(above: Miklos Rozsa conducts a scoring session at Universal Studios Soundstage 10 in the 1940s)

Classic Film and TV Studio Signature Logos

researched and compiled by The Media Management Group

Last update on March 30, 2021


In the "Golden Age" of the Studio System, motion picture studios presented to the world a carefully crafted image. A familiar part of that image was their own self-important identifier (known as a "logo") at the beginning of every movie (and later at the end of every Television series.)

Short musical statements were created to accompany the visual "logo." These pieces were also known as the "trademark", "emblem", or "signature" (or in modern times, the "I D" or "logo.") [The British call such logos "idents".]

These proud short pieces heralded the glory of the U.S. studio or production company which made the picture you were about to enjoy. Indirectly these validated the institution of the studio, and were certainly ego strokes for the pioneer producers at the helm. Usually they were part of the assignment to score a particular motion picture. The recording was done at the same time as the rest of the film score. Copies were then spliced into the soundtracks of later films until it was time for a new arrangement or even a new logo.

Originally these short musical signatures were written on assignment by master film composers working under weekly contract for the studios. Later independent composers would be contracted to write logos for modern production companies and TV networks.

Origins of the "20th-Century Fox Fanfare"

Perhaps the most famous studio fanfare is the one associated with "20th Century-Fox" by the legendary Alfred Newman. Newman had started in Hollywood as an arranger for United Artists, but began his film composing career in 1931 with a Samuel Goldwyn picture called "Street Scene." The main theme of this film was used in several ways: as a motif for cues in other filmscores, in an concert overture which became famous on its own, as a popular trumpet instrumental called "Sentimental Rhapsody", then as a secondary THEME for the radio series "My Friend Irma" and later as an on-screen overture to the 1954 picture "How To Marry A Millionaire" where Newman is seen conducting the studio orchestra on camera before the picture begins. (But contrary to popular belief, the famous "Twentieth Century-Fox Fanfare" was not heard at the beginning of Newman's first picture, "Street Scene.")

The story is thus: Originally Alfred Newman worked for United Artists, whose company also distributed the films of Darryl F. Zanuck's "20th-Century Films." In 1933 Newman was named "General Music Director" of Zanuck's "20th Century Films".

Correspondence with Ed Nassour, VP of Post Production for 20th-Century Fox verified that the original "20th Century Trade Mark" fanfare was recorded on the United Artists Soundstage 7 on the Santa Monica Blvd. studio lot, during the early 1930s (when Darryl Zanuck's 20th Century Films were being distributed by United Artists, but before 20th Century Films merged with Fox Studios.) Nassour said, "It wasn't until the early fifties that Newman made a new recording at Fox. He recorded the original version and it was used in a few select films."

The "Cinemascope Extension"

In 1953, when Cinemascope was introduced, the first picture to be filmed using this wide-screen technology was the Biblical drama "The Robe" which Newman also scored. But this religious epic used an appropriately solemn choral overture behind the opening visual trademark. No trademark fanfare appeared at all.

The second film released in Cinemascope was the 1954 frolic called "How To Marry a Millionaire." Although composer Newman is a very big part of the opening of this film, it is in the role of conductor of his studio orchestra in the performance of an orchestral version of "Street Scene" as a concert overture. To make the Cinemascope format seem even more like an "event" technology, Mr. Newman and the orchestra are seen on-screen performing this "overture" in wide-screen Cinemascope before the action of the film begins. But the trademark fanfare is heard at the beginning in its earlier shorter length -- not yet extended for promoting Cinemascope.

Ed Nassour speculated (and subsequent research has confirmed) that the "CinemaScope Extension" was first added to the "20th Century-Fox Fanfare" for the score of "River Of No Return" (a 1954 Robert Mitchum picture filmed in Technicolor in Canada to include the spectacular rugged scenery.) This picture was scored by Cyril Mockridge with songs by Lionel Newman (Alfred Newman's brother) who conducted the studio orchestra. That is the version that eventually was filed as an actual Trademark with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. (The most recent version of the fanfare is Trademark #74629287.)

