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Classic Columbia Pictures/Screen Gems Cartoons
Logo descriptions and captures by Lenhill and Mr. Logo Lord
Editions by Lenhill, V of Doom, and Bob Fish
Background: Columbia Pictures Corp. opened its own animated division in 1929 as a joint venture with the producer Charles B. Mintz and his wife Margaret J. Winkler to produce animated film shorts, using various vanity cards, which include "Color Rhapsody", "Phantasy" and "Fable" among others; however, when Mintz became indebted to Columbia in 1939, he ended up selling his studio to them. Under new management, the studio was renamed as Screen Gems in 1940 until 1946 when Columbia closed its animation unit. All information about Columbia/Screen Gems cartoons is HERE.
Color Rhapsodies
1st Logo
(1934-1935)
Note: This is the first opening title of the short-lived series of animated shorts named "Color Rhapsody", created by Charles B. Mintz.
Logo: In a black background with red, gray and blue bubbles, are the words "COLUMBIA PICTURES CORP. PRESENTS A" and below, in huge fonts, "COLOR RHAPSODY". Underneath, the credits and the copyright disclaimer. There are two characters and a pup with a cello.
Closing Title: Following an iris-out, in light cyan (or orange due to the film deterioration) BG, or superimposed in the final scene of a short, like "Little Rover" (1935), we see "A Color Rhapsody" very above in red (sometimes teal) majestic font and the 30s Columbia Pictures' print logo with the world-famous "The End" words overlapping the Torch Lady. Underneath, two disclaimers, the RCA Victor one, seen on nearly all the 30s shorts from many other companies, and "A CHARLES MINTZ PRODUCTION" very below.
FX/SFX: None as far as we know.
Music/Sounds: The opening/closing theme of a short.
Availability: Long extinct. But the end title has been recently spotted on a cartoon shown on "Totally Tooned In".
Scare Factor: Minimal. The dark background of the opening may bother some, but it's harmless.
2nd Logo
(1935-1940)
Note: This is the opening from 1935-1939 of the Color Rhapsodies.
Logo: In a curtain background, are the words "SCRAPPY PRESENTS" in little letters above blocks with "A COLOR RHAPSODY" written. Then, the opening cuts off to the credits.
Closing Titles: Three closing titles were used in the 1935-1939 period:
Closing Variant: A rare variant of the 3rd closing title has been spotted recently on "Totally Tooned In", The same concept, but the "A COLOR RHAPSODY" and "IN TECHNICOLOR" disclaimers were pulled from below to the middle of the screen to give space to another disclaimer: "A Charles Mintz PRODUCTION", with "Charles Mintz" in script.
FX/SFX: None, except for the iris-out in the opening and the ending.
Music/Sounds: Again, the music of a short.
Availability: Some recent prints only show the "Blocks" opening without the credits and the Torch Lady ending. "Totally Tooned In" shown the 1937-1938 end title. "The Little Match Girl" (1937) had the 1st end title before it was replaced by the UPA's "A Columbia Favorite" reissue end title.
Scare Factor:
3rd Logo
(1940-1942)
Note: This is the first opening title from the Frank Tashlin era.
Logo: In majestic BG, with a castle above the clouds, the "COLUMBIA PICTURES CORPORATION PRESENTS" opening title above "A COLOR RHAPSODY" in huge letters, with an "IN TECHNICOLOR", a copyright disclaimer and an odd RCA logo. Then, it cuts off to the opening credits.
Closing Title: The closing title used in this period was the 1938-1942 Torch Lady. No "THE END" again.
FX/SFX: Only the iris-out in the opening and the ending.
Music/Sounds: The theme of a short or a customized fanfare.
Availability: Shorts on "Totally Tooned In" only show the "Castle" opening title without the credits and the Torch Lady ending or the "A Columbia Favorite" reissue ending.
Scare Factor:
4th Logo
(1942-1946)
Note: Cartoons from this era were produced by Dave Fleischer.
Logo: The logo is nearly the end title, but the clouds are orange instead of blue. And it has a "Presents" below in script. It also has a difference in the Torch Lady. Instead of an USA flag, she is grabbing a pink (or purple due to print deterioration) drape. Then it cuts off to the opening credits.
Closing Titles: Two end titles were used during this period:
FX/SFX: The iris-out and the characters moving in the opening credits.
Music/Sounds: Again, the theme of a short or a customized fanfare.
Availability: The opening is quite rare. On TV, via "Totally Tooned In", only the end titles survive.
Scare Factor: None.
