Paramount Cartoons

Credits

Descriptions by
Argus Sventon, James Fabiano, and Jason Jones

Captures by
V of Doom, GreenLantern40, adynaske and Henrynguye5

Editions by
V of Doom, Eric S., Bob Fish, adynaske and others

Video captures courtesy of
Eric S.

1st Logo (July 21, 1927-November 7, 1929)

• 
• 
• 

Visuals: On the film's title card, a small mountain logo is seen circled by stars. The words "A Paramount Picture", in a script font, appear in a single line across the mountain.

Variant: On Krazy Kat cartoons, the mountain logo is shown between the two words, and then it cuts to the standard print logo with the credits on them.

Technique: A still printed card.

Audio: None.

Availability: This logo appeared on the Inkwell Imps cartoons of the day and were removed when the titles were deleted for UM&M prints. Because of this, only original prints (and maybe a couple current prints) will have this logo, such as on a print of "Koko the Kop". The company also distributed Krazy Kat cartoons, but it was later moved to Columbia Pictures in 1929.

2nd Logo (November 11, 1929-1932)

• 
• 

Visuals: On a wall-like background, in a hole with a border of encircling stars, there is a mountain with clouds in the background. The script words "A Paramount Picture" are in front of the mountain. A group of clouds lines the bottom of the wall.

End Title: On the wall background, the words "The End" are written in a fancy font. It then fades to the opening logo.

Technique: This logo was a painting filmed by a cameraman, like with the movie counterpart.

Audio: A fanfare based on "Paramount on Parade" or the cartoon's opening theme.

Availability: This logo has been plastered over by the UM&M or NTA logo on current prints, but there are a few prints that will keep this intact. It was saved on the Talkartoon short "Any Rags" and an HD print of the Betty Boop short "Show White".

3rd Logo (1932-September 3, 1943)

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Visuals: Against a multi-colored sky backdrop is a three-dimensional dark-colored mountain surrounded by a round border of 23 stars. In front of the mountain are the same words as the previous logo. The whole logo is similar to the movie logo of the era.

Variants:

• A black-and-white version is seen on Talkartoon, Screen Song, Betty Boop, and Popeye cartoons.
• For shorts featuring live-action model sets, a special byline appeared on the logo. It reads: "PATENT PENDING FOR SPECIAL PROCESSES USED IN THIS PRODUCTION". Later on, starting in 1937, the byline was revised to read "STEREOPTICAL PROCESS and APPARATUS PATENTED. PATENT NUMBER 2054414".
• On the Color Classics short "Poor Cinderella", the logo is very small and part of a closing curtain background. Also, the words "COLOR CLASSIC" are seen between "Paramount" and "Picture".
• On shorts from around 1933-34, a special end title was used. The cartoon irises out into an open inkwell lying on a desk. After the cartoon ends, the inkwell stands up all by itself and the cork does a flip and caps it. The words "A Paramount Picture", the stars and the words "The End" appear over the inkwell. The inkwell's shadow moves with it but the cap's does not, remaining fixed on the desk as it jumps onto the inkwell.
• On Screen Song cartoons from 1932-33, the closing shot of a live-action performer would have the Paramount print logo of the time superimposed over the shot. This is usually plastered on UM&M/NTA prints, but is intact on "Ain't She Sweet?".
• When Paramount started making three-strip Technicolor production in 1936, the byline reads "in TECHNICOLOR" at the end of each cartoon.
• Starting in 1938, the logo was modified, so it was extended to add one more star, making it 24 stars, and the font is different.
• On Mr. Bug Goes to Town, the logo is on a book-like background.
• At the end of Popeye cartoons from the late 1930s until 1943, the logo fades from a shot of an anchor with a sailor's hat on it and a shotgun on a curtain background.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: The beginning/end of a cartoon's theme music. On some 1932 shorts, a fanfare based on "Paramount on Parade" is heard.

Audio Variant: On the Screen Song short "Kitty from Kansas City" and the Talkartoon short "Chess-Nuts", a different version of the fanfare is heard.

