Motown Productions: Difference between revisions

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Background

Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Jr. decided to expand his record company into film and TV production in 1967 (the first production was the TCB: Takin' Care of Business television special starring Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations broadcast with great ratings success on NBC). There wasn’t an animated logo at the end of the special, rather a variation of the George Schlatter-Ed Friendly Productions logo with a textual mention. Motown also co-produced movies with Paramount (Lady Sings the Blues) and Universal (The Wiz, Bingo Long and the Travelling All-Stars) in the 70s, but its logo does not appear in feature films (only in-credit mentions). The company was folded into De Passe Entertainment in 1992.

Contents

1st Logo (December 9, 1968)	2nd Logo (April 18, 1971-1978)	3rd Logo (November 24, 1981)	4th Logo (1983-1989)	5th Logo (February 16, 1986)	6th Logo (November 15-18, 1992)

1st Logo (December 9, 1968)

Visuals: On a red background, the same as in the Schlatter-Friendly Productions logo, it's a simple text credit that reads "in association with MOTOWN Productions, Inc." It quickly cuts to the 1965 NBC Snake logo with the chimes.

Technique: A still card produced on print.

Audio: A single cymbal clash (from the Schlatter-Friendly logo).

Availability: Only seen on TCB: Takin' Care of Business.

2nd Logo (April 18, 1971-1978)

Visuals: Against a black background, an abstract, trapezoid-shaped white "M" from the Motown logo flashes in the center of the screen, while multicolored lines and polygons gradually converge on the "M". As the colored lines fill the "M", the "M" turns sky blue and zooms in to reveal a blue background. Finally, the Motown "M" reappears in the center with the words "MOTOWN PRODUCTIONS INC" with "MOTOWN" in a larger font. A registered symbol is next to "MOTOWN".

Variant: On Jackson 5ive (the Jackson Five's 1971-73 Saturday morning cartoon series), a version of the logo was seen with a Rankin/Bass script logo and co-production/IAW credit. For this variation, the animation is shortened down to the middle behind the R-B credit, and the Motown logo now has a border around it.

Technique: Scanimate effects.

Audio: Synth "beeps" for each time the "M" flashes played over a dramatic fanfare.

Availability: Depends on the variant:

Original: Will probably never be seen again outside of off-air recordings and the Internet. Can be found on most TV specials around this time period starring Motown artists, especially Diana Ross (whose debut TV special, Diana!, was the debut of this logo).
Jackson 5ive Variant: It is retained on the DVD/Blu-ray release of Jackson 5ive.

3rd Logo (November 24, 1981)

Visuals: Scrolling up with the credits, there is a white square with the Motown "M" logo cut out. Overlapping the square is "MOTOWN PRODUCTIONS" in white. There is an "In Association with" byline above it.

Technique: A computerized chyroned graphic.

Audio: The closing theme.

Availability: Seen on A Small Killing.

4th Logo (1983-1989)

Visuals: On a black background, there are nine neon parallelograms -- three red, three blue, and three green -- zoom-out toward the screen to form the Motown logo, which turns a golden color. A glowing blue square surrounds it, and "MOTOWN PRODUCTIONS" appears below in white.

Variant: On later prints of the series Sidekicks, the text "In Association With" fades in below after the logo forms.

Technique: Analog computer animation.

Audio: A 8-note synth theme with 3 chimes or the end theme of the show.

Availability: Intact on Lonesome Dove. Was also seen on the Motown special Yesterday, Today, Forever.

5th Logo (February 16, 1986)

Visuals: On a white background is the letter "M" is in a white scoreboard-style sparkly lettering inside a dark gray square with a very thick black border. Under it is the words "MOTOWN PRODUCTIONS" and below it in smaller letters "In Association With".

Trivia: This "M" logo with the company name has appeared on the back of some VHS and Laserdiscs of Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues (despite this, the 2nd logo appears in the special).

Technique: A still graphic.

Audio: The end theme of the program.

Availability: This only appeared on the TV movie The Last Electric Knight (the pilot of the show Sidekicks).

6th Logo (November 15-18, 1992)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a large, gray marble brick with the same abstract "M" as before with "MOTOWN" underneath it. The marble brick simultaneously turns away from the camera while light emits from the "M".