5th Logo
(1947-1949)
Logo: In a background with red and metallic stripes, zooms in rapidly a "TV Tube" with the opening "A COLOR RHAPSODY" in yellow bold and "Cartoon" in red script. Underneath, the disclaimer "IN TECHNICOLOR".
Closing Titles: Two end titles were used in the last years of the Color Rhapsodies.
FX/SFX: The zooming in on the opening title.
Cheesy Factor: The zooming in of the opening is too fast-paced and rough.
Music/Sounds: The theme of a short or a customized fanfare. It also have an exclusive theme for the ending.
Availability: Saved on many cartoons on "Totally Tooned In".
Scare Factor:
Phantasies
1st Logo
(1939-1942)
Logo: Nothing but the Columbia movie logo from the 30s, only with two changes:
Closing Title: Same as the opening, but with "The End" in white script instead of "Presents". "A COLUMBIA PHANTASY" is the disclaimer below "The End".
FX/SFX: None as far as we know
Music/Sounds: The theme of a short or a customized fanfare.
Availability: Too hard to find, as "Totally Tooned In" doesn't show the series.
Scare Factor: Minimal to low. The dark BG may give some jumps, but the music lowers the scare factor.
2nd Logo
(1942-1944)
Logo: Same as the 1st logo.
Series Logo: Even though the words and the disclaimers hasn't changed (not counting the production year), the title has been overhauled. The font is different and there are the characters from various cartoons (including Fox and Crow).
Closing Title: Same as the 1st logo as well.
FX/SFX: The characters moving in the series logo.
Music/Sounds: Again, the theme of the respective short or customized fanfare.
Availability: See 1st logo.
Scare Factor: Minimal. No dark BG in the series logo lowers the scare factor even further.
3rd Logo
(1944-1945)
Logo: Again, same as the 1st logo.
Series Logo: Same as the 2nd series logo, but with changes. The characters move inside papers now.
Closing Title: Again, same as the 1st logo.
Alternate Closing Title: In black BG, we see the "The End" words in white script with "A PHANTASY CARTOON".
FX/SFX: The characters moving in the series logo.
Music/Sounds: Again, the theme of a short or customized fanfare.
Availability: See 1st logo again.
Scare Factor: See 2nd logo.
4th Logo
(1945-1946)
Logo: This time, no Torch Lady opening. Only the "A Phantasy Cartoon" opening in simplified BG.
Closing Title: Same as the alternate ending for the 3rd logo.
Alternate Closing Title: Again same as the 3rd logo, but with the "Bullseye" BG of the 1947 short-lived ending.
FX/SFX: None, unlike the previous logos.
Music/Sounds: Once again, either the theme of a respective short or a customized fanfare.
Availability: See 1st logo.
Scare Factor: If it wasn't for the music, the scare factor would be low to medium, but is very low.
_______________________________________________________________
Barney Google
Background: Barney Google is the name of a comic strip (later Barney Google and Snuffy Smith) created by Billy De Beck in 1919. From 1935 to 1936, Charles B. Mintz created a cartoon with him. The series only had four episodes.
(1935-1936)
Logo: In blue background, are the titles "SCRAPPY Presents" with "SCRAPPY" in yellow. Below the name of the character and Barney himself. The title cuts off to the credits.
Closing Title: In light blue BG, following an iris-out, we see the 1935-1937 ending for the Color Rhapsodies only with a few changes:
FX/SFX: Nothing but the iris-out.
Cheesy Factor: The titles are still, but the drawing of the Torch Lady in the ending is choppy.
Music/Sounds: Probably the theme of a short.
Availability: If you find it, then you're as lucky as everyone can get. It's way, way, way, WAAAY too hard to find.
Scare Factor: None if you ignore the scratchy prints.
_______________________________________________________________
Fox and Crow
(1943-1946)
Studio Logo: The Torch Lady opening from the 1942-1946 Color Rhapsodies, orange clouds, "Presents" and all.
Series Logo: We see the Fox and the Crow in dark BG with their names written with wood sticks.
Closing Title: Same as the 1942-1945 closing title of the Color Rhapsodies, but with "A FOX AND CROW" below "The End".
Alternate Closing Title: Same as the 1945-1946 end title of the Color Rhapsodies, but with the difference explained above
FX/SFX: None if you don't want to count the iris-out.
Music/Sounds: As usual, the theme of a short or a customized fanfare.
Availability: Very hard to find as UPA has reissued the shorts with their "A Columbia Favorite" opening and ending. However the original Torch Lady closing title has been spotted on "Totally Tooned In".
