Leroy Shield

Leroy Shield (October 2, 1893 - January 9, 1962) was an American film score and radio composer. A native of Waseca, Minnesota, Shield was an employee of RCA Victor's National Broadcasting Company, for which he composed and conducted on-air musical pieces. He also worked as a part-time employee for the Hal Roach film studio, composing countless background themes that became associated with such Roach comedy series as Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang, Za... more

Leroy Shield (October 2, 1893 - January 9, 1962) was an American film score and radio composer. A native of Waseca, Minnesota, Shield was an employee of RCA Victor's National Broadcasting Company, for which he composed and conducted on-air musical pieces. He also worked as a part-time employee for the Hal Roach film studio, composing countless background themes that became associated with such Roach comedy series as Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang, ZaSu Pitts and Thelma Todd, and Charley Chase. One of his compositions for the 1930 Our Gang 1930 short Teacher's Pet, "Good Old Days," became the theme song of the series. His 1930 song "Beautiful Lady" was used as the theme song for the Pitts and Todd films. After touring with Toscanini during the early 1950s, Shield retired in 1955. In 1992, the Dutch musical group The Beau Hunks (named after the Laurel and Hardy film) transcribed and recorded compositions by Shield. These recordings drew praise from cartoonist R. Crumb (who rendered a... less