Thereafter Alfred Newman's musical TradeMark had the longer title of the "20th-Century Fox Fanfare with Cinemascope Extension". It also had a more definite ending cadence. Sometimes a theater would open their curtains even wider during the extension, to dramatize how much wider Cinemascope was than the standard 4:3 aspect-ratio screen used by earlier films, and especially by that nemesis of the motion picture -- the fledgling gadget called television.

Ed Nassour writes, "The Cinemascope extension was recorded on six tracks, three with close perspective, left center and right and three with a long shot pick up with the microphones at the back of the stage. This was the normal setup for stereo recordings made at Fox. The [introductory] snare drums [actually military field drums, or "tenor" snare drums] were recorded on a separate pass and later mixed together. In 1997 David Newman conducted the Cinemascope version in a new recording to christen the reopening of our scoring stage now known as The Newman Stage. I had him do a new version of the TV logo that Lionel Newman had conducted for all those classic Fox TV series back in the sixties. Due to the severe time constraint placed on logo music by the networks (3 seconds) the orchestra played so fast that they sounded as if they were on helium!"

Other Logo Origins

Other Studio Logos had a more well-documented beginning. Franz Waxman's opening to MGM's "Philadelphia Story" (1940) included a fanfare for a new visual trademark. It was known from that point on as the "MGM Fanfare", replacing one composed previously by Leroy Shield (who also wrote the "Our Gang Comedies/Little Rascals" theme music).

Even low-budget studios like Republic used signature pieces behind their trademark "emblems" shown at the beginning of their serials, and for episodic Chapter openings.

Technologies besides Fox Cinemascope had their own logo too, as illustrated by the Signature IDs which were created especially for Cinerama, VistaVision, and NBC Color Television.

Some trademark logos evolved as time went on. It almost seems like the influences of the individual film score and perhaps studio politics influenced this evolution of studio logos in some cases.

Logos Can Evolve Over Time

For example, at a special collections archive containing film scores, I've had the privilege of comparing the manuscript scores of several Paramount films which began with the Trademark Fanfare composed by Nathan Van Cleave during the early 1950s. Mr. Van Cleave was the studio's main orchestrator during this period. This rather unusual and dramatic wide screen visual trademark had an equally dramatic musical treatment -- a polychordal melody, with bass and inner parts in a fugal contrary motion. This Fanfare originally included quotes of the earlier "Paramount Signature" of Janis and King used as the concluding motif of "Paramount On Parade". At the height of the wide-screen technology wars -- when VistaVision was challenging Cinerama -- the VistaVision Trademark Fanfare was expanded to a dazzling length and effect.

When used to open "White Christmas" it even included a modulation to a glittering intro which then segued into the main song of the picture -- the familiar tune "White Christmas". This "sparkling" motif from the "White Christmas" intro was pretty effective, so it was then used for subsequent versions of the logo in later films but moved to the front of the logo. In later films, alas, this logo eventually was cut back to a shorter version after the novelty of the technology was less important to promote. It is sometimes called the "Paramount Seal" in later soundtrack recordings.

TV Logos and the Trend Toward Brevity

When television arrived, the film studios which had TV divisions (Revue, for example, at Universal) commisioned logos to use at the END of their filmed TV shows (sometimes called the "hitch-hike" or "trailer.") Juan Esquivel (yes THAT Esquivel) teamed up with Revue music director Stanley Wilson to create one of the most identifiable TV logos for series distributed by Universal/MCA-TV. It's not clear how two composers are needed to collaborate on a piece of music that is only four measures long. [A later version expanded the logo to a standard "tune" length, so perhaps that THEME was the derivation which became the short logo...] In subsequent years, the 4-bar logo was shortened and re-arranged by Pete Rugolo, Jack Marshall, Quincy Jones and Robert Prince.