Availability: In its heyday, this was seen on cartoons shown in movie theaters. However, when Paramount Pictures sold most of its pre-1955 film library to the TV Corporation of United Film Service, MTA TV, and Minot TV (U.M. & M. TV Corporation) for airing on TV, the company insisted that any reference to Paramount Pictures be removed. U.M. & M. TV agreed, and as a result this logo was plastered with the U.M. & M. logo. However, before all cartoons could be plastered, National Telefilm Associates (NTA) purchased U.M.& M. and replaced the U.M. & M. logos with its own logos. In 1956, Associated Artists Productions purchased the Popeye cartoons and replaced this logo. As a result, it was very difficult to spot then, but nowadays the original prints are being restored, and thus this logo has become easier to find. Seen on the Popeye the Sailor DVD series from Warner Home Video, 1980s video prints of the Talkartoon short "Minnie the Moocher", the Screen Song short "Ain't She Sweet?" and several Color Classics. The 1933-34 closing title was seen on Betty Boop, Popeye the Sailor and Screen Song cartoons. This may also be on the Boomerang app. The 1938 version of the logo appears on most later cartoons, such as Superman, which the Warner Archive DVD also preserves it. The logo made its final appearance on the Popeye cartoon "Cartoons Ain't Human", released on September 3, 1943.

4th Logo (November 26, 1943-December 31, 1967)

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Visuals: Nearly the same as the previous logo, but the logo more resembles a cartoon drawing rather than a painting. Also the mountain is red and the background is blue.

Usually at the end of the film, it featured the following byline in these four variations...

• November 26, 1943-March 19, 1948: "in TECHNICOLOR"
• June 7, 1946-January 30, 1948: "in CINECOLOR"
• November 7, 1947-November 16, 1956: "Color by TECHNICOLOR"
• December 26, 1947-June 24, 1949: "in POLACOLOR"
• December 7, 1956-1959: "TECHNICOLOR®"

Variants:

• Some early variations of the logo included one with a darker background from the top of the screen and the mountain capped with snow. This variant was only used on Little Lulu cartoons.
• Another has a brown mountain and the background in a yellow-orange shade.
• Until 1948, there were no clouds surrounding the mountain.
• A variation of the logo was used on Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoons from 1950-1954. The logo has a daytime sky, a gray mountain, and the mountain is surrounded by clouds on the bottom. It was last seen on "Boos and Arrows".
• A B&W variation appears on the U.M.&M print of the Little Lulu cartoon "Loose in a Caboose".
• On the Noveltoon cartoon "Saved by the Bell", Herman the Mouse walks past the logo.
• On two cartoons "Popeye, the Ace of Space" and "Boo Moon", the entire logo is in 3D, and clouds move past the mountain.
• Starting on November 26, 1954, the logo is slightly zoomed back and featured different clouds surrounding the mountain.
• A special end title was used on "No Ifs, Ands or Butts", where Buzzy takes a drag on a "King size!" cigarette and blows the smoke into the air, which reveals the Paramount logo.
• Another special end title was used on "Rabbit Punch", where Tommy Tortoise pulls the Paramount mountain logo from the canvas to a full screen, then walks in front of it.
• Another special end title was used on "Pedro and Lorenzo", with the Paramount logo appearing on a book end cover.
• Starting on "Cat in the Act" (February 22, 1957) to The Blacksheep Blacksmith (January 1967) , the drawing style of the logo is simpler and abstract.
• On the Merry Maker cartoon "Think or Sink" and the Noveltoon cartoon "The Trip" (all 1967), the sky is white, the mountain is grey, the clouds are blue, the "Paramount" script is black and the stars are yellow while the Fractured Fable cartoon "My Daddy the Astronaut" has the mountain is brown, the clouds are blue, the "Paramount" script is red and the stars are black. This is supposed to resemble a crude drawing as if it was made by a kid.
• There's a later variation where the logo is smaller, the sky is red, the "Paramount" script and the stars are yellow, the clouds are pink and the mountain is in jungle green overhung with flowers. It was first used on the Honey Halfwitch cartoon "Alter Egotist". The Go-Go Toon cartoon "The Squaw-Path", however, has the sky in sea blue, the clouds in light blue, and the mountain in a wood-like texture.