Variant: A full version of this logo exists, of which after the brick turns away from the screen, it then reveals the logo is also on the other side sans text. The brick, after having the logo centered into place, then shoots back with the trails shooting back secondly.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The end theme of the show.

Availability: Only appeared on the miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream.

Motown Productions

De Passe Entertainment

►

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Pagecredits|description=Bob Fish and Eric S.|capture=Eric S., V of Doom, and TheEriccorpinc|video=Eric S.}}
+{{Pagecredits|description=Bob Fish and Eric S.|capture=Eric S., V of Doom, TheEriccorpinc and Logoarto|edits=Henrynguye5, Prodigy012‎ and Logoarto‎|video=Eric S.}}
 ===Background===
-Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Jr. decided to expand his very successful record company into film and TV production in 1967 (the first production was the ''TCB: Takin' Care of Business'' television special starring Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations broadcast with great rating success on [[NBC National IDs|NBC]]). There is a Motown logo on this special but the footage is currently unavailable to us. Motown also co-produced movies with [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] (''Lady Sings the Blues'') and [[Universal Pictures|Universal]] (''The Wiz'', ''Bingo Long and the Travelling All-Stars'') in the 70s, but its logo does not appear in feature films (only in-credit mentions). This page describes the best-known logos from Motown Productions.
+'''Motown''' Records founder Berry Gordy, Jr. decided to expand his record company into film and TV production in 1967 (the first production was the ''TCB: Takin' Care of Business'' television special starring Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations broadcast with great ratings success on [[NBC |NBC]]). There wasn’t an animated logo at the end of the special, rather a variation of the [[George Schlatter-Ed Friendly Productions]] logo with a textual mention. Motown also co-produced movies with [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] (''Lady Sings the Blues'') and [[Universal Pictures|Universal]] (''The Wiz'', ''Bingo Long and the Travelling All-Stars'') in the 70s, but its logo does not appear in feature films (only in-credit mentions). The company was folded into [[De Passe Entertainment]] in 1992.
+{{ImageTOC
-===1st Logo (April 18, 1971-1978)===
+|Motown Productions (1968).jpeg|1st Logo (December 9, 1968)
-<gallery mode=packed heights=200>
+|Motown Productions(4).png|2nd Logo (April 18, 1971-1978)
+|Motown 1981.png|3rd Logo (November 24, 1981)
+|Motown Productions(3).jpeg|4th Logo (1983-1989)
+|Motown Productions(1).png|5th Logo (February 16, 1986)
+|Motown Productions(4).jpeg|6th Logo (November 15-18, 1992)
+}}
+===1st Logo (December 9, 1968)===
+[[File:Motown Productions (1968).jpeg|center|350px|class=notpageimage]]
+{{youtube|id=iMvktGm43i8}}
+'''Visuals:''' On a red background, the same as in the [[George Schlatter-Ed Friendly Productions|Schlatter-Friendly Productions]] logo, it's a simple text credit that reads "'''''in association with MOTOWN Productions, Inc.'''''" It quickly cuts to the 1965 [[NBC Studios|NBC]] Snake logo with the chimes.
+'''Technique:''' A still card produced on print.
+'''Audio:''' A single cymbal clash (from the Schlatter-Friendly logo).
+'''Availability:''' Only seen on ''TCB: Takin' Care of Business''.
+===2nd Logo (April 18, 1971-1978)===
+<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
 File:Motown Productions(4).png
 File:Motown Productions.jpeg
 </gallery>
-{{youtube|id=1tnOGOR8p8s}}
+{{youtube|id=1tnOGOR8p8s|id2=61Kks_diGNk}}
-'''Nicknames:''' "The M", "M of Doom", "Flashing M"
-'''Logo:''' Against a black background, an abstract, trapezoid-shaped white M from the Motown logo flashes in the center of the screen, while multicolored lines and polygons gradually converge on the "M". As the colored lines fill the "M", the "M" turns sky blue and zooms-in the reveal a blue background. Finally, the the Motown "M" reappears in center with the words "'''MOTOWN''' '''PRODUCTIONS INC'''" with "MOTOWN" in a larger font.
