Compilation by Matt Williams,Kris Starring,and Spidey016
Logo captures by Eric S., V of Doom, mr3urious, TVLogos2008 and naxo-ole
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom and MeesterFonnyboy


Metro Pictures Corporation

Background: Metro Pictures Corporation was founded in late 1915 by Richard A. Rowland (1880-1947) and Louis B. Mayer (1885-1957). The company started out distributing films made by Solax Studios but Mayer left soon after operations began to form his own company in 1918. Richard Rowland would continue to produce a number of films in New York City, Fort Lee, New Jersey, and in Los Angeles. In 1920, the company was purchased by Marcus Loew as a supplier of product for his theater chain.
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Goldwyn Pictures Corporation

Background: Goldwyn Pictures Corporation was founded in 1916 by Samuel Gelbfisz in partnership with Broadway producers Edgar and Archibald Selwyn using an amalgamation of both last names to create the name. Seeing an opportunity, Samuel Gelbfisz then had his name legally changed to Samuel Goldwyn.

(1916-1923)

Nickname: "The Silent/Quiet Lion"

Logo: We see the original lion, named "Leo" by Samuel Goldwyn, in the circle of a ribbon-like filmstrips which has four filmstrips flowing out the bottom side in twos. Underneath the circle is a drama mask. The circle has the phrase "ARS GRATIA ARTIS" [Latin for "Art for Art's Sake"] inscribed at the top and at the bottom is a marquee that reads "A GOLDWYN PICTURE". On the left side is the word "TRADE", and the right "MARK". The lions moves his head left to right throughout and does not roar because movies did not have sound until 1923 when the name was changed. The logo was designed by Howard Dietz, an advertising man and recent graduate of Columbia University (where lions are a fetish), who would go on to hold many offices at MGM.

Variant: There was a black & white version of the logo.

FX: The lion's head moving.

Music/Sounds: Silent. However, there was a fanfare that was used in one of the films.

Availability: One of the rarest logos ever. Can be seen on early Goldwyn Films especially on Silent Sunday Nights on Turner Classic Movies.

Scare Factor: None.
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Louis B. Mayer Pictures Corporation

Background: Louis B. Mayer Pictures was formed in 1918 by Louis B. Mayer.

(1918-1924)

Logo: TBA

FX: TBA

Music/Sounds: TBA

Availability: TBA

Scare Factor: TBA.
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Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corporation

Background: In 1923, the Goldwyn Pictures Corp. was merged with Metro Pictures Corp. to form "Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corporation".

(1923-1924)

Nickname: TBA

Logo: TBA

FX: TBA

Music/Sounds:TBA

Availability: Very Rare. Occasionally seen on Silent Sunday Nights on Turner Classic Movies.

Scare Factor: TBA
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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Inc.

Background: In 1924, Louis B. Mayer merged his company Louis B. Mayer Productions with Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corporation (as well as with William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan Pictures) to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., or simply MGM. Today since April 8, 2005, led by Sony, Comcast, and other equity partners, MGM's ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG Capital, L.P. (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20% including 45% of the total outstanding common stock of MGM Holdings), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%), and Quadrangle Group (3%).

1st Logo
(1924-)

Nicknames: "The (Classic) MGM Lion", "Slats the Lion", "Jackie the Lion", "Tanner the Lion", "Jackie II the Lion", "Leo the Lion"

Logo: A live-action lion is in a circle of a ribbon-like filmstrip which has four filmstrips flowing 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"] inscribed on the top, and at the bottom is a marquee that reads "Metro Goldwyn Mayer" (all in different fonts). On the left side is "TRADE," and the right "MARK." The lion roars twice.

