Comments on: The Stories Behind Hollywood Studio Logos

By: Thierry

Thierry — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:21:11 +0000

What is the technical name for all of these logos that appear before a film?
If there is one?

By: Chris Ronk

Chris Ronk — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:31:50 +0000

I am feeling a little more educated today thanks to you. Keep up the good work.

By: Mimi Dutelle

Mimi Dutelle — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:20:44 +0000

Glad to see I'm not the only one fascinated by the way studio logos change over the years! Thanks! I found the best description of the creation of MGM's lion logo in Hollywood East (Carol Publishing)by Diana Altman, daughter of a famous MGM talent scout.

Altman points out that the words in the MGM logo, Ar Gratia Artis, do NOT mean Art for Art's sake but are gibberish. Howard Diez wanted his lion to seem intelligent so he surrounded it with Latin. If he had studied Latin, he would know that the Ars in his phrase means art as in the art of baking bread, the art of public speaking. The concept of Art (fine art) for its own sake is an idea that never would have occurred to the Romans because all Art was created for one's patron.

The true origin of this phrase is not Latin but English.

By: Rob Wallace

Rob Wallace — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:41:43 +0000

This is THE perfect site for me. I have been watching film company trademarks for 50 years. I love knowing whats behind the logo.

MGM's (how the heckk can it be Sonuy Pictures with that nonsense trademark?) Art for Art's Sake." was a revelation for me.

Keep adding content!

By: history of hollywood

history of hollywood — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:02:01 +0000

An interesting read - some good tips here

By: craig

craig — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:54:53 +0000

Hi does anyone know where to get posters of current studio logos
THANK YOU

By: anna maria lopez lopez

anna maria lopez lopez — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 11:28:52 +0000

What an interesting article, really well documented. We are so familiar with these opening logos that is great to know their origin and roots. Thanks for sharing! Greetings from Spain!

By: Arrica Lee

Arrica Lee — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:23:14 +0000

Great! I never know any of this before. Thanks for sharing!

By: Balee

Balee — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:42:58 +0000

Hi, I heard that in Paramount logo it is mountain Matterhorn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matterhorn), isn't it?

By: LeeW

LeeW — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:03:11 +0000

Fascinating stuff. Gotta confess: I HATE Tristar's logo. Pegasus flying out of the screen toward the viewer scares the hell out of me. If I even hear that trumpeting music, I turn my head until it's over!

By: Maury

Maury — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:20:22 +0000

I've heard the streak in the "Touchstone" logo is actually, Mickey Mouse from Fantasia, just skewed. Would make sense as Disney created Touchstone...

By: jaxon

jaxon — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:16:47 +0000

very interesting...I just stumbeled onto you....jax

By: alizee

alizee — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:11:39 +0000

Great article but after mentioning Alfred Newman`s famous logofanfare I wonder if you can`t do the same about those companies Logofanfares, that would be a great accompany to this interesting article..

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:32:48 +0000

I got the following factoids from a ibrary assistant at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: Did you know that MGM used to use a young lion cub as their logo for their short films, ca: 1940 I've seen it in their promotional materials, but don't know if he "roared". I believe they referred to him as "Leo Junior". I was able to print out your article on the various film studios' logos, and it will be added to our file here at the library under "Trademarks". And I found a bit more info for you. Hope you can find these articles by these citations: Variety (W) Sept. 1, 2008 "Leaping Logos! A limitless litany adorns every new pic" -by Peter Debruge Hollywood Reporter July 10, 2006 "Disney magic of old in new animated logo" -by Sheigh Crabtree (re: the new 'castle' logo that debuted with "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest") and our most-recent entry is rather short, from the L.A. Times Nov. 7, 2008 "Updated style for MGM's lion" -by Susan King Leo the Lion has had a makeover. The famed MGM logo feline has been digitally restored and given a new roar. The refurbished Leo will make his bow on the James Bond thriller "Quantum of Solace," which opens in the U.S. on Nov. 14. The famed logo was designed by Howard Deitz 92 years ago for the Goldwyn Pictures Corp. and first appeared on the 1917 romance "Polly of the Circus." Over the last nine decades, five different lions have been used as the logo. Slates, who was hired after the 1924 merger that created MGM, made his debut on the studio's first feature, 1924's "He Who Gets Slapped." Jackie was the first of the lions to roar, thanks to a gramophone recording, for the 1928 adventure "White Shadow of the South Seas." Leo has been king of the MGM logo for the last 51 years and was used in the digital restoration. The studio's postproduction team scanned Leo into the computer from the original camera negative of 1958's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" for his digital makeover. They enlisted sound designer Mark Magnini, who had recorded lion roars for the ghostly sound effects in 1982's "Poltergeist." Mangini used those 26-year-old elements to create a new stereo roar for the iconic lion. Thanks Kathryn!