Scare Factor: Minimal.
_______________________________________________________________
Li'l Abner
(1943-1946)
Studio Logo: The 1942-1946 Torch Lady opening from the Color Rhapsodies, orange clouds, "Presents" and all.
Series Logo: In blue BG, we see Li'l Abner inside a yellow circle, his name in huge letters, and "IN TECHNICOLOR" in white. It cuts off to the opening credits seconds later.
Closing Title: The 1942-1945 Torch Lady ending from the Color Rhapsodies, only with "A L'IL ABNER" below "The End". The title is also a bit darker.
FX/SFX: None if you don't want to count the iris-out.
Music/Sounds: The theme of a short or its own fanfare.
Availability: The Torch lady ending is easy to find, as it was used in all Li'l Abner shorts. We can't say the same about the opening.
Scare factor: Medium, because of the darkness.
_______________________________________________________________
Fables
(1939-1945)
TBA
Editions by Lenhill, V of Doom, and Bob Fish
Background: Columbia Pictures Corp. opened its own animated division in 1929 as a joint venture with the producer Charles B. Mintz and his wife Margaret J. Winkler to produce animated film shorts, using various vanity cards, which include "Color Rhapsody", "Phantasy" and "Fable" among others; however, when Mintz became indebted to Columbia in 1939, he ended up selling his studio to them. Under new management, the studio was renamed as Screen Gems in 1940 until 1946 when Columbia closed its animation unit. All information about Columbia/Screen Gems cartoons is HERE.
Color Rhapsodies
1st Logo
(1934-1935)
Note: This is the first opening title of the short-lived series of animated shorts named "Color Rhapsody", created by Charles B. Mintz.
Logo: In a black background with red, gray and blue bubbles, are the words "COLUMBIA PICTURES CORP. PRESENTS A" and below, in huge fonts, "COLOR RHAPSODY". Underneath, the credits and the copyright disclaimer. There are two characters and a pup with a cello.
Closing Title: Following an iris-out, in light cyan (or orange due to the film deterioration) BG, or superimposed in the final scene of a short, like "Little Rover" (1935), we see "A Color Rhapsody" very above in red (sometimes teal) majestic font and the 30s Columbia Pictures' print logo with the world-famous "The End" words overlapping the Torch Lady. Underneath, two disclaimers, the RCA Victor one, seen on nearly all the 30s shorts from many other companies, and "A CHARLES MINTZ PRODUCTION" very below.
FX/SFX: None as far as we know.
Music/Sounds: The opening/closing theme of a short.
Availability: Long extinct. But the end title has been recently spotted on a cartoon shown on "Totally Tooned In".
Scare Factor: Minimal. The dark background of the opening may bother some, but it's harmless.
2nd Logo
(1935-1940)
Note: This is the opening from 1935-1939 of the Color Rhapsodies.
Logo: In a curtain background, are the words "SCRAPPY PRESENTS" in little letters above blocks with "A COLOR RHAPSODY" written. Then, the opening cuts off to the credits.
Closing Titles: Three closing titles were used in the 1935-1939 period:
- 1st Closing Title (1935-1937): The first closing title was on white background. There are the words "A COLOR RHAPSODY" in red on a "musical diagram", with "IN TECHNICOLOR" in yellow. Underneath, a simplified drawing of the Columbia Pictures' Torch Lady, with the words "COLUMBIA PICTURES" in bold inside a circle. Below the Columbia logo is the disclaimer "A CHARLES MINTZ PRODUCTION" in red. No "THE END", though.
- 2nd Closing Title (1937-1938): The 2nd closing title was nearly the same as the 1935-1937 end title. Nearly, because the Columbia Pictures logo is inside a square this time, with the Torch Lady more detailed compared to the 1st closing title. Again, no "THE END".
- 3rd Closing Title (1938-1942): This closing title is different. It's Columbia Pictures' official logo, with the words "COLUMBIA" in chiseled letters, with the clouds behind the Torch Lady drawn in blue. It also has the disclaimers "A COLOR RHAPSODY" and "IN TECHNICOLOR" overlapping the pedestal. Still, no "THE END".
Closing Variant: A rare variant of the 3rd closing title has been spotted recently on "Totally Tooned In", The same concept, but the "A COLOR RHAPSODY" and "IN TECHNICOLOR" disclaimers were pulled from below to the middle of the screen to give space to another disclaimer: "A Charles Mintz PRODUCTION", with "Charles Mintz" in script.
FX/SFX: None, except for the iris-out in the opening and the ending.
