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MGM Television
Logo descriptions by James Fabiano, Shadeed A. Kelly, and meesterfonnyboy
Logo captures by AsdfTheRevival, Eric S, Shadeed A. Kelly, mr3urious, V of Doom, and Bob Fish
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly and Bob Fish
Video captures courtesy of mstidham and SeanElGatoTelevision
Background: MGM Television was established in 1955 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. Its first program was the short-lived series The M-G-M Parade, which used the 1953 version of Jackie, at the beginning rather than the end of the program. The company didn't use an end logo until 1957. Most of the pre-1986 library is owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment through Turner Entertainment Co., while MGM Holdings, Inc. under Sony Corp. and its partners owns the rest of the library.
1st Logo
(1957-1959) 
Nickname: "MGM Lion Statue"
Logo: On a dark (or gray) background, we see a brown (or drawn) statue of the MGM logo, as seen on movies from 1924-1983, sitting on a pedestal. Wording seen over the statue reads:
or...
In some cases, the name of the Executive Producer is seen below.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.
Availability: Extinct. Appeared only on the short-lived series Northwest Passage and The Thin Man, but they're hardly seen on television again.
Scare Factor: None.
2nd Logo
(1959-1973)
Nicknames: "Lion Wallpaper", "Red Lion Wallpaper"
Logo: We see Leo, the infamous MGM lion, inside a black circle border, which reads "METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER TELEVISION". The lion roars once. The background has wallpapered images of a lion's face (as a matter of fact, the same image used as the print logo of MGM Records until 1968).
Variants: There are color variations of this logo:
FX/SFX: Leo roaring.
Cheesy Factor: Leo's head looks pasted onto another lion's body (even though it isn't); however, the B&W version shows only the lion's face.
Music/Sounds: The ending music to the show plays throughout on some series; on others there is silence. The lion's roaring is heard. Sometimes, a muted trumpet plays some notes to resemble the lion's roar.
Availability: Uncommon, appeared on Dr. Kildare, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Courtship of Eddie's Father, and Please Don't Eat the Daisies among others. Survives on the Dr. Seuss cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and reruns of Tom and Jerry on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. Most MGM TV series from this era are now owned by Warner Bros. Television (via parent company Time Warner's acquisition of Turner Entertainment Co.), so many current prints of these shows have the Turner Entertainment Globe and the Warner Bros. Television Shield following the MGM Television logo. This logo was last seen on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. on AmericanLife Television Network.
Scare Factor: Medium to high, depends on your opinion of the pause between fade-in and the lion's roar.
3rd Logo
(May 18, 1969)
Nicknames: "The Stylized Lion", "The Cold-Cream Jar"
Logo: Fade in; we see the Stylized Lion from 2001 on what appears to be a circular disc. A single roar is heard over the closing theme, then the disc turns on its side (it's
approximately the thickness of a cold-cream jar) to reveal the words "MGM TELEVISION" in a curly font, with the initials "MGM" set sideways.
FX/SFX: The turning of the disc.
Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show, with a single roar.
Availability: Extremely rare; seen on older video releases of The Pogo Special Birthday Special.
Scare Factor: None.
4th Logo
(1970-1991)
Nicknames: "Leo the Lion", "White Ribboning"
Logo: It's the standard MGM logo, which has its origins starting in 1953. A live-action lion named Leo is in a circle of a ribbon-like filmstrip which flows out on the bottom sides in twos. Underneath the circle is a red drama mask. The circle has the phrase "ARS GRATIA ARTIS" (Latin for "Art for the Art's Sake") written on the top, and above it are the words "Metro Goldwyn Mayer." On the left side is "TRADE," and the right "MARK", and on the bottom is the word "TELEVISION." Leo roars once.
Variants: First here are the little differences in the logo, along with dates in which they were used:
FX/SFX: Leo roaring, as usual.
Music/Sounds: Just the Lion's roar.
Availability: Rare. The earlier variant was seen intact on earlier episodes of CHiPs and the Dr. Seuss cartoon special Horton Hears a Who! When VH1 did a Fame marathon in 2001, all MGM logos were retained. The MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television version is retained on Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater on Amazon Video on Demand.
Scare Factor: Low to medium; one of the best-known logos, but high on the scary side for people who don't like roaring lions.