Character Variants: During the time, there are character versions of the logo.

• Popeye the Sailor: The standard logo appears, then a star then spins towards the screen from the center of the logo. When it stops, Popeye appears in it and toots his pipe. The title screen then appears on the mountain background: "Paramount PRESENTS POPEYE The Sailor, etc. etc." After this the logo on the mountain now reads "A FAMOUS Studios PRODUCTION", after which we get the regular credits. (An updated version of this logo was used for the 1960s Popeye television shorts, except with the King Features Syndicate logo.) Originally, they had a non-separate Famous Studios logo. It reads "Paramount PRESENTS POPEYE The Sailor A FAMOUS STUDIOS PRODUCTION in TECHNICOLOR" with the following disclaimer below: "BY AGREEMENT WITH KING FEATURES SYNDICATE". Until 1945, they had a brown mountain and a yellow-orange background.
• Little Lulu:
  • Original Variant: The standard logo appears, then a star spins toward the center of the logo, and Little Lulu's head appear. After Lulu's head appears, the star fades away, and we see the words "Paramount PRESENTS" at the top of the screen, followed by "LITTLE LULU" in large printed letters. Below this we see "by Marge" written out, and then the word "from" below "by Marge", this too written out. The words "THE SATURDAY EVENING POST" are printed out, and below this we see the word, "in" written out, and then below it in large block lettering, the word "TECHNICOLOR". The backdrop of all of this is the Paramount mountain and the stars, which remains until after the words "A FAMOUS Studios PRODUCTION" appear in various fonts depending on the release year. After this, the mountain logo disappears. The sky background for every Little Lulu opening and closing had no clouds.
  • NTA Variant: The opening "A Paramount Picture" title is replaced with the NTA logo; NTA shows the rest of the opening sequence, except for the fact that the words "Paramount PRESENTS" and "in TECHNICOLOR" are blacked out.
• Little Audrey:
  • Original Variant: Just like with Popeye and Little Lulu, the standard logo appears, then a star spins toward the center of the logo. After Little Audrey's head appears, the words "Little Audrey" appear in large written out letters. Then the entire logo fades away to a new title card. On this is "Paramount PRESENTS" then "A NOVELTOON", written in some unusual font in capital letters, with "Color by TECHNICOLOR" below it. After this, the Famous Studios logo appears on a red-orange screen. Little Audrey's first cartoon, "Butterscotch and Soda", released on July 16, 1948, had no clouds in the background. Beginning with "The Lost Dream", released on March 18, 1949, white clouds were added to the background.
  • NTA Variant: Same as for Lulu, except they finally get to the regular titles when the Famous Studios logo comes in.

Noveltoons Variant: The logo was shown on a close up of the box within a circle, which then zooms down to the bottom center of the screen. A Jack-in-the-Box pops from inside the box, opening the word "NOVELTOON". The picture fades, leaving the title card over a plain blue background. Then more words appear above and below the title. On this is "Paramount PRESENTS A NOVELTOON in (Color by) TECHNICOLOR". After this, the Famous Studios logo appears on the same background (starting around 1952, it appeared on a red-orange screen).

Noveltoons Sub-Variants:

• Was referred to as "A Paramount Champion: Brought Back By Popular Demand" on cartoons that were reissued, such as "Cilly Goose".
• On "Flip Flap" and "Hector's Hectic Life", the title card reads "Paramount PRESENTS A NOVELTOON in POLACOLOR".
• On 1943-1945 cartoons, the title card is on a black background and says "Paramount PRESENTS A NOVELTOON", with "A FAMOUS STUDIOS PRODUCTION in TECHNICOLOR" below it. It was used on cartoons from "No Mutton fer Nuttin'" up to "A Self-Made Mongrel".
• Starting in late 1954 with "No Ifs, Ands or Butts", the titles were re-adjusted for widescreen and the logo became smaller.

