Collection Summary
Salter, Harry, 1899-1984
Harry Salter Papers
1937-1996
09053
192.51 cubic ft. (196 boxes)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English
The papers of musician Harry Salter, creator of the musical
game shows “Stop the Music” and “Name That Tune” from the 1950s.
Biography of Harry Salter
Harry Salter (1899-1984) was a musician and orchestra leader from the 1920s through
the 1960s. Salter was the creator and musical director for the television and radio
show “Stop the Music” (1949-1956) and the producer and conductor of the television
show “Name That Tune” (1953-1959). “Stop the Music” was emceed by Bert Parks, and
the music was played by the Harry Salter Orchestra. It was introduced on radio in
1948, and went to television the next year. The television program “Name That Tune”
was emceed by Red Benson, Bill Cullen, and George DeWitt, and the music was again
played by the Harry Salter Orchestra. Syndicated versions of the program continued
in the 1970s -1980s. Salter conducted the orchestras for a number of other radio
programs, including “Hit Parade,” “Your Unseen Friend,” “Philco Show,” “Hobby
Lobby,” and “Mr. District Attorney.” He died in Mamaroneck, New York in 1984.
Scope and Content
The bulk of the Harry Salter collection contains musical scores and arrangements for
music used on the shows “Stop the Music” and “Name That Tune.” It also contains
correspondence, notes, and other files related to Salter’s creation and running of
the aforementioned shows. Two manuscripts by Salter’s wife, Roberta Salter, are also
present. These detail the creation and running of both “Stop the Music” and “Name
That Tune.” Audio and video recordings are also present in the collection, including
recordings from episodes of “Stop the Music” and “Name that Tune.”
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the
collection is open to the public.
Copyright Information
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and
libel laws as they apply.
Related Materials
There are no known other archival collections created by Harry Salter at the date of
processing.
Acquisition Information
This material was received from Roberta Salter (wife) in 1984 and 1997, and Victoria
Salter (daughter) in 2007.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Emily Christopherson in June 2011
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number,
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Access Terms
Television music--United States.
Radio game shows--United States.
Television game shows--United
States.
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Music.
Big Bands.
Container List
Series I. Professional files
1948-1996
Arranged alphabetically by file name. This series contains correspondence,
notes, memoranda, legal files, and other administrative files pertaining to
the creation and running of Salter’s television and radio shows, most
notably "Stop the Music" and "Name That Tune." This series also contains
catalogs and indexes of music used on the two programs, as well as guides
stating what songs were used during which programs.
171
"Name That Tune" - audio inventory and lists for items possibly
not in collection
undated
171
"Name That Tune" - big winners
1957-1959
171
"Name That Tune" - contestants of note
1957-1958
171
"Name That Tune" - correspondence from Golden Medley Marathon
winners
1984-1985
171
"Name That Tune" - correspondence, fan mail, and general
information
1957-1959
171
"Name That Tune" - form letter to people requesting
tickets
undated
171
"Name That Tune" - game instructions
1953
171
"Name That Tune" - Golden Medley categorized song
index
undated
171
"Name That Tune" - Golden Medley Marathon - songs of
faith
undated
171
"Name That Tune" - Golden Medley selection training
kit
1957-1958
171
"Name That Tune" - Golden Medley winners' letters of
application
1957-1958
171
"Name That Tune" - Harry Salter's wisdom on how to choose
contestants
undated
171
"Name That Tune" - index of songs with accompanying
clues
undated
171
"Name That Tune" - information for 1099 forms - prize money
awarded
1956-1959
171
"Name That Tune" - photographs
1953
178
"Name That Tune" - photographs
1953
176
"Name That Tune" - press book of newspaper clippings
1957-1958
171
"Name That Tune" - scripts
1952-1958