Evolution/Variants:

• 1924-1928: The first lion of the new conglomeration was named Slats. He didn't roar.
• 1928-1956: The second was Jackie, who roared three times. Appeared on every black and white movies of the period. A colored version of it was used in 1934.
• 1928-1934: For the two-strip Technicolor movies two different lions (named Telly and Coffee) were used, one for animated output, and one for live-action films. Telly appears with a longer snarl with two roaring effects.
• 1934-1956: Tanner the lion, used for every Technicolor movies of the period. The roaing four times variant was used in Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove.
• 1953: The marquee is dropped, and the company name is placed on top of the ribbon design. The first letters of the company's name are in red, and the rest of the letters are in tan.
• 1956-1959: A heavily maned lion is seen in this logo. It appears as if it is snarling. He's usually called "Jackie II", but its real names are al-Marah (earlier) and Tasti Moshe (later); around the studio, he's jokingly referred to as "Bob".
• 1957-1983: The ribboning is stretched farther out from the bottom; a brand new lion named "Leo" appears in this variation.
• 1974: Company celebrates its Golden Anniversary, adding the disclaimer "Beginning Our Next 50 Years" (as seen on That's Entertainment).
• 1982: Leo's roar track becomes a synthesized one, which sounded more polished in theaters featuring Dolby/THX sound systems. Leo's image is unchanged.
• 1983-1987: The company identified as MGM/UA Entertainment Co., following their acquisition of United Artists. This logo variant is accompanied by the 1982 MGM lion roar track.
• 1984: "Diamond Jubilee: Sixty Years of Great Entertainment" is used. The ribboning was golden colored for this variation. Because of the above disclaimer, the company name is now inscribed around the ribboning where "ARS GRATIA ARTIS" is usually seen.
• 1987-: The Company is reverted back to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The ribboning and the company name are now golden colored and will remain this way from this point forward. The new byline appears as "An MGM/UA Communications Co." from 1987-1992.
• 1994: 70th Anniversary logo; "70th Anniversary" is used.
• 1998-2005: The logo is adapted for MGM's renamed video division, MGM Home Entertainment. The logo is pushed up and "HOME ENTERTAINMENT", between two lines, is added below.
  
• 1999: 75th Anniversary logo; "75, a Legacy of Excellence" is used.
• 2001-: A "www.mgm.com" web address is added below the logo.

Closing variant: After the MGM merger, a variant of the Metro-Goldwyn Pictures closing logo, with the appropriate addendums, was used on the studio's end cards from 1924-1950s.

FX/Cheesy Factor: The roaring lion effect, which really does not sound like a lion.

Music/Sounds: In the 1930's a light fanfare composed by LeRoy Shield played under Jackie's roaring, chiefly at the beginning of the Hal Roach Studios output. In the 1940's, there was a more majestic fanfare composed by Franz Waxman heard with Jackie roaring (e.g., before The Philadelphia Story). None for the mid to later years as some had the intro music from any film playing with any lion roaring.

Availability: Common for Jackie, Tanner, and Leo. The others can range from Extremely rare to uncommon. Can still be seen on many classic films aired on Turner Classic Movies, American Movie Classics, and current MGM releases as well. The lions Coffee and Tanner are often seen on Boomerang. Also, the "75th Anniversary" variation was seen on movies released in 1999.

Scare Factor: Depending on the lion:

• None for Slats.
• Low for Jackie boardering on moderate.
• Low to high for Telly; moderate to high for Coffee.
• High for Tanner and very high boardering on nightmare for the extended version as Tanner is known as one of the scariest lions ever used.
• Moderate for Jackie II/Bob although the roar sounds a bit tamer since its a record from Tanner's roar.
• Low to Medium for Leo. This logo is one of the most famous icons of the movie industry (good ol' Leo even had his own cartoon series in the 90's) but can still scare those who are afraid of lions. The red mask on the bottom has freaked a few out as well. Although with the music playing while the lion is roaring could tame the scare factor a little.

2nd Logo
(1966-1968)

Nickname: "The Stylized Lion"

Logo: On a blue background, we see a yellow outlined drawing of a lion's head in an also yellow circle. Below it, are the letters "MGM" in yellow.

FX: None; it's a still logo.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen only on three films: The Subject Was Roses, Grand Prix, and the legendary Kubrick movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Scare Factor: None.