Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA
(509) 335-6691
http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/masc/
mascref@wsu.edu
Cage
361
Merrick, Mahlon
Mahlon Merrick
Papers
1953-1967
6
7 linear feet of shelf
space.
121 items.
Published and unpublished musical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.
Collection materials are in
English
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.
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.
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.
This collection is open for research use.
[Item Description]. Cage
361, Mahlon Merrick
Papers. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
The Mahlon Merrick collection was deposited in the Washington State
University Libraries by Mrs. Mahlon Merrick in June of 1977 (1977-33).
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
Merrick, Mahlon, ca. 1900-1969 --Archives
Brandt, Carl
Music --
Manuscripts
Performing Arts
Washington (State)
Composers--Washington (State)--Manuscripts
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
Series 1: Compositions and
Arrangements
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
Papers
2 / 11
Mementos
1957-1967
8
items.
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