171
"Name That Tune" - scripts and forms
undated
171
"Name That Tune" - special contestants
1957-1958
171
"Name That Tune" - television rights and requests
1982-1986
177
"Name That Tune" by Roberta Salter
undated
170
"Stop the Music" - 1st show music line-up
1948
170
"Stop the Music" - catalog of songs
undated
170
"Stop the Music" - claims and settlements
1952-1988
170
"Stop the Music" - contracts and deals
1962-1993
170
"Stop the Music" - correspondence and administrative
papers
1948-1952
170
"Stop the Music" - correspondence
1948-1955
170
"Stop the Music" - financial files
undated
170
"Stop the Music" - Harry Salter's passing thoughts
undated
170
"Stop the Music" - index of songs used during each
program
1948-1952
170
"Stop the Music" - legal files
1952-1996
170
"Stop the Music" - mystery melodies list
undated
170
"Stop the Music" - mystery melodies made up to use
1951
170
"Stop the Music" - mystery melody correspondence
1948
170
"Stop the Music" - newspaper clippings
1948-1950
170
"Stop the Music" - radio scripts
1952
170
"Stop the Music" - television scripts
1949
177
"Stop the Music: Anatomy of a Music Game Show" by Roberta
Salter
undated
174
"Yours For A Song" - contestant applications
undated
177
"Yours For A Song" - contestant releases
1961-1963
169
Book - "Quiz Craze: America's Infatuation With Game Shows" by
Thomas A. DeLong
177
Correspondence and notes regarding music game shows
1948-1973
174
Miscellaneous song lists
undated
177
New music game show idea, including "New Stop the Music," "Ticker
Tape," and "Golden Music Box,"
undated
Series II. Sheet music arrangements
undated
Arranged alphabetically. This series contains the musical arrangements for
the songs played on various musical programs, most notably “Stop the Music”
and “Name That Tune." The first part of the series is arranged alphabetically
by program name. The bulk of the series is composed of music used for both
“Stop the Music” and “Name That Tune” and is arranged alphabetically by song
title. Only the beginning letter indicators are listed; individual song
titles are not listed. The majority of the arrangements appear to be
arranged and hand-notated by staff members of “Stop the Music” and “Name
That Tune.”
175
"Can Do" music
166
"Fame and Fortune" music
174
"Hit Parade" music
167
"It Pays To Be Ignorant" music
164-165
"Name That Tune" songs in alphabetical and thematic
bundles
163
"Name That Tune" themes and openings
163
"Scotland Yard" music
162-163
"Spotlight on America" music
168-169
"Stop the Music" mystery melodies
163
"Stop the Music" themes and openings
166
"Up For Parole" music
172
Index - Alphabetized index cards of music used in the shows,
including its arranger
173
Index - Alphabetized Tune-Dex cards of music used in the
shows
1
76
1
A - Ab
2
Ac - Ai
3-4
Al
5
Am
5-6
An
154
Ap - Ar
155
As - Ay
1
Baa - Bai
7
Bal - Bat
15
Be
8
Be - Bea
9
Bec - Bel
10
Ben - Big
11
Bil - Bla
13
Ble - Blo
12
Blue - Blues
13
Bo - Bre
14
Bri - Bus
15
But - By
16
Ca - Can't
17
Cap - Cat
18
Ce - Char
195
Chat - Chic
19
Chil - Cin
18
Cir - Civ
153
Cl
55
Coc
157
Coffee
156
Col
20
Com
156
Con - Cot
21
Cou - Cry
22
Cu - Dai
23
Dan
24
Dar - Dear Little
25
Dear Old - Dic
26
Did - Doi
27
Dol - Dou
28
Dow - Dox
29
Dr - Ea
30
Eb - Every
31
Everybody - Fan
32
Fa - Fie
33
Fin - Fiv
35
Fl
34
Fo
34-35
Fr
35
Fu
36
Ga
37
Ge - Go Go
38
Go In - Good News
39
Goody - Gy
40-42
Ha
42
Heart - Hello
47
Here - Hi
46
High - Hol
47
Home
45
Hon - Hor
43
Hot
44
How
43
Hu - Hy
50
I Ain't - I Cross
55
I Didn't
56
I Do - I Found
55
I Don't
57
I Get - I Hear
58
I Kiss - I Know
51
I Left - I Love
58
I Married - I Passed
56
I Said - I Understand
159
I Want - I Wish
63
I Wonder - I Wouldn't
58
I Yi Yi Yi
61
I'd
63
I'd've
59
I'll
157-158
I'm
49
I've
61
Ic - Id
52-53
If
61
Il - In
53-54
In
63
Ireland - Is
55
Isn't
48
It
159-161
It's
63
Ita - Ivory
60
Ja - Je
65
Ji - Jo
61
Jub - Jung
62
Just
64
K
67
La - Lac
65-66
Lady
67
Lam - Las
68
Lan - Lav
66
Lay - Laz
66
Lea - Len
68
Let
66
Let's
69
Li - Little
70
Little - Liz
71
Loa - Love
72
Love
73
Love - Lu
74
Ma - Mak
75
Mal - Man
77-78
Mar
77
Mas - Maz
79
Me
80
Mid - Min
76
Mis - Miy
80
Mo - Mom
81
Mon - Moon
82
Mor - Mu
83-85
My
86
Na - Night
87
Night - No
88
No - Nu
88
O - Oc
89
Od - Oh
90
Oh - Ok
91
Old
92-93
On
94
One - Op
93
Or
95
Os - Oz
95
P.S.