Music/Sounds: Again, the music of a short.
Availability: Some recent prints only show the "Blocks" opening without the credits and the Torch Lady ending. "Totally Tooned In" shown the 1937-1938 end title. "The Little Match Girl" (1937) had the 1st end title before it was replaced by the UPA's "A Columbia Favorite" reissue end title.
Scare Factor:
- Opening: None.
- Closing: None, despite the cheap drawing of the clouds behind the Torch Lady.
3rd Logo
(1940-1942)
Note: This is the first opening title from the Frank Tashlin era.
Logo: In majestic BG, with a castle above the clouds, the "COLUMBIA PICTURES CORPORATION PRESENTS" opening title above "A COLOR RHAPSODY" in huge letters, with an "IN TECHNICOLOR", a copyright disclaimer and an odd RCA logo. Then, it cuts off to the opening credits.
Closing Title: The closing title used in this period was the 1938-1942 Torch Lady. No "THE END" again.
FX/SFX: Only the iris-out in the opening and the ending.
Music/Sounds: The theme of a short or a customized fanfare.
Availability: Shorts on "Totally Tooned In" only show the "Castle" opening title without the credits and the Torch Lady ending or the "A Columbia Favorite" reissue ending.
Scare Factor:
- Opening: Low. The huge letters in the opening title may get to some, but it's harmless due to the BG.
- Closing: Low. See above in the scare factor section for the "Blocks" opening.
4th Logo
(1942-1946)
Note: Cartoons from this era were produced by Dave Fleischer.
Logo: The logo is nearly the end title, but the clouds are orange instead of blue. And it has a "Presents" below in script. It also has a difference in the Torch Lady. Instead of an USA flag, she is grabbing a pink (or purple due to print deterioration) drape. Then it cuts off to the opening credits.
Closing Titles: Two end titles were used during this period:
- 1st Closing Title (1942-1945): The 1st closing title was the 1938-1942 Torch Lady ending, only with two differences:
- It has the "The End" words in white script.
- The pink (or purple due to print deterioration) drape explained above.
- 2nd Closing Title (1945-1946): The 2nd ending was a simplified one. Was only the "The End" in script and the disclaimers "A COLOR RHAPSODY" in bold and "In Technicolor" in script on blue background.
FX/SFX: The iris-out and the characters moving in the opening credits.
Music/Sounds: Again, the theme of a short or a customized fanfare.
Availability: The opening is quite rare. On TV, via "Totally Tooned In", only the end titles survive.
Scare Factor: None.
5th Logo
(1947-1949)
Logo: In a background with red and metallic stripes, zooms in rapidly a "TV Tube" with the opening "A COLOR RHAPSODY" in yellow bold and "Cartoon" in red script. Underneath, the disclaimer "IN TECHNICOLOR".
Closing Titles: Two end titles were used in the last years of the Color Rhapsodies.
- 1st Closing Title (1947): Nearly the same as the 1945-1946 closing title, but it has a background that resembles the Merrie Melodies ending from the 30s.
- 2nd Closing Title (1947-1949): Again the Merrie Melodies-like bullseye, but with two blue rings and yellow-red outline.
FX/SFX: The zooming in on the opening title.
Cheesy Factor: The zooming in of the opening is too fast-paced and rough.
Music/Sounds: The theme of a short or a customized fanfare. It also have an exclusive theme for the ending.
Availability: Saved on many cartoons on "Totally Tooned In".
Scare Factor:
- Opening: High for people who hate titles zooming in rapidly towards them.
- Closing: None.
Phantasies
1st Logo
(1939-1942)
Logo: Nothing but the Columbia movie logo from the 30s, only with two changes:
- It has "Presents" in white script below.
- The shining of the torch is a bit different.
Closing Title: Same as the opening, but with "The End" in white script instead of "Presents". "A COLUMBIA PHANTASY" is the disclaimer below "The End".
FX/SFX: None as far as we know
Music/Sounds: The theme of a short or a customized fanfare.
Availability: Too hard to find, as "Totally Tooned In" doesn't show the series.
Scare Factor: Minimal to low. The dark BG may give some jumps, but the music lowers the scare factor.
2nd Logo
(1942-1944)
Logo: Same as the 1st logo.
Series Logo: Even though the words and the disclaimers hasn't changed (not counting the production year), the title has been overhauled. The font is different and there are the characters from various cartoons (including Fox and Crow).
Closing Title: Same as the 1st logo as well.
FX/SFX: The characters moving in the series logo.
Music/Sounds: Again, the theme of the respective short or customized fanfare.
