Dan Curtis Productions
Michael Bass, TVB, & Shadeed A. Kelly
Editions by
mr3urious, TVB, & SeanElGatoTV2k8
Video captures courtesy of
LogicSmash, Pepsi9072, TR3X PR0DÚCTÍ0NS, & ClosingLogosHD
Background
This is the Dan Curtis production company, which releases primarily Horror/Mystery Movies on the Big Three Television Networks. The company has been founded in June 1966 & ended in March 27, 2006 due to Dan Curtis died because of Age. He was responsible for Dark Shadows & it's remake (which ended due to hatred), & various TV Movies from the late 1960s-Early 2000s.
1st Logo (June 27, 1966-November 5, 1973)
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Dead of Nightː A Darkness at Blaisedon Variant
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Dark Shadows-Episode 1082 Variant
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The Invasion of Carol Enders Variant
Logo: Scrolling up in the credits of Dark Shadows, we see a superimposed logo with cursive-like text (the first letters of each word are in boxes) as follows:
Curtis
Productions, inc.
copyright © (year)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Variants:
- There was different variants of the logo seen on Dark Shadows where the background would be different (like in Episode 1082). In 1970-1971, it would be in color.
- On some 1970-71 episodes, a text-only version was used as follows:
DAN CURTIS
PRODUCTIONS, INC.
copyright © [year] - Another variation, seen on the 1969 TV movie Dead of Night: A Darkness at Blaisedon, is like the stylized-text version used on Dark Shadows, except the following copyright disclaimer is used:
© MCMLXIX DONNYBROOK PRODUCTIONS, INC. It's also in a black background with lights shown.
All rights reserved - On The Invasion of Carol Enders, the first letters are in a bold, normal font and the rest is set to a cursive font. It also has the copyright textː ⒸCopyright 1973
FX/SFX: The text scrolling up in the credits.
Music/Sounds: The end theme of Dark Shadows, that can either be a spooky dark theme, and/or a deep voice-over with a echo/stutter-like effect saying, "Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production."
Music/Sound Variantː In Dead of the Nightː A Darkness at Blaisedon, it uses its own theme.
Availability: Found on all episodes of the original Dark Shadows TV series as well as The Invasion of Carol Enders. It also appears in the TV Movie Dead of the Nightː A Darkness
Editor's Note: The theme and the announcer are notable for being ominous. But it is fitting due to the shows above are horror-related.
2nd Logo (February 21, 1973)
Logo: There is another in-credit text that reads:
DAN
CURTIS
PRODUCTION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
The logo then disappears & cuts to the Metromedia Producers Corporation 2nd logo that is superimposed on the same background (which is an extreme close-up of the antagonist of the movie's face, along with it being the last shot of the movie).
FX/SFX: The text appearing.
Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the film, which consists of a dramatic trumpet fanfare.
Availability: Seen on the 1973 TV movie The Norliss Tapes, which was actually a pilot for an unaired series.
Editor's Note: This logo is somewhat notorious for being scary to many people thanks to the scary music and the creepy look of the eyes. This can also be a bit cheesy due to the face looking like a man who never wakes up (though it's more nightmarish than cheesy). It's also intentional due to the theme of the TV Movie.
3rd Logo (1975-2006)
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Kansas City Massacre
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The Dark Sky Films Release of Trilogy of Terror
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Shares with Osiris Films
Logoː All we see is yet another in-credit text (which is the following)ː
- A Dan Curtis Production
- A Dan Curtis Productions in Association with
- Dan Curtis Productions, Inc. in Association with
On a black background. It would then show a different logo.
Variantː Over the years, the text can be in a custom font and/or be superimposed in a different background, like Kansas City Massacre, which uses the in-credit background.
FX/SFXː Either the text appearing (often TV Series) or the Scrolling of the Credits (often TV Movies).
Music/Soundsː None, or the End Theme of the Television Series/Movie.
Availabilityː Uncommon. Was seen on the majority of Dan Curtis's releases including Trilogy of Terror, Kansas City Massacre, Trilogy of Terror II, Winds of War, & many others. Strangely, some movies at the time don't have the logo whatsoever.
4th Logo (January 13-March 22, 1991)
Logo: Again, another in-credit text in white against a castle that reads "DAN CURTIS TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS, INC." appear. Then the text "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" in a smaller font below appear a second later. Then it fades to the MGM Television logo (due to plastering).
FX/SFX: The text appearing, as well as the slow movement of the camera, which is Live-Action
Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the show.
Availability: It was only seen on the short-lived 1991 revival Dark Shadows, which said in the background, it ended shortly due to low ratings.