96-97
Pa
98-99
Pe
98
Ph
97
Pi
99
Pl
100
Po - Por
105
Pr
101
Pu - Q
102
Ra
103
Re
102
Rh
103
Ri
104-105
Ro
106
Ru
106
Sa - Sc
108
Se
108-110
Sh
111-112
Si
112
Sk
113
Sl
116
Sm
112
Sn
114
So
117
Soft - Sol
114
Some
115
Somebody - Somewhere
116
Song
117
Sonn - South
112
Sp
118-119
St
122
Su
120-121
Sw
113
Sy
124
Ta - Taj
123
Take - Taking
124
Tal - Taz
124-125
Te
132
Thanks
134-135
That
133
Them - Then
131-132
There
137
These
130
They
133
Thi
135
This
137
Thou
137
Three
133
Through - Thu
136
Ti
127-128
To
129
Tr
126
Tu - Tw
141
Wait
140
Wak - Wal
141
Wam - Waz
138
We
145
Wea - Whale
143
What
145
Wheel
146-147
When
139
Where
140
Whi
142
Whi
148
Who
144
Why
139
Wi
138
With
143
Wo - Wol
144
Woman
143
Women - Wot
144
Would
143
Wouldn't - Woz
148
Wr
145
Wu
152
Ya
149
Ye - Yi
150-152
You
149
You'd - Young
153
Z
167
Miscellaneous music
196
Miscellaneous sheet music
Series III. Audio
1937-1978
Arranged alphabetically by audio title. This series primarily contains
reel-to-reel audiotapes; other formats (phonograph records and cassette
tapes) are marked as such. The series contains demos, music, and auditions
from “Stop the Music” and “Name That Tune.” Recordings from other programs
are also present.
181
ABC - "Shemi,"
undated
181
ABC - Jerusalem
undated
181
Demo tape
undated
181
Golden music box
undated
181
Harry Salter - Rainbow Room
undated
181
Herzberg - Cleveland
undated
181
Jewish school
undated
181
Joan Deacon - Christmas, family
undated
181
Magic melodies
undated
181
Malcolm X
undated
181
Marc Siegel - "In Praise,"
undated
181
Marc Siegel - "Panama,"
undated
181
Music of a People - Stanley Black and the London Festival
Orchestra and Chorus
undated
181
NBC - Israel
1972
179
"Name That Tune,"
9 September 1959
180
"Name That Tune" - demo medley ideas
undated
180
"Name That Tune" - minute medleys
undated
180
"Name That Tune" - music box
undated
180
"Name That Tune" - possibly general knowledge tunes used to test
possible contestants
undated
180
"Name That Tune" - radio auditions
12 January 1955
180
"Name That Tune" - round 1-5
undated
181
New Stop the Music
20 December 1978
181
Professor Bernard Williams - Cambridge
1975
181
Songs and music
undated
179
"Stop the Music,"
14 January 1951
179
"Stop the Music,"
21 January 1951
179
"Stop the Music,"
24 February 1952
179
"Stop the Music" - auditions with Fred Utel
undated
179
"Stop the Music" - demo tapes
undated
179
"Stop the Music" - Harry Salter in rehearsal
1937-1938, 1952
179
"Stop the Music" - June Valli sings
10 June 1951
179
"Stop the Music" - mystery melodies
undated
179
"Stop the Music" - original air show
14 May 1952
179
"Stop the Music" - original air show
25 November 1952
181
Tapes sent in from individuals
undated
181
"Trilogy of the Holocaust,"
undated
181-182
unknown and/or unlabeled
undated
181
WBAI concert
9 February 1963
182
Cassettes - "Stop the Music" - mystery melodies
undated
182
Cassettes - "Stop the Music,"
undated
182
Cassettes - "Stop the Music,"
20 July 1952
182
Cassettes - unlabeled
undated
183
Phonograph records - "Hit Parade" - "Beer Barrel
Polka,"
9 September 1939
183
Phonograph records - "Name That Tune" promo record sent to radio
editors
1953
183
Phonograph records - "Name That Tune,"
undated
183
Phonograph records - "Stop the Music" (including mystery
melodies)
undated
183
Phonograph records - ABC - music
undated
183
Phonograph records - Army Contest songs
undated
183
Phonograph records - Bert Parks Show
24 January 1952
183
Phonograph records - Bob Hope and Shirley Ross
1960
183
Phonograph records - NBC - music
1939
183
Phonograph records - Unlabeled
undated
183
Phonograph records - Video Moods sounds effects
undated
Series IV. Film
1955-1987
Arranged alphabetically by film title. The bulk of the series contains
episodes from “Name That Tune,” most with the more popular contestants. Many
of the film canisters are not well identified, and may relate to other
productions on which Salter worked, or possibly are films from his personal
collection.