Unfortunately in the overlapping style of network television today, in the desperate effort to minimize "tune-out", there may be no time for such "icing on the cake." At the end of one show, closing credits seem to merge into a promo for another, which segues into the next show without a break. But then, at the movies, there are still a few seconds of time for logos...at least for now...

Scarce Copyright Filings

In researching these compositions, I find it odd that relatively few of them were filed for copyright individually. Perhaps the studios felt since the music was so short and was associated with the visual logo, that the film or video treatment plus the music combined was more of a corporate ID than two separate works of art needing protection from infringers. Of course, some were part of larger film scores which may have been copyrighted.

At any rate, here are the principal compositions used for film and TV logos. In the past, logos were also known as "signatures", "fanfares", "emblems", "I Ds" and "trademarks". This list has been compiled from ASCAP, BMI, and other sources:


20th Century Fox (including Fox Movie-Tone)

Title:        FOX TITLE
Writer(s):    KAY, ARTHUR (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): TWENTIETH CENTURY MUSIC CORP (ASCAP)
Copyright:    April 12, 1930; Eu 20 154.
Renewal:      Mar.  18, 1958; R 210 944.
             [May have been a written for the "Fox Movietone Follies"
                  of 1929 or 1930 on which he worked.]

["Movie-Tone News" theatrical newsreels debuted May 25, 1927 in NY City]

Title:        NEWS REEL SOUND TITLES
Writer(s):    PETER YORKE (PRS)
Publisher(s): KEITH PROWSE & CO. LTD., London
US Copyright: Dec. 31, 1934; EF 37 620.
US Renewal:   July 13, 1962; R 298 171.
             

Title:        SOUND TITLE OVERTURES
Writer(s):    PETER YORKE (PRS)
Publisher(s): KEITH PROWSE & CO. LTD., London
US Copyright: Dec. 31, 1934; EF 37 622.
US Renewal:   July 13, 1962; R 298 173.

             
Title:        MOVIETONE NEWS REEL MAIN TITLES No.1-6
Writer(s):    PETER YORKE (PRS)
Publisher(s): KEITH PROWSE & CO. LTD., London

             [in the registration filed as
              "MOVIETONE TIT-BITS No.1-30;
               NEWS REEL MAIN TITLES No.1-6; and
               FANFARES No.1-5"]:
US Copyright: Apr.  5, 1935; EF 38 975.
US Renewal:   July 13, 1962; R 298 193.
             

Title:        NEWS REEL OVERTURE
Writer(s):    PETER YORKE (PRS) &
              GORDON MILLBANK (PRS)
Publisher(s): KEITH PROWSE & CO. LTD., London

             [in the registration filed as
              "FANFARES 1A-3B;
               KING MUSIC No.1-2;
               SCREEN FRAGMENTS No.21-26;
               FANFARES A-B; and
               NEWS REEL OVERTURE"]:
US Copyright: Apr.  5, 1935; EF 38 976.
US Renewal:   July 13, 1962; R 298 192.

             
Title:        MOVIE-TONE   
         aka: MOVIETONE (BRO)
Writer(s):    SODEN, SAMUEL (British PRS, affil. ASCAP)
Publisher(s): BRUTON MUSIC DIVISION (ASCAP)
             [for British "Movie-Tone" Newsreels]

             
Title:        WORLD EVENTS (MARCH) 
Writer(s):    ZAMECNIK, J. S. (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): SAM FOX PUB CO (ASCAP)

              Originally a circus march [Used by "Fox Movie-Tone" Newsreels
              circa 1935, and also British "Movie-Tone" Newsreels] Also
              used as a skit theme on Jackie Gleason's "American Scene Magazine."
             

