Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In for "Laugh-In" was Ian Bernard. He wrote the opening theme music, "Inquisitive Tango", plus the infamous "What's the news across the nation" number. He wrote all the musical "play-ons" that introduced comedy sketches like Lily Tomlin's character, Edith Ann, the little girl who sat in a giant rocking chair, and Arte Johnson's old man character, Tyrone, who always got hit with a purse. He also appeared in many of the cocktail scenes where he directed the band as they stopped and started between jokes. Composer-lyricist Billy Barnes wrote all of the original musical production numbers in the show, and often
Martin S. Vilas "Charles Brockden Brown: A Study of Early American Fiction" (1904); "The Reorganization of the Republican Party", (1915); "The Barbary Coast of San Francisco", (1915); "Municipal Railway of San Francisco", (1915); and "The Veterans of the National Soldiers' Home", (1915). Vilas was the nephew of Levi Baker Vilas and cousin of William Freeman Vilas. Martin S. Vilas died in Burlington on November 19, 1953. Martin S. Vilas Martin S. Vilas (March 1, 1870 – November 19, 1953) was a Vermont lawyer, politician and author who served as President of the Vermont State Senate. Martin Samuel Vilas was born in Colchester, Vermont