The Dance of the Cuckoos  

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Laurel and Hardy's "cuckoo" theme, entitled "Dance of The Cuckoos", was composed by Roach musical director Marvin Hatley as the on-the-hour chime for the Roach studio radio station. Generally known as "The Dance of the Cuckoos" it was copyrighted with the name "Ku Ku" and was first heard on the opening credits for Blotto (1930) and the Spanish version of Night Owls (1930). Laurel heard the tune on the station, and asked Hatley to use it as the Laurel and Hardy theme song. In Laurel's eyes, the song's melody represented Hardy's character (pompous and dramatic), while the harmony represented Laurel's own character (somewhat out of key, and only able to register two notes: "coo-coo"). The original theme, recorded by two clarinets in 1930, was re-recorded with a full orchestra in 1935. (Actually, the lower of the 2 instruments is an Ocarina, not a Clarinet.



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