Title:        MOVIETONE SIGNATURE
Writer(s):    SHAINDLIN, JACK (BMI)
Publisher(s): EMI BLACKWOOD MUSIC - CINEMUSIC ACCT. (BMI)
                 c/o EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING, INC.
                 of NEW YORK, NY
             [May have been a short arrangement/adaptation
                  of the Zamecnik "World Events (March)" above]


Title:        TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX TRADE MARK
        [title as seen on the sketch/score reprinted in "The Composer in Hollywood"
         book by Christopher Palmer, 1990, Marion Boyars Publishers, Inc. New York, NY]
        (Composition date: circa 1933/35/37)
         aka: 20TH CENTURY-FOX FANFARE [most common variant]
         aka: 20TH CENTURY-FOX FANFARE WITH CINEMASCOPE EXTENSION
         aka: FOX LOGO
Writer(s):    NEWMAN, ALFRED (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): TCF MUSIC PUBLISHING, INC. (ASCAP)


Apparently a copyright registration of the famous signature wasn't filed until 1956,
when it was part of the score of the film "The Proud Ones":

Title:              TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX TRADE MARK (from the film "The Proud Ones")
Writer:             NEWMAN, ALFRED (ASCAP) 
Copyright Claimant: Twentieth Century Music Corporation (ASCAP)
Unpublished Date:   Oct. 31, 1956; EU 456 146.
Renewal     Date:   Feb.  9, 1984; RE 198 341.


Some recordings of this musical trade mark include:

1933-34 -- original version Alfred Newman conducting the 20th Century
        Films (Zanuck) Studio Orchestra at United Artists lot Stage 7.
1953 -- credited in liner notes for the 1998 CD "20th Century Fox -
        Music from the Golden Age" on Varese Sarabande VSD-5937,
        Alfred Newman conducting the 20th-Century Fox Studio Orchestra
1954 -- [introducing the "CinemaScope extension" for "River of No Return"]
        Lionel Newman conducting the 20th-Century Fox Studio Orchestra
1980 -- for the film "The Empire Strikes Back", arranged by John Williams
        John Williams conducting the London Symphony Orchestra
1994 -- for the film "Baby's Day Out", arranged by Bruce Broughton
        Bruce Broughton conducting the studio orchestra
1997 -- for the opening of the "The Newman [Scoring] Stage" the
        Fox Studio Orchestra conducted by David Newman

Other shorter 20th Century Fox Logos for Television include:

Title:        FOX ID 
Writer(s):    NEWMAN, ALFRED (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX MUSIC CORP (ASCAP)
              EMI ROBBINS CATALOG INC


Title:        FOX TELEVISION STUDIO (LOGO) 
Writer(s):    NEWMAN, ALFRED (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): TCF MUSIC PUBLISHING INC. (ASCAP)


Title:        FOX I D SIG (title in ASCAP Perf. Index, 1978)
Writer(s):    BERNSTEIN, ELMER
              ROBBINS MUSIC CORP. (ASCAP)


Title:        FOX I D
Writer(s):    MATSON, VERA (Not Affil. with ASCAP or BMI)        
              NEWMAN, LIONEL (BMI)
Publisher(s): EMI HASTINGS CATALOG INC. (BMI)
             [The two composers above collaborated on the
              TV Theme for "Daniel Boone" in 1964]


Title:        COLOR ID
Writer(s):    ADDRISI, DONALD J. (BMI)      
              ADDRISI, RICHARD P  (BMI)      
Publisher(s): WARNER-TAMERLANE PUB -FOX SP ACCT (BMI)
                 C/O WARNER-TAMERLANE PUB CORP
                 LOS ANGELES, CA; and
              WARNER-TAMERLANE PUBLISHING CORP
                 C/O WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC INC
                 LOS ANGELES, CA


Title:        FOX I D TRADEMARK (SIGNATURE) 
Variations:   FOX I D TRADEMARK SIG
Writer(s):    MANDEL, JOHN ("JOHNNY") (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): TWENTIETH-CENTURY FOX MUSIC CORP. (ASCAP)


Title:        OPT LOGO (SIG)
Writer(s):    STEINER, FRED (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): TWENTIETH-CENTURY FOX MUSIC CO. (ASCAP)


