain?  I want to make a YouTube video on railroad music, and want to make sure I can reference or use it without any copyright violations.

 

ontheBNSF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQlOml6vvA

I think a modern version of this should be made about the BNSF

 

ontheBNSF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQlOml6vvA

I think a modern version of this should be made about the BNSF

 

ontheBNSF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQlOml6vvA

I think a modern version of this should be made about the BNSF

 

[BaltACD]

samfp1943

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQlOml6vvA

You'd get a movie about the Harvey House and its waitresses faster...

Video is private - when I tried to access it.

[Flintlock76]

"The Harvey Girls" is owned by Turner Classic Movies and they're kind of possessive.  They probably squawked to YouTube and had the video blocked.

Try Johnny McCollum's rollicking "Santa Fe All The Way!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISedJaylMQo 

Here's Henry Mancini's cover of "On The Atchison Topeka And The Santa Fe."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPcZFDum3uM

[YoHo1975]

You guys are just finding sketchy versions. This one appears valid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qBBc4lgO9I

[charlie hebdo]

Falcon48

The guy who wrote "On the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe" was Harry Warren, the same guy who wrote "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" (which has a RR theme). He also did the music to some very familiar musicals and movies, not the least of which was 42nd Street. His name isn't nearly as familiar as his music.

 

And Al Dublin was the lyricist for "Shuffle off to Buffalo" which was in the great 1933 Busby Berkeley film with Ruby Keeler.

 

https://youtu.be/aMdEqB-TB8g

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Overmod]

YoHo1975

You guys are just finding sketchy versions. This one appears valid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qBBc4lgO9I 

Ye gods, I never noticed how quickly all those extras stopped smiling!  And my heart nearly stopped with them dancing right next to the moving locomotive... I think I'm too old for golden-age musicals.

 

[M636C]

Overmod

 

 

YoHo1975

You guys are just finding sketchy versions. This one appears valid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qBBc4lgO9I 

 

 

Ye gods, I never noticed how quickly all those extras stopped smiling!  And my heart nearly stopped with them dancing right next to the moving locomotive... I think I'm too old for golden-age musicals.

 

 

 

 

Quite apart from the obvious danger it was two of the stars in the lead...

My first thoughts were whether they might have avoided using the cylinder cocks while the lead dancer's leg was being exposed to the steam...

The first twenty minutes of the movie (i picked up a DVD for a bargain price) is basically all part of the production number. Note that behind the titles, the same train is used, still in Virginia and Truckee colours and clearly burning quite a lot of oil... The passengers are still tuscan red in the titles. The mock-up coaches and locomotive match the train as seen in the big scene, however...

Peter

[wjstix]

Falcon48

"Shuffle Off to Buffalo" (which has a RR theme)

I'm sure most folks now don't understand the old references made in the popular culture of the time about honeymooning at Niagara Falls, but for many years couples in the New York City area would finish their wedding day by boarding the overnight train to Buffalo / Niagara Falls where they'd spend their honeymoon.

[Overmod]

M636C

My first thoughts were whether they might have avoided using the cylinder cocks while the lead dancer's leg was being exposed to the steam...

It's part of the number!  Looks to me like she starts to kick at the jets playfully... then thinks better of it at the last minute.