The Mirisch Company (pronounced "meerish") was a production company that was formed in August 1957 by the Mirisch brothers (Walter, Marvin, and Harold) when they produced movies in association with and released through United Artists. UA would later acquire them on March 1, 1963 for $1.8 million. In 1964, Mirisch produced The Pink Panther cartoon series in association with DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (DFE Films), a year after the live action film was released. Mirisch didn't enter TV production until 1959 with the series Wichita Town in association with Four Star Television. At that point, it merely had an in-line credit, "Produced by Mirisch Television Enterprises" in the middle of the closing theme. Lee Rich joined up with the brothers in 1965 and became "Mirisch-Rich Productions" until he left in 1967. Today, MGM owns most of the Mirisch movies and TV shows.
1st Logo (September 11, 1966-May 1st, 1967)
Nickname:M-R
Logo: On a red-orange background, we see M-R in the center, over the top line of a box with "A MIRISCH-RICH and "television production" inside. The emblem starts zooming-in rapidly before zooming out to the center, in a yoyo-like effect.
Variant: A B&W version exists.
FX/SFX: The logo zooming-in.
Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show.
Availability: Rare.
Was first seen on the short-lived series Hey, Landlord.
Was also seen on the first season of The Rat Patrol.
2nd Logo (September 11, 1967-March 18, 1968?)
Nickname: "Multi-Colored M"
Logo: On a yellow background, we see a blue rectangle with the word "A" above. Then a red rectangle and "MIRISCH" appear, followed by a green parallelogram and "TV", and finally a purple parallelogram and the word "PRODUCTION" below "MIRISCH TV". The colored shapes are arranged into an "M"-like shape.
FX/SFX: The appearance of the shapes and words.
Music/Sounds: The end-title theme from any show.
Availability: Extremely rare.
It's seen on the second season of The Rat Patrol.
3rd Logo (1980s-July 3, 2000)
Nickname: "The Silver M"
Logo: On a blue background, a silver line moves from right to left near the center of the screen. As it shrinks, a large silver outline of a serif "M" rises up. A bright flash occurs in the center, and the words "MIRISCH FILMS, INC." or "THE MIRISCH CORPORATION" flash in. The letter "M" shines a bit.
FX/SFX: The silver line moving, the "M" rising up, the flash, and the shine. This is some nice-looking CGI for the time.
Music/Sounds: A somewhat dramatic and sustained two-note synth tune with whooshing and "sparkling" sounds.
Availability: Rare.
Seen on Here Comes the Grump.
The "Mirisch Corporation" version is seen on The Magnificent Seven.
4th Logo (January 3, 1998)
Logo: On a black-blue gradient background, we see the words:
THE MIRISCH C O R P O R A T I O N
in silver lettering in the Copperplate Gothic Light font with "THE MIRISCH" in a big font and "CORPORATION" in a smaller font below. The text shines in a wipe-like effect.