+'''Visuals:''' Against a black background, an abstract, trapezoid-shaped white "M" from the Motown logo flashes in the center of the screen, while multicolored lines and polygons gradually converge on the "M". As the colored lines fill the "M", the "M" turns {{color|lightblue|sky blue}} and zooms in to reveal a blue background. Finally, the Motown "M" reappears in the center with the words "'''MOTOWN''' '''PRODUCTIONS INC'''" with "'''MOTOWN'''" in a larger font. A registered symbol is next to "'''MOTOWN'''".
-'''Variant:''' On ''Jackson 5ive'' (the Jackson Five's 1971-73 Saturday morning cartoon series), a version of the logo was seen with a [[Rankin-Bass Animated Entertainment|Rankin/Bass]] script logo and co-production/IAW credit.  For this variation, the animation is shortened down to the middle behind the R-B credit, and the Motown logo now has a border around it.
+'''Variant:''' On ''Jackson 5ive'' (the Jackson Five's 1971-73 Saturday morning cartoon series), a version of the logo was seen with a [[Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment|Rankin/Bass]] script logo and co-production/IAW credit. For this variation, the animation is shortened down to the middle behind the R-B credit, and the Motown logo now has a border around it.
+'''Technique:''' Scanimate effects.
-'''FX/SFX:''' The flashing "M", the multicolored lines, and the zooming "M". All are typical effects of the Scanimate era. The "M" zooming in is horrendously choppy; it's possible that it was supposed to be in sync with the long version, but it ends up being out of place in the Rankin/Bass version.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' Synth "beeps" for each time the M flashes played over a circus-esque fanfare with an electric guitar-like ending.
+'''Audio:''' Synth "beeps" for each time the "M" flashes played over a dramatic fanfare.
 '''Availability:''' Depends on the variant:
-* Original: Extinct. Will probably never be seen again outside of off-air recordings and the Internet. Can be found on most TV specials around this time period starring Motown artists, especially Diana Ross (whose debut TV special, ''Diana!'', premiered this logo).
+* Original: Will probably never be seen again outside of off-air recordings and the Internet. Can be found on most TV specials around this time period starring Motown artists, especially Diana Ross (whose debut TV special, ''Diana!'', was the debut of this logo).
 * ''Jackson 5ive'' Variant: It is retained on the DVD/Blu-ray release of ''Jackson 5ive''.
+===3rd Logo (November 24, 1981)===
-'''Editor's Note:''' While the fanfare is fairly tame, the flashing "M" and beeps are an unpleasant combo, and the zoom at the end resembles an inverse Viacom "V of Doom".<br />
+[[File:Motown 1981.png|center|350px]]
+{{youtube|id=9EqM0FUqM9w}}
+'''Visuals:''' Scrolling up with the credits, there is a white square with the Motown "M" logo cut out. Overlapping the square is "MOTOWN PRODUCTIONS" in white. There is an "In Association with" byline above it.
-===2nd Logo (1983-1989)===
-<gallery mode=packed heights=200>
+'''Technique:''' A computerized chyroned graphic.
+'''Audio:''' The closing theme.
+'''Availability:''' Seen on ''A Small Killing''.
+===4th Logo (1983-1989)===
+<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
 File:Motown Productions(3).jpeg
 File:Motown Productions(5).png
 </gallery>
-{{youtube|id=ORy8v8Cw7m0}}
+{{youtube|id=ORy8v8Cw7m0|id2=Rogp06yelwM|id3=egFKxAH8Mp0}}
-'''Nicknames:''' "The M II", "Flying Parallelograms"
-'''Logo:''' On a black background, we see nine neon parallelograms-- three red, three blue, and three green-- zoom-out toward the screen to form the Motown logo, which turns a golden color. A glowing blue square surrounds it, and "MOTOWN PRODUCTIONS" appears below in white.
+'''Visuals:''' On a black background, there are nine neon parallelograms -- three red, three blue, and three green -- zoom-out toward the screen to form the Motown logo, which turns a golden color. A glowing {{color|lightblue|blue}} square surrounds it, and "MOTOWN PRODUCTIONS" appears below in white.
-'''Variant:''' On later prints (due the 1995 version of the [[Walt Disney Television]]/[[Buena Vista International Television|Buena Vista International]] "Rainbow Castle" plastering the 1986 WDT logo) of the short-lived series ''Sidekicks'', the words "'''''In Association With'''''" fades in below after the logo forms.
