Classic TV Theme: Adventures of Robin Hood (two versions)

Of all the British half-hour adventure shows from the mid-to-late 50s, 'Robin Hood' (1955) was the most successful. It ran for four seasons, and in the US snagged a 7:30 pm slot on CBS. Richard Greene played the titular hero, and many guest stars passed through Sherwood Forest. The show was intended to give blacklisted writers a place to work (the production company was partially funded by the US Communist Party), so the notion of 'rob from the rich, give to the poor' kind of fit right in. The 'Robin Hood' song is heard over the end credits...except when it isn't: 0:00 Robin Hood opening, music by Edwin Astley 0:18 Instrumental end title, music by Edwin Astley (version one, heard on a handful episodes, possibly intended as the official closing theme, until...) 1:20 Vocal end title, theme song by Carl Sigman, sung by Dick James (version two). It's the thing most people remember about the show, though author Nick Rennison called it dreadful, silly doggerel: 'What is Robin Hood doing riding through a (Scottish) glen, other than providing an easy rhyme for men?' He did add, grudgingly, that it's become 'arguably the best-known piece of music ever associated with the outlaw.'