The genius of the Laurel and Hardy theme tune

Available for over a year

Kate Romano and composer Marvin Hatley explore the history and genius of the Ku-Ku theme. Hatley dismissed it as a silly tune, having originally composed it as a radio time signal. But when Stan Laurel heard it he insisted on using it for their theme tune, hearing Stan and Ollie's characters represented by the two clarinet lines. Hear a new Time Traveller feature every weekday on Essential Classics. Click through to the episode page or explore the Essential Classics clips page for more quirky slices of cultural history.