ABC Television

Title:        A B C COLOR LOGO 1 & 2
Writer(s):    LEIGH, MITCH (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): AMERICAN BROADCASTING MUSIC, INC. (ASCAP)
Copyright(s): ["A.B.C. Color Logo, Version 1"]: Oct. 30, 1967; EU 21 865.
              ["A.B.C. Color Logo, Version 2"]: Oct. 30, 1967; EU 21 866.
Claimant:     AMPCO MUSIC INC. (ASCAP)


Title:        ABC LOGO
         aka: COLOR LOGO
Writer(s):    GREENFIELD, HOWARD (BMI);
              KELLER, JACK (ASCAP); and
              LOWE, MUNDELL (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): COLGEMS-EMI MUSIC INC (ASCAP); and
              SCREEN GEMS-EMI MUSIC, INC. (BMI)
            [above logo was based upon the "Bewitched" TV THEME]


Title:        ABC LOGO
Writer(s):    FRONTIERE, DOMINIC (BMI)
Publisher(s): SCREEN GEMS-EMI MUSIC, INC. (BMI)


Title:        ABC LOGO
Writer(s):    GELLER, HARRY MAX (BMI)
Publisher(s): SCREEN GEMS-EMI MUSIC, INC. (BMI)


Title:        LOGO--A B C CIRCLE FILM
         aka: ABC CIRCLE FILM LOGO
         aka: ABC CIRCLE LOGO
         aka: ABC LOGO (SIG/CLOSING THEME)
Writer(s):    KARLIN, FRED (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): AMERICAN BROADCASTING MUSIC, INC. (ASCAP)
Copyright:    May 22, 1978; PAu-22-006.



Title:        ABC PRODUCTIONS LOGO (CLOSING THEME)
         aka: ABC TELEVISION LOGO
         aka: ABC LOGO
Writer(s):    LEITER, RICHARD MICHAEL  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): [LISTED IN ASCAP DATABASE WITHOUT PUBLISHER]


Allied Artists (and Independent Television Productions)

Title:        LOGO ITP (SIGNATURE)
Writer(s):    RAMIN, SIDNEY ("SID") (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): ALLIED ARTISTS CO. INC. (ASCAP)
                 c/o TIME WARNER, INC., NEW YORK
 


AMC (American Movie Classics Cable Network)

Title:        AMC (SPECIAL PRESENTATION)(OPENING)
         aka: SPECIAL PRESENTATION (AMC/OPENING) 
Writer(s):    ZITO, TORRIE  (ASCAP)
              POMPOSELLO, THOMAS ANTHONY  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): OREGON LADY MUSIC  (ASCAP)


Title:        AMC (AMC IN HOLLYWOOD)(OPENING)
         aka: AMC IN HOLLYWOOD (AMC/OPENING) 
Writer(s):    ZITO, TORRIE  (ASCAP)
              LABRIOLA, ARTHUR J.  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): OREGON LADY MUSIC  (ASCAP)


American-International Pictures (AIP)

Title:        AIP LOGO 
Writer(s):    GLASSER, RICHARD E.  (ASCAP) 
Publisher(s): AIP MUSIC  (ASCAP)

Title:        A-I-P 
              [in Volume 38 of "STRUCTURAL MUSIC", from his
               film #52 -- probably "SUBMARINE SEAHAWK"]
Writer(s):    LASZLO, ALEXANDER  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): GUILD PUBLICATIONS OF CALIFORNIA (ASCAP)
              [composition date Nov., 1958 on other cues./same film]

Title:        AIP EMBLEM 
Writer(s):    GLASSER, ALBERT  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL  (ASCAP)

Title:        A I P LOGO 
Writer(s):    BAXTER, LES  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL  (ASCAP)


Bing Crosby Productions

Title:        BING CROSBY PRODUCTIONS LOGO (OP THEME)
Writer(s):    DUNING, GEORGE W. (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): ASCO MUSIC (ASCAP)
              A DIV. OF BING CROSBY PRODUCTIONS, INC.


Title:        B C P TRADEMARK
         aka: B C P LOGO 
Writer(s):    FRIED, GERALD (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): ASCO MUSIC (ASCAP)
              A DIV. OF BING CROSBY PRODUCTIONS, INC.