185
"America's Roll Call of Presidents,"
undated
190
Bingo at home
undated
188
Britain Crowns a Queen
undated
186
Dance etiquette, HS Truman, animal sport, the
villain
undated
186
Dogs and Hopper [Hooper?]
undated
184-185
Footage of Presidents and other dignitaries
undated
187
Gertie, Kelly, Collin, animals, sports
undated
188
Groucho; Mutiny on the Bounty
undated
186
John's Manville
undated
187
"Name That Tune" - auditions
undated
191
"Name That Tune" - Barbara Pope (Minister's wife) and Robert
Whistler; Joyce Buefont and Dick Benjamin; Joan Delaney and
Joleson
1957
191
"Name That Tune" - Barbara Pope, Princess Konthip
Probhaialakshana (great granddaughter of King of Siam)
1957
191
"Name That Tune" - Barbara Pope - invited audience to her church;
Patty Holand and Ed Holden
1957
190
"Name That Tune" - Benny Reynolds (Bashful Cowboy) and Jane
Mullins highlights
1958
192
"Name That Tune" - Benny Reynolds and Jane Mullins
1958
193
"Name That Tune" - close of show
undated
190
"Name That Tune" - Exchange students Mesfin Binega from Ethiopia
and Norma Blum from Brazil - greeted by Eisenhower at the Rose
Garden
March 1957
189
"Name That Tune" - Ex-fighter Bill Graham and Albert
Stangker
undated
192
"Name That Tune" - Jimmy Clark and Linda Slatky
6 April 1956
187
"Name That Tune" - John Glenn and Hodges going for
$25,000
undated
192
"Name That Tune" - John Kelman and Sandy Wilkenson
undated
191
"Name That Tune" - Mabel Potter and James Bugg; Winona Brannon
and Jimmy McConnon; Patricia Myers and Cliff Livingstone
1957
189
"Name That Tune" - Mario gives back butcher shop
undated
191
"Name That Tune" - Estella Jueneman (Kansas farmwife) and Louis
Brugnotti
1955
190
"Name That Tune" - Nicky Capoldi and Robin Scanlon (5 yrs
old)
1958
193
"Name That Tune" - Nurse Joan Mathews and Major
Whitlock
1956
190
"Name That Tune" - Part of an unknown show
1958
189
"Name That Tune" - Pat Rooney and the little Oldaker
sisters
1957
193
"Name That Tune" - Phil Silver substituting for Estelle Jueneman
and Louis Brugnolotti
1 November 1955
189
"Name That Tune" - Rachel Limon (Israel)
1956
192
"Name That Tune" - Red Boucher (later became mayor of Fairbanks,
Alaska) and Nan Langford
1956
191
"Name That Tune" - Red Boucher and Nan Langford; Tanja Chin and
Gerald Pimental
1956
192
"Name That Tune" - Red Boucher and Nan Langford; Tanja
Chin
1956
194
"Name That Tune" - Red Boucher for $25,000
undated
190
"Name That Tune" - Red Boucher; Tanja Chin
1956
192
"Name That Tune" - Roberta Cattell and Johnny
McCannan
17 September 1957
193
"Name That Tune" - Roger C[?] and Ann Jenn[?]; Virginia Victor
and Rita Nolen; Dorothy Marsh and Hank Van Kooey
1957
193
"Name That Tune" - three running spots
1957
193
"Name That Tune" - unknown
undated
188
Stop the Camera, Hiss the Villain
undated
182
"Stop the Music" (VHS)
1987
188
Sullivan introducing Cagney
undated
188
Teletunes
undated
194
Unknown episode of "Name That Tune" or "Stop the
Music,"
undated
184-185
Unlabeled and/or unknown
undated
187
"Young Doctors," "Miracles of Photography,"
undated
Additional Container Lists
The American Heritage Center is in the process of converting its older container lists to a more accessible format. This link is to an older version of a container list.
Link to Accessioning Worksheet (PDF)