5th Logo
(1982-2009)
Nicknames: "Leo the Lion", "Gold Ribboning"
Logo: Same as the 1970 logo, but this time, the ribboning is gold and Leo is in a golden color.
Variants:
FX/SFX: Leo roaring, as usual.
Music/Sounds: Just the Lion's roar.
Music/Sound Variants: There are different sound bites of the lion's roar:
Availability: Common for MGM Domestic, Worldwide, International Television Distribution and with and without the MGM url and they can be found on current shows like the 2008 revival of American Gladiators on NBC, Spaceballs: The Animated Series on G4, and syndicated shows like Stargate: SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, The Outer Limits, Reno 911!, and Chapelle's Show, among others. Extremely rare for MGM/UA Telecommunications and it's seen on season 3 of the 1985 version of The Twilight Zone on Syfy. Rare for MGM Worldwide Television Group and it's found on the final season of In the Heat of the Night on WGN America. Also global wise on all MGM and NBC series. The MGM/UA Television Productions variation is extremely rare and was recently seen on Moving Target on Encore Mystery and season 6 of In the Heat of the Night on WGN America. The gold version of the 1979 logo is extinct and was seen on Kids Incorporated and the MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television Distribution logos are also extinct. The warped version of the 2001 logo is very rare and only seen so far on the pilot of the 90s revival of Dark Shadows.
Scare Factor: Same as the last logo.
6th Logo
(2009- )
Nicknames: "Leo the Lion", "Metallic Ribboning"
Logo: It's only the short version of the 2008 theatrical logo, reading below "MGM WORLDWIDE TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION" for United States, "MGM INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION" for global distribution, or the MGM website, just like the last logo all in the same font as the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lettering. Again, Leo roars once.
FX/SFX: Leo roaring.
Music/Sounds: The same first half of the 1995 lion roar or the 2008 roar.
Availability: Brand new and fairly common, was first seen on First Business. Can also be seen at the end of several classic new prints of MGM movies on local networks and cable broadcasts, especially seen on classic 007 movies that were aired on Sleuth and WGN America among other networks, as well on international prints of non-MGM shows and movies.
Scare Factor: Same as the last logo.
Logo captures by AsdfTheRevival, Eric S, Shadeed A. Kelly, mr3urious, V of Doom, and Bob Fish
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly and Bob Fish
Video captures courtesy of mstidham and SeanElGatoTelevision
Background: MGM Television was established in 1955 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. Its first program was the short-lived series The M-G-M Parade, which used the 1953 version of Jackie, at the beginning rather than the end of the program. The company didn't use an end logo until 1957. Most of the pre-1986 library is owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment through Turner Entertainment Co., while MGM Holdings, Inc. under Sony Corp. and its partners owns the rest of the library.
1st Logo
(1957-1959)
Nickname: "MGM Lion Statue"
Logo: On a dark (or gray) background, we see a brown (or drawn) statue of the MGM logo, as seen on movies from 1924-1983, sitting on a pedestal. Wording seen over the statue reads:
AN
MGM - TV
PRESENTATION
MGM - TV
PRESENTATION
or...
AN MGM - TV
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION
In some cases, the name of the Executive Producer is seen below.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.
Availability: Extinct. Appeared only on the short-lived series Northwest Passage and The Thin Man, but they're hardly seen on television again.
Scare Factor: None.
2nd Logo
(1959-1973)
Nicknames: "Lion Wallpaper", "Red Lion Wallpaper"
Logo: We see Leo, the infamous MGM lion, inside a black circle border, which reads "METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER TELEVISION". The lion roars once. The background has wallpapered images of a lion's face (as a matter of fact, the same image used as the print logo of MGM Records until 1968).
Variants: There are color variations of this logo:
- 1959-1962: Live-action backing.
- 1959-1965: Gray wallpaper backing (on black & white shows).
- 1959-1973: Red wallpaper backing.
- 1965-1973: Pink/Butter Yellow wallpaper backing.
- 1965-1973: Brown wallpaper backing.
FX/SFX: Leo roaring.
Cheesy Factor: Leo's head looks pasted onto another lion's body (even though it isn't); however, the B&W version shows only the lion's face.
Music/Sounds: The ending music to the show plays throughout on some series; on others there is silence. The lion's roaring is heard. Sometimes, a muted trumpet plays some notes to resemble the lion's roar.
