Cinemax Feature Presentation IDs

Compiled by Kris Starring
Videos by videos4everybody and michaelericm


1st (known) Open
(1988-1994)

Nickname: "The Palette"

Logo: We begin in a black CGI enviornment with different colored circles. We see a slate. It claps and zooms out onto a gray bar that moves onto the screen from the left. Another gray bar moves from the right, and the bars form a piece of film with a typical film countdown leader going inside it (3, 2, 1...). We zoom around the film past some abstract shapes of various colors. Some abstract cut letters spelling out the words "CINEMAX MOVIE" float past the screen. We begin to rotate and zoom in on the abstract "E" in "MOVIE" (which is a red square with two yellow triangles) which splits apart into a purple marble square on the bottom, a wooden square in the middle, the red square and yellow triangles on the top which float off the screen. We pan along the wooden square which turns out to be a wooden palette with color test patterns where the paint would be. Zooming out, we see paralellograms with the letters "c i n e m a x", which are italicized as well (ala the old BBC logo), zoom in onto the palette from the right. The abstract cut letters for the word "MOVIE" (except for the "O" which is the finger hole in the palette) come down from the top of the screen and plaster themselves onto the palette. Now, we see the entire palette. An invisible light shines back and forth on the /c/i/n/e/m/a/x/ logo, and the letters in "M VIE" begin to sway back and forth. Small multicolored particles move from the left of the screen and travel behind the palette.

FX: Top notch late 80's CGI from Pacific Data Images.

Cheesy Factor: All the abstract cut shapes. Very tacky design typical of the time, like the Saved By The Bell credits or CBS's 1990-91 graphics campaign.

Music: An 80's synth/electronic guitar score.

Availability: Extinct, was last seen on Cinemax around 1994 or 1995. Check those old tapes for the logo!

Scare Factor: Low



2nd Open
(1994-1997)

Nickname: "Golden Ushers"

Logo: We see an old-style movie countdown, which starts at 7. The film it's printed on flies down to a giant bucket of popcorn with popcorn flying out of it, and forms a staircase. Dots-like candy hops down the stairs. We zoom to see various golden ushers. One of them walks out onto a film canister, holding its flashlight. We fade to the usher and film canister on a black background. It points its flashlight to the right, which is an area full of filmstrips. We rapidly zoom past the strips, until we encounter the Cinemax logo, in purple and reversed, split into pieces. They slide into place as rainbow light refracted from the filmstrips rushes towards them. The camera turns around, to reveal the logo in red, in its normal state, and in the normal theater environment, with "THE" and "MOVIE" above and below it, respectively.

Variants: There are two shorter versions, one that cuts to the finished logo after the usher walks out, and one that starts with the usher in the dark environment.

FX: Mindblowing CGI, impressive by mid-90s standards.

Music: A majestic fanfare with some strings, orchestra hits and piano.

Availability: Once again, gone from TV for good, check those old tapes!

Scare Factor: None, a great open, very professional.


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PreviewSubscription First 3 Cinemax logos 0 Aug 20 2008, 10:52 PM EDT by PreviewSubscription
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Thread started: Aug 20 2008, 10:52 PM EDT  Watch
The first 3 Cinemax Logos The Marquee(1979-1984),The Marquee Alternate(1983-1984),and The Thrills,Spills,Chills,Romance(1985-1988)are posted on you tube on Wildcock 23,and rsvrdg2 channels.Check them out they really rock!
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