Technique: Hand-drawn graphic, with traditional animation for the custom variants and live-action for the 3D version.

Audio: The theme of any cartoon short.

Audio Variants:

• The Noveltoons version featured a jazzy xylophone tune composed by Sammy Timberg. In late 1948, beginning with "Hector's Hectic Life", this theme is shortened somewhat. In late 1951, beginning with "Cat-Choo", the theme was rearranged by Winston Sharples.
• The Popeye version featured either the generic cartoon sailor song The Sailor's Hornpipe (a.k.a. Popeye the Sailor Man) or an abridged version that ends on a high note. The former is the music for the AAP Popeye opening. The latter is the more common, and was updated for the opening to the 1960s Popeye television shorts.
• Most Noveltoons/Modern Madcaps/Herman and Katnip starting in 1955 will play a slapstick-type underscore on horns and flutes, composed by Winston Sharples.

Availability:

• Can usually be seen when Boomerang and MeTV are showing Popeye shorts. This may also be on the Boomerang app.
• A large number of cartoons featuring the logo fell into the public domain. For Popeye, some titles have AAP titles, but in case of Noveltoons and Little Audrey, some have UM&M, NTA and Harvey Films titles, and Little Lulu have either UM&M or NTA titles in front of it.
• Several Noveltoons (such as "Gabriel Churchkitten", the three Casper cartoons from the 1940s, "Old MacDonald Had a Farm", "The Enchanted Square", "The Wee Men", "The Mild West", and "Leprechauns Gold") do not use this opening, but rather the standard Paramount cartoon logo. The custom Noveltoons version premiered on "No Mutton fer Nuttin'", released on November 26, 1943 and made its final appearance on "Rabbit Punch", released on September 30, 1955.
• It premiered on the Popeye cartoon "Her Honor the Mare" and the Noveltoon cartoon "No Mutton fer Nuttin'", both released on November 26, 1943 and the first version made its final appearance on the Popeye cartoon "Private Eye Popeye", released on November 12, 1954.
• The custom Popeye version premiered on "Her Honor the Mare", released on November 26, 1943 and made its final appearance on "Spooky Swabs", released on August 9, 1957.
• The first revised version premiered on the Herman and Katnip cartoon "Rail-Rodents", released on November 26, 1954 and made its final appearance on "Possum Pearl", released on September 20, 1957
• As for the 1957 version, most cartoons from this period retain this logo, but they are rather obscure, and Paramount Cartoons was beginning to slow down by this time, especially since Gulf + Western Industries was shutting down the cartoon studio in 1967. However, it did appear on Nickelodeon's Kartoon Kablooey back in 1991. One of the first cartoons to use this version was the Herman and Katnip cartoon "Cat in the Act", released on February 22, 1957. The logo made its final appearance on the Fractured Fable cartoon "Mouse Trek", released on December 31, 1967.

Copyright Stamps

Here is some information about the copyright stamps on the Paramount cartoons:

• 1926-1930 Copyright © by Paramount-Famous Lasky Corporation
• 1930-1933 Copyright © by Paramount-Publix Corporation
• 1933-1935 Copyright © by Paramount Productions, Inc. (Note that Paramount was in bankruptcy.)
• 1935-1939 Copyright © by Paramount Pictures, Inc.
• 1939-June 30, 1950 Copyright © by Paramount Pictures, Inc. (Note: This was in the Paramount font)
• July 21, 1950-December 31, 1967 Copyright © by Paramount Pictures Corporation

◄ Famous Studios

Paramount Cartoons

U.M.&M. Television Corporation (pre-1950) Harvey Entertainment (1950-1962) Paramount Animation (post-1962 and main successor) Turner Entertainment Co. (Popeye cartoons) DC Entertainment (Superman cartoons) ►