QM Productions
Eric S., V of Doom, and Pygmalion X
Editions by
V of Doom, mr3urious, Bob Fish, and Shadeed A. Kelly
Video captures courtesy of
Eric S.
QM Productions was an independent television production company formed in 1960 by Quinn Martin. All of his series were known for their highly stylized format: a prologue featuring a stern-voice narrator to establish the premise; explicitly announced Acts I, II, III, and IV; and an epilogue, again featuring the narrator. In 1979, a group of investors acquired QM and subsequently sold it to Taft Broadcasting Co., causing QM Productions to cease in 1983. Currently, most of the QM library is held by ViacomCBS, through CBS Media Ventures and Spelling Television Inc. with the exceptions of the following: (The F.B.I. and Banyon are currently owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment and 12 O'Clock High is currently owned by Disney via 20th Television).
1st Logo (October 3, 1961-1983)
Nickname: "QM"
Logo: We see the in-credit logo superimposed on the screen saying:
QM
PRODUCTION
or
PRODUCTIONS
"QM" is written in script.
Variants:
- For co-produced shows, a text of the producer's name is shown below.
- Sometimes, in-credit text was used.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.
Availability: Seen intact on all shows from the era, such as The Fugitive, The F.B.I., Cannon, Barnaby Jones, The Invaders, and The Streets of San Francisco among other classic shows, as well on some TV movies on Me-TV. On the VHS release of the TV movie September's Gun, in-credit text (byline included) on a blue background plastered over the 2nd logo.
Editor's Note: None.
2nd Logo (September 20, 1979-October 8, 1983)
Nicknames: "QM II", "Angel in Space", "QM Angel", "QM Zoom-Out", "Angel Emblem"
Logo: On a starry sky background, we see a shining medallion consisting of a rainbow-colored Angel with his left hand raising, inside a circle. Then, the object flies up at the screen and a blue, stylized, and connected "QM" appears in a 3-D zooming out from the bottom of the screen to the center. Then "PRODUCTIONS" appears and with the Taft byline appearing below. The logo shines.
Bylines:
- 1979-1981: "A TAFT BROADCASTING COMPANY"
- 1982-1983: "A DIVISION OF THE TAFT ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY"
FX/SFX: The emblem shining, "QM PRODUCTIONS" and the Taft byline zooming out.
Music/Sounds: A dramatic synth fanfare combined with dreamy shining sounds.
Availability: Very rare. It's seen on TV movies from the era, such as The Return of Frank Cannon and The Aliens Are Coming, among others, as well on early '80s rerun prints of The Streets of San Francisco. This was also used on the 8th and final season of Barnaby Jones. Expect this logo to be cut off or followed by the CBS Television Distribution logo on DVDs of those shows or TV movies.
Editor's Note: The music and animation, as well as the shining of the logo, are typical of late-70s animation, but the concept is unique.