Availability: See 1st logo.
Scare Factor: Minimal. No dark BG in the series logo lowers the scare factor even further.
3rd Logo
(1944-1945)
Logo: Again, same as the 1st logo.
Series Logo: Same as the 2nd series logo, but with changes. The characters move inside papers now.
Closing Title: Again, same as the 1st logo.
Alternate Closing Title: In black BG, we see the "The End" words in white script with "A PHANTASY CARTOON".
FX/SFX: The characters moving in the series logo.
Music/Sounds: Again, the theme of a short or customized fanfare.
Availability: See 1st logo again.
Scare Factor: See 2nd logo.
4th Logo
(1945-1946)
Logo: This time, no Torch Lady opening. Only the "A Phantasy Cartoon" opening in simplified BG.
Closing Title: Same as the alternate ending for the 3rd logo.
Alternate Closing Title: Again same as the 3rd logo, but with the "Bullseye" BG of the 1947 short-lived ending.
FX/SFX: None, unlike the previous logos.
Music/Sounds: Once again, either the theme of a respective short or a customized fanfare.
Availability: See 1st logo.
Scare Factor: If it wasn't for the music, the scare factor would be low to medium, but is very low.
_______________________________________________________________
Barney Google
Background: Barney Google is the name of a comic strip (later Barney Google and Snuffy Smith) created by Billy De Beck in 1919. From 1935 to 1936, Charles B. Mintz created a cartoon with him. The series only had four episodes.
(1935-1936)
Logo: In blue background, are the titles "SCRAPPY Presents" with "SCRAPPY" in yellow. Below the name of the character and Barney himself. The title cuts off to the credits.
Closing Title: In light blue BG, following an iris-out, we see the 1935-1937 ending for the Color Rhapsodies only with a few changes:
- Instead of "A COLOR RHAPSODY" with musical diagram, the title reads "A BARNEY GOOGLE CARTOON".
- The drawing of the Torch Lady is a bit cheap.
- The words "Columbia Pictures" are in blue instead of red and the inside of the circle is also blue.
- The disclaimer "A CHARLES MINTZ PRODUCTION" are also in blue rather than red.
FX/SFX: Nothing but the iris-out.
Cheesy Factor: The titles are still, but the drawing of the Torch Lady in the ending is choppy.
Music/Sounds: Probably the theme of a short.
Availability: If you find it, then you're as lucky as everyone can get. It's way, way, way, WAAAY too hard to find.
Scare Factor: None if you ignore the scratchy prints.
_______________________________________________________________
Fox and Crow
(1943-1946)
Studio Logo: The Torch Lady opening from the 1942-1946 Color Rhapsodies, orange clouds, "Presents" and all.
Series Logo: We see the Fox and the Crow in dark BG with their names written with wood sticks.
Closing Title: Same as the 1942-1945 closing title of the Color Rhapsodies, but with "A FOX AND CROW" below "The End".
Alternate Closing Title: Same as the 1945-1946 end title of the Color Rhapsodies, but with the difference explained above
FX/SFX: None if you don't want to count the iris-out.
Music/Sounds: As usual, the theme of a short or a customized fanfare.
Availability: Very hard to find as UPA has reissued the shorts with their "A Columbia Favorite" opening and ending. However the original Torch Lady closing title has been spotted on "Totally Tooned In".
Scare Factor: Minimal.
_______________________________________________________________
Li'l Abner
(1943-1946)
Studio Logo: The 1942-1946 Torch Lady opening from the Color Rhapsodies, orange clouds, "Presents" and all.
Series Logo: In blue BG, we see Li'l Abner inside a yellow circle, his name in huge letters, and "IN TECHNICOLOR" in white. It cuts off to the opening credits seconds later.
Closing Title: The 1942-1945 Torch Lady ending from the Color Rhapsodies, only with "A L'IL ABNER" below "The End". The title is also a bit darker.
FX/SFX: None if you don't want to count the iris-out.
Music/Sounds: The theme of a short or its own fanfare.
Availability: The Torch lady ending is easy to find, as it was used in all Li'l Abner shorts. We can't say the same about the opening.
Scare factor: Medium, because of the darkness.
_______________________________________________________________
Fables
(1939-1945)
TBA
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| THELOGOfactory1.12 | What about Tangled Travels? | 0 | Aug 1 2009, 8:50 AM EDT by THELOGOfactory1.12 | ||
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Thread started: Aug 1 2009, 8:50 AM EDT
Watch
in that cartoon, someone is stuck on the closing title.
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