Forum Topic

Just a thought.

A little bit of trivia here. Why is it that it seems most Ice Cream Vans play the 'Third Man' Harry Lime' theme. I hear it and think that I am in a 50s timewarp. So people might remark that we thought you were!

Colin Vaughan ● 6618d10 Comments

The noise is probably off-the-shelf, just there to attract attention. Is it really worth the van man bothering to learn how to change it, obtain new music, pay any royalties, then stand in the rain trying to sell ice cream (or hot potatoes, hot dogs, or fish and chips)?

Chris Bell ● 6617d

People in this country can not even bother to learn enough about their gadgets to be able to reject their poor quality but expensive control system and replace it with something that is good and free.

Chris Bell ● 6617d

'People in this country...'.That'll be all of us will it?Not that you're generalising in any way.You're not related to Alan Partridge per chance?Round my way he plays the William Tell Overture.

Keith Iddon ● 6617d

Well maybe one does not have to pay royalties for the 'Third Man' Harry Lime Theme'hence thats why it has survived so long.  Anyway the point has been missed, we aren't talking about quality of sound or anything to do with it, so its probably 20/30/40% distortion so what! Its the fact that this particular tune crops up in Ice Cream Vans as a signal, when probably a high percentage of the population were not born when the film was all the rage. If we want to talk HI-FI, or programming and using audio/video equipment to its full effect, then we can start a thread on that subject. The Royalty angle is probably right end of story!

Colin Vaughan ● 6617d

William Tell yes Keith, wonder if there are Royalties on that.Bet many don't know that tune either!

Colin Vaughan ● 6617d

Think it's called Lara's Theme from Third Man.

Keith Iddon ● 6617d

Could be right there Keith

Colin Vaughan ● 6617d

Keith wrote: >Think it's called Lara's Theme from Third Man.

David Fox ● 6616d

I watched The Third Man just a couple of weeks ago and can't say I recognised the theme at all, let alone in association with ice cream. I can't remember the last time I heard an ice cream van's chimes, but when I did I'm sure it was always "Greensleeves". Pretty sure there is no copyright on that tune.

Mark Dudley ● 6616d

Your right David, I looked it up on Google, and there it was 'The Harry Lime Theme'

Colin Vaughan ● 6616d