Availability: Uncommon, appeared on Dr. Kildare, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Courtship of Eddie's Father, and Please Don't Eat the Daisies among others. Survives on the Dr. Seuss cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and reruns of Tom and Jerry on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. Most MGM TV series from this era are now owned by Warner Bros. Television (via parent company Time Warner's acquisition of Turner Entertainment Co.), so many current prints of these shows have the Turner Entertainment Globe and the Warner Bros. Television Shield following the MGM Television logo. This logo was last seen on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. on AmericanLife Television Network.
Scare Factor: Medium to high, depends on your opinion of the pause between fade-in and the lion's roar.
3rd Logo
(May 18, 1969)
Nicknames: "The Stylized Lion", "The Cold-Cream Jar"
Logo: Fade in; we see the Stylized Lion from 2001 on what appears to be a circular disc. A single roar is heard over the closing theme, then the disc turns on its side (it's
approximately the thickness of a cold-cream jar) to reveal the words "MGM TELEVISION" in a curly font, with the initials "MGM" set sideways.FX/SFX: The turning of the disc.
Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show, with a single roar.
Scare Factor: None.
4th Logo
(1970-1991)
Nicknames: "Leo the Lion", "White Ribboning"
Logo: It's the standard MGM logo, which has its origins starting in 1953. A live-action lion named Leo is in a circle of a ribbon-like filmstrip which flows out on the bottom sides in twos. Underneath the circle is a red drama mask. The circle has the phrase "ARS GRATIA ARTIS" (Latin for "Art for the Art's Sake") written on the top, and above it are the words "Metro Goldwyn Mayer." On the left side is "TRADE," and the right "MARK", and on the bottom is the word "TELEVISION." Leo roars once.
Variants: First here are the little differences in the logo, along with dates in which they were used:
- 1970-1979: A short version of the standard movie design.
- 1979-1983: The word "TELEVISION" appears during this era. Almost similar to the 1960 MGM theatrical cartoon logo, which looks very tacked/chyroned on, and very unprofessional.
- 1983-1991: Referred to as "MGM/UA Entertainment Co. TELEVISION". Kids Incorporated used this until 1991.
- 1986-1991: Another short variant of the movie logo, with the word "TELEVISION" in white cheaply tacked in below.
FX/SFX: Leo roaring, as usual.
Music/Sounds: Just the Lion's roar.
Availability: Rare. The earlier variant was seen intact on earlier episodes of CHiPs and the Dr. Seuss cartoon special Horton Hears a Who! When VH1 did a Fame marathon in 2001, all MGM logos were retained. The MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television version is retained on Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater on Amazon Video on Demand.
Scare Factor: Low to medium; one of the best-known logos, but high on the scary side for people who don't like roaring lions.
5th Logo
(1982-2009)
Nicknames: "Leo the Lion", "Gold Ribboning"
Logo: Same as the 1970 logo, but this time, the ribboning is gold and Leo is in a golden color.
Variants:
- 1982-1983: A variation around this era exists of the logo where it is a still picture of the then-current MGM/UA Entertainment Co. corporate logo. Referred to as "(FROM) MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television Distribution".
- 1984-1985: Company identified as MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television. "DIAMOND JUBILEE (in an arc above the ribbon) SIXTY YEARS OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION" (all in silver) is used in the 1984-85 season.
- 1986: Another variation existed having the 1979 MGM Television logo all in gold.
- 1986-1993: The company is identified as "MGM/UA Television Productions, An MGM/UA Communications Company". The ribboning is now gold from this point on.
- 1987-1993: The syndication division is now ID'ed as MGM/UA Telecommunications. The words "Distributed by" appear above the logo and the MGM/UA byline appears below.
- 1991-2009: A short version of the movie design without anything below. Appears in either black & white or color in 1996.
- 1992: A version reads "MGM/UA" and no byline below. Seen on the final season of The Young Riders, and several network made-for-TV movies.
- 1993-1996: The company is reverted back to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, along with the byline "MGM Worldwide Television Group" or "MGM/UA Telecommunications Group" underneath the logo. For In the Heat of the Night, there is a byline that says "In The Heat Of The Night" Property Of United Artists".
- 1996-2005: The syndication division is referred to as "MGM Domestic Television Distribution", along with the new lion roar track (finally). Global arm referred to as "MGM Worldwide Television Group". In 2002, the widescreen version of MGM DTD begins.
