Normandy Productions

Background

This was the production company of Norman Maurer, the son-in-law of The Three Stooges member Moe Howard. It produced several films starring The Three Stooges from 1959 to 1970, as well as The New 3 Stooges cartoon series.

1st Logo (January 6, 1962)

Visuals: On a black-and-white format, the 1936 Torch Lady is on the left side, and the text "COLUMBIA PICTURES PRESENTS" is on the right side. The logo cross-fades to a statue of Norman Maurer, the son-in-law of Moe Howard of The Three Stooges as he holds a stick of dynamite. The text "A NORMANDY PRODUCTION" is on the left side. The sparks are flowing from the dynamite and the dynamite later explodes, leaving the lower legs and the pedestal on the statue. The text "FILMED IN GLORIOUS BLACK AND WHITE" fades in above.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: An announcer saying "As Normandy Productions lights the fuse..." from the opening narration, the sounds of rockets launching, and the opening score of the film by Paul Dunlap.

Availability: Seen on The Three Stooges Meet Hercules.

2nd Logo (July 4, 1962)

Visuals: Against a starry backdrop, there are three men holding torches (Larry Fine, Moe Howard, and Curly-Joe DeRita, the then-current lineup of The Three Stooges), all dressed as the Torch Lady from the Columbia Pictures logo and standing on pedestals, drawn in an illustrated style. The Stooges are also draped in American flags over their left arms. Rays are shown over their torches, and the words "NORMANDY PRODUCTIONS" are shown in Clarendon Condensed. The statues and pedestals then fly up the screen with flames underneath like rockets, accompanied by smoke covering the screen and leading to the film's title card.

Trivia: The animations of the torch rays are reused from the Columbia logo.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: An announcer saying "As Normandy Productions lights the fuse..." from the opening narration, the sounds of rockets launching, and the opening score of the film by Paul Dunlap.

Availability: Seen on The Three Stooges in Orbit.

3rd Logo (February 5, 1970)

Visuals: On a sky background, there is a weather cock with three silhouetted people (likely representing The Three Stooges) at an arrow, with the person on the left pointing at the other two. "A NORMANDY PRODUCTION" appears above the direction.

Technique: A still photograph with text overlaid on it.

Audio: The closing theme of the movie.

Availability: Seen on Kook's Tour.