+'''Variant:''' On later prints of the series ''Sidekicks'', the text "'''''In Association With'''''" fades in below after the logo forms.
-'''FX/SFX:''' The parallelograms flying to form the logo; nice '80s computer effects.
+'''Technique:''' Analog computer animation.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' A 8-note synth horn theme with 3 chimes or the end theme of the show.
+'''Audio:''' A 8-note synth theme with 3 chimes or the end theme of the show.
-'''Availability:''' Rare. Intact on the ''Lonesome Dove'' miniseries. Was also seen on the Motown special ''Yesterday, Today, Forever'', which was issued on VHS by MGM/UA Home Video, and was also reran on PBS SoCal.
+'''Availability:''' Intact on ''Lonesome Dove''. Was also seen on the Motown special ''Yesterday, Today, Forever''.
-'''Editor's Note:''' The parallelograms may startle some, but this is a nice logo. It's also reminiscent of the [[Embassy Films Associates|Avco Embassy]] and [[TMS Entertainment (Japan)|Tokyo Movie Shinsha]] logo.
-===3rd Logo (February 16, 1986)===
+===5th Logo (February 16, 1986)===
 [[File:Motown Productions(1).png|center|350px]]
-'''Nicknames:''' "The M III", "Shining M", "M of Boredom"
-'''Logo:''' On a white background is the letter "'''M'''" is in a white scoreboard-style sparkly lettering inside a dark gray square with a very thick black border,. Under it is the words "'''MOTOWN PRODUCTIONS'''" and below it in smaller letters "In Association With".
+'''Visuals:''' On a white background is the letter "'''M'''" is in a white scoreboard-style sparkly lettering inside a {{color|darkgray|dark gray}} square with a very thick black border. Under it is the words "'''MOTOWN PRODUCTIONS'''" and below it in smaller letters "In Association With".
 '''Trivia:''' This "M" logo with the company name has appeared on the back of some VHS and Laserdiscs of ''Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues'' (despite this, the 2nd logo appears in the special).
-'''FX/SFX:''' None.
+'''Technique:''' A still graphic.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' The end theme of ''The Last Electric Knight''.
+'''Audio:''' The end theme of the program.
-'''Availability:''' Probably extinct. This was only spotted in the TV movie ''The Last Electric Knight'' (the pilot of the show ''Sidekicks'').
+'''Availability:''' This only appeared on the TV movie ''The Last Electric Knight'' (the pilot of the show ''Sidekicks'').
+===6th Logo (November 15-18, 1992)===
-'''Editor's Note:''' None.
+[[File:Motown Productions(4).jpeg|center|350px]]{{YouTube|id=https://youtu.be/-SXyBa8q0hI|id2=https://youtu.be/xNQrfC7jDzo}}
+'''Visuals:''' On a black background, there is a large, gray marble brick with the same abstract "M" as before with "MOTOWN" underneath it. The marble brick simultaneously turns away from the camera while light emits from the "M".
-===4th Logo (November 15-18, 1992)===
-[[File:Motown Productions(4).jpeg|center|350px]]
-'''Nicknames:''' "The M IV", "Marble M"
+'''Variant:''' A full version of this logo exists, of which after the brick turns away from the screen, it then reveals the logo is also on the other side sans text. The brick, after having the logo centered into place, then shoots back with the trails shooting back secondly.
-'''Logo:''' On a black background, we see a large, gray marble brick with the same abstract "M" as before with "MOTOWN Productions inc." underneath it. The marble brick simultaneously turns away from us while light is being emitted from the abstract "M".
+'''Technique:''' CGI.
-'''FX/SFX:''' The marble brick turning, and the light coming from the "M".
-'''Music/Sounds:''' The end theme of the show.
+'''Audio:''' The end theme of the show.
 '''Availability:''' Only appeared on the miniseries ''The Jacksons: An American Dream''.
+{{Chronology||[[De Passe Entertainment]]}}
-'''Editor's Note:''' None.
-===Final Note===
-In 1992, Motown Productions was merged into [[De Passe Jones Entertainment|De Passe Entertainment]].
 [[Category:American television logos]]
-[[Category:American Logos]]
+[[Category:United States]]
-[[Category:Television Logos]]
+[[Category:Television logos]]