Written, Compiled and Logo Pictures by Eric S.


Background: First National was an association of independent theater owners in the United States that expanded from exhibiting movies to distributing them, and eventually to producing them as a movie studio. It later merged with Warner Bros. In July 1936, stockholders of First National Pictures, Inc. (primarily Warner Bros.) voted to dissolve the corporation and distribute its assets among the stockholders, in line with a new tax law which provided for tax-free consolidations between corporations. From 1941 to 1958, most Warner Bros. films bore the combined trademarks "A Warner Bros.-First National Picture". In 2002, Warner Bros. sold the name's rights to Ryan Kugler of Distribution Video & Audio (DV&A), a company specializing in acquiring excess inventory and close-out properties. The resurrected First National Pictures name will be used to brand no-frills digital releases of children's, documentary, and special interest titles.


1st Logo
(1921-1924)
Nickname: "The Silent Chained World"

Logo: We see, on a black/dark brown background, the words "The End" in yellowish-white, and below it is the First National Pictures logo, consisting of a chained globe. Underneath is the words "A FIRST NATIONAL ATTRACTION", also in yellowish-white.

FX: None.

Music/Sounds: Silent, as it was from the silent era.

Availability: Beyond rare.

Scare Factor: Low.



2nd Logo
(1924-1926)


Nicknames: "The Chained Globe", "First National Chains"

Logo: On a dark gold background, we see a dark yellow chained globe design, and over it is the words "THE END" in an ugly light gold Copperplate font. Then the words "THE END" fades to "A FIRST NATIONAL PICTURE" in a light gold Times New Roman font.

FX: The words "THE END" fading into the company name.

Music/Sounds: Silent, as it was from the silent era.

Availability: Rare; was seen on The Lost World (1925).

Scare Factor: Low.



3rd Logo
(1926-1936)
Nickname: "The Chained World", "Vitaphone Chains"

Logo: The words "FIRST NATIONAL PICTURES, INC." appear, and below that "& THE VITAPHONE CORP." appears in a much smaller font, with the "VITAPHONE" using "electric" style letters. Below that is a very small silhoutte of north america sorrounded with a circle of chains, and inside the continent is "FIRST NATIONAL PICTURES", very small; and in script, "Present". Behind it there is the drawing of a flag, "waving" so it looks like it is in 3 sections. On the first one, "FIRST NATIONAL" Appears, followed by the electric-letter "VITAPHONE" logo and on section 3, "PICTURES".

Closing Title: The closing variation has "The End" instead of "Present".

Trivia: The same logo was used by Warner Bros.

FX: None; this is a superimposed logo.

Music/Sounds: The opening of the movie.

Availability: Very rare.

Scare Factor: None.