Logo descriptions by Jason Jones
Images by Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom and Bob Fish
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly and V of Doom
Video captures courtesy by Juniorfan88, Eric S. and Bob Fish


Background: United Artists Television was an American television production/distribution company of United Artists Corporation that was formed in 1956 to produce TV shows originally, but it had never been very successful in television. UA purchased Associated Artists Productions ("AAP") in 1958. In 1960, this company merged with Ziv Television, forming Ziv-United Artists Television until 1962 when Ziv Television was absorbed by UA, changing its name back to United Artists Television. In 1981, MGM merged with UA to create MGM/UA Entertainment Co. As a result, their respective television units combined as well, becoming MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television in 1982. The "United Artists Television" logo was eventually phased out around 1983 in favor of the "MGM/UA Television" banner, although UA itself continued to produce television shows until 1995. With the exceptions of Gilligan's Island (owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment thru Turner Entertainment Co.) and The Fugitive (owned by CBS Corporation thru Republic Entertainment, Inc.) the remaining UATV library is owned mainly by MGM.


1st Logo
(1956-1962)

Nickname: "TV Tube(s)"

Logo: A superimposed logo, featuring a block-type UA stacked diagonally with the company name across. The logo is bordered inside a transparent TV Tube-like field.

Variant: From 1960-1962, this logo was shared with "ZIV"'s name inside the tube to refer it as "Ziv-United Artists".

SFX: None, it's a superimposed logo

Music: Usually the closing theme of the show.

Availability: The original is extinct. The Ziv-UA variant can be seen on Bat Masterson on Encore Westerns.

Scare Factor: Low.



2nd Logo
(1962-1967)

Nickname: "UA Stack"

Logo: It starts with the company name outlined against a gray BG. There are two odd looking shapes in black on the left and right of the logo, which pan towards each other and go to opposite sides of the name, which changes to black. The two shapes pan towards each other once more, making a stop this time to stick them together. The shapes appear as a vertical UA.

Variants:

• The color variant was yellow lettering/UA logo on a blue BG; was on with full animation on It's About Time and My Mother the Car.
• A still variant (with "Distributed By" on top of the UA Stack) was on early episodes of The Rat Patrol.

SFX: The panning of the UA.

Music: The closing theme of the show or it's silent.

Availability: Near extinction. Was last seen on The Patty Duke Show back in 2005 when it was distributed by Sony Pictures Television.

Scare Factor: Low.



3rd Logo
(1962-1967)

Nickname: "UA"

Logo: This is an alternate TV logo for some of United Artists' co-productions. It is a simplified UA ident; both letters are the same shape, going upside down.

SFX: None; it's a in-credit logo.

Music: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Can be found intact on all episodes of Gilligan's Island and The Fugitive on DVD.

Scare Factor: Low.



4th Logo
(1967-1968)

Nicknames: "The UA-Transamerica Circle", "The UA Ovoid"

Logo: We see the words "United Artists Television" appearing inside a circular field. The words "A Transamerica Company" is seen in small letters underneath. The U and the A are somewhat taller than the rest of the company name, and they overlap each other.

SFX: None; it's a still logo

Music: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Extinct.

Scare Factor: Low.



5th Logo
(1968-1975)

Nickname: "The Transamerica T"

Logo: It starts with two sets of blue lines going into place, altogether, against a black BG. One set turns to the left, the other turns to the right. There are six lines altogether, revealing the logo of Transamerica Corporation, United Artists' former owner. The logo zooms out to the side to make room for the company name.

Byline: The name was referred to as "United Artists Television, Entertainment from Transamerica Corporation" during this time.

Cheesy Factor/SFX: The stacking of the lines.

Music: The closing theme of the show. In other cases, it used the outro of the UA logo theme from 1968.

Availability: Extinct. Was last seen on Gilligan's Island decades ago.

Scare Factor: Low.



6th Logo
(1975-1983)

Nickname: "The Transamerica T"

Logo: This one is similar to it's previous logo. The remodified name fades in, and the "Transamerica T" fades in along with the shortened phrase "A Transamerica Company".

SFX: The fade-in.

Music: None.

Availability: Extinct.

Scare Factor: None.