By: Naomi

Naomi — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:03:47 +0000

that's pretty awesome. i just think there is a little lacking in the conceptual explanation of the logos. i want more

By: Ronald Crair

Ronald Crair — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:37:48 +0000

Paramount films. Am I the only one to see the Greek letters Alpha and Omega? The stars and the line acros the bottom makea the omega and the peek makes the alpha.

By: Robert Miller

Robert Miller — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:30:49 +0000

I found your article quite entertaining, and concise and informative. I think you did a great job. Though you have some negative comments, the article does what it is meant to do, entertain. I always look at articles like these as teasers, and a jumping point to do my own research. Well done.

By: kazoo

kazoo — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:04:18 +0000

Interesting.

Adding to what others have said about the female entity named "Columbia"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_(name)

She is the woman the District of Columbia (as well as many other things)is named after and her name is based on Christopher Columbus. So she is indeed "the female personification of America"

By: Dinflux Ed

Dinflux Ed — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:52:56 +0000

Great article, very informative and well researched. Gave you a link on my blog so my readers can come check it out.

I love how the WB logo went through some horrible phases, they really should have just made up their mind...

By: Ivo

Ivo — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:36:18 +0000

Heheh, such a usefull information, I have always wondered what those logos mean ..

By: tommy

tommy — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:54:28 +0000

Great history post. Great follow up as well.

By: Cindylover1969

Cindylover1969 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:13:21 +0000

"after mentioning Alfred Newman`s famous logofanfare I wonder if you can`t do the same about those companies Logofanfares, that would be a great accompany to this interesting article."

I have to agree, especially since they've had some notable composers - the current Universal fanfare is by Jerry Goldsmith (RIP), and the DreamWorks music is by none other than John Williams.

By: Dew

Dew — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:07:09 +0000

Very interesting. I like all the conspiracy nonsense in the comments too. Man, some people just can't read something interesting without trying to make it a world changing drama.

By: Alfonso Lozano

Alfonso Lozano — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:54:30 +0000

Estupenda reseña sobre la historia de estos logotipos.

Hay un post de referencia en Portafolioblog.

Saludos

By: Devlin Thompson

Devlin Thompson — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:17:31 +0000

The "modern" MGM logo mentioned by commenter #8 didn't have a lot of use onscreen, but it was used for some years in print materials, as the MGM Records logo, and by the MGM Grand casino (I've got a couple of gold plastic swizzle sticks with it).

By: Jangsoyoung

Jangsoyoung — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:46:35 +0000

sorry..
I can not say in English.
Google is using a translator.
I would like to move to my blog post.
This article will be translated into Korean.
Blog address- http://blog.naver.com/nyovung
Have a good day.

By: Pola

Pola — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:52:15 +0000

I have noticed that one of the major Italian online newspaper, La Repubblica, often copies Neatorama content.
In the past I tought that it was because news are news and are world-widely known, but when I find articles like this one: http://www.repubblica.it/2008/12/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/loghi-ho llywood/loghi-hollywood/loghi-hollywood.html
just 2 days after you published this post, I wonder if you should be at least given credits.

By: rafb

rafb — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:50:46 +0000

great compilation!

By: Daniele

Daniele — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:07:15 +0000

Well... it was actually ripped-off by one of the most important italian newspapers:
http://www.repubblica.it/2008/12/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/loghi-ho llywood/loghi-hollywood/loghi-hollywood.html?ref=hpspr1
without even referring the source

Daniele

By: aidan

aidan — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:17:39 +0000

i never knew this! thanks for sharing!