- 1996-2009: The logo was shifted up some for television distribution without anything underneath the logo. Appears in either black & white or color.
- 1997-2004: Network arm referred to as "MGM Television Entertainment".
- 1999-2009: Referred to as "MGM International Television Distribution" for global distribution.
- 2001-2009: A short version of the current movie logo with the URL, "www.mgm.com" below the logo using only part one of the lion roar.
- 2005-2009: Referred to as "MGM Worldwide Television Distribution" for US.
FX/SFX: Leo roaring, as usual.
Music/Sounds: Just the Lion's roar.
Music/Sound Variants: There are different sound bites of the lion's roar:
- 1982-1996: The last lion roar from the 1957-1982 lion roar.
- 1982: The MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television Distribution logo either had the show's closing music (such as on the cartoon series Pandamonium and Meatballs and Spaghetti), or the 1982 United Artists Television logo theme followed by the last roar sound bite from 1957-1982.
- 1991-1992/1996-: The first lion roar sound from the 1995 lion roar.
- 1991-1999: The last lion roar sound from the 1987 lion roar or the 1957 lion roar.
- A long version exists on Holiday Heart, Rocky V, and Terminator 2. MGM Domestic Television Distribution only.
- There is also a silent version on Soul Plane. MGM Domestic Television Distribution only.
- Half of Leo's first roar is used for the warped version.
Availability: Common for MGM Domestic, Worldwide, International Television Distribution and with and without the MGM url and they can be found on current shows like the 2008 revival of American Gladiators on NBC, Spaceballs: The Animated Series on G4, and syndicated shows like Stargate: SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, The Outer Limits, Reno 911!, and Chapelle's Show, among others. Extremely rare for MGM/UA Telecommunications and it's seen on season 3 of the 1985 version of The Twilight Zone on Syfy. Rare for MGM Worldwide Television Group and it's found on the final season of In the Heat of the Night on WGN America. Also global wise on all MGM and NBC series. The MGM/UA Television Productions variation is extremely rare and was recently seen on Moving Target on Encore Mystery and season 6 of In the Heat of the Night on WGN America. The gold version of the 1979 logo is extinct and was seen on Kids Incorporated and the MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television Distribution logos are also extinct. The warped version of the 2001 logo is very rare and only seen so far on the pilot of the 90s revival of Dark Shadows.
6th Logo
(2009- )
Nicknames: "Leo the Lion", "Metallic Ribboning"
Logo: It's only the short version of the 2008 theatrical logo, reading below "MGM WORLDWIDE TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION" for United States, "MGM INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION" for global distribution, or the MGM website, just like the last logo all in the same font as the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lettering. Again, Leo roars once.
FX/SFX: Leo roaring.
Music/Sounds: The same first half of the 1995 lion roar or the 2008 roar.
Availability: Brand new and fairly common, was first seen on First Business. Can also be seen at the end of several classic new prints of MGM movies on local networks and cable broadcasts, especially seen on classic 007 movies that were aired on Sleuth and WGN America among other networks, as well on international prints of non-MGM shows and movies.
Scare Factor: Same as the last logo.
VofDoom |
Latest page update: made by VofDoom
, Wednesday, 8:16 PM EST
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by VofDoom
12 words added 1 word deleted view changes - complete history) |
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Keyword tags:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
MGM Holdings Inc.
MGM Television
More Info: links to this page
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SeanElGatoTV2k8 | MGM Lion (Logo 4) | 1 | Jun 6 2009, 3:08 PM EDT by Shadeed329 | ||
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Thread started: May 1 2009, 5:28 AM EDT
Watch
MGM switched to the shortened movie logo in 1973 (but the description for the fourth logo mistakenly dates it back to 1979...six years after the change took effect).
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| Shadeed329 | About the 2004 MGM DTD logo | 0 | Apr 22 2009, 2:21 AM EDT by Shadeed329 | ||
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Thread started: Apr 22 2009, 2:21 AM EDT
Watch
The 2004-2005 MGM Domestc Television Distribution logo can be seen after "Beauty Shop" on BET before the SPT logo. The lettering is almost the same as the current "MGM Worldwide Television Distribution" and "MGM International Television Distribution" logos.
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Showing 2 of 2 threads for this page