Buena Vista -- see "Disney"


Castle Rock Entertainment

Title:        CASTLE ROCK LOGO
Writer(s):    SHAIMAN, MARC  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): HAZEN MUSIC  (ASCAP)


CBS Television

Title:        CBS EYE #1
Writer(s):    GOLDSMITH, JERRALD ("JERRY") (ASCAP/BMI)
Publisher(s): [unknown at this time; undated manuscript
               of a 2-bar logo found in CBS-TV collection of
               the UCLA Music Department Special Collections,
               along with other Goldsmith TV manuscripts.]


Title:        CBS COLOR LOGO
              [exact title not known, scored the animated CBS
               logo w/letters changing from B&W to Color in the
               1960s, verified on 1968 "IDENTITONES" Demo Tape]
Writer(s):    SIDAY, ERIC (British PRS, affiliated with BMI)
Publisher(s): [not found in ASCAP or BMI databases, but
               probably related to "IDENTITONES", Siday's 
               company which created logos using analog 
               synthesizers]


Title:        CBS SPECIAL PRESENTATION LOGO
             [aka: CBS LOGO THEME] 
Writer(s):    CONTI, WILLIAM ("BILL") JR. (ASCAP/BMI)
Publisher(s): ASPENFAIR MUSIC INC (ASCAP)
              c/o CBS, INC.

             [A variation of the 1981 CBS Thursday Night Movie Theme]


Title:        CBS PRODUCTIONS LOGO
             [aka: CBS LOGO]
             [aka: CBS ENTERTAINMENT]
Writer(s):    SERAFINE, FRANK GINO (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): ASPENFAIR MUSIC INC (ASCAP)
              c/o CBS MUSIC OPERATIONS, INC.


Title:        CBS LOGO 
         aka: CBS ANIMATION MUSIC (OPENING AND CLOSING THEME)]
Writer(s):    OLVIS, WILLIAM PATRICK (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): ASPENFAIR MUSIC INC (ASCAP)
              c/o CBS MUSIC OPERATIONS, INC.


Title:        CBS 95/96 PRODUCTIONS LOGO 
Writer(s):    D'ANDREA, JOHN 
              PITTARD, WILLIAM B 
              SULLIVAN, EDWARD M 
              LERIOS, CORY CHARLES 
Publisher(s): ASPENFAIR MUSIC INC.
              c/o CBS, INC.


Cinerama

Title:        CINERAMA FANFARE 
Writer(s):    FORBES, LOU [LOUIS] (ASCAP), and
              JACKSON, HOWARD M. (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI WATERFORD MUSIC INC. (ASCAP)  
              c/o SONY/ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING
              of Nashville, TN

   
Title:        CINERAMA LOGO (OPENING THEME) 
Writer(s):    SCHARF, WALTER  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): ASCO MUSIC (ASCAP)


Title:        MUSIC--CINERAMA RELEASING CORPORATION LOGO
Writer(s):    BECKER, LOREN (n/a), and
              BYRNE, ROBERT (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): AMPCO MUSIC INC. (ASCAP)
Copyright:    Jan. 26, 1968; Eu 33 954.


Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, Colgems and
Columbia Pictures Television

Title:        COLUMBIA EMBLEM
Writer(s):    BAKALEINIKOFF, MISCHA (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): BOURNE CO. (ASCAP)
       [This emblem was used first in the
        1934 motion picture "In The Dog House"]


Title:        COLUMBIA EMBLEM
Writer(s):    BAKALEINIKOFF, MISCHA (ASCAP)
              WOOD, JAMES HENRY MAY G. (French SACEM affil. ASCAP)
Publisher(s): BOURNE CO. (ASCAP)
       [This appears to be an adaptation/extension by the
        French-born James Henry Wood of the above
        signature by Mischa Bakaleinikoff]


Title:        EMBLEM
Writer(s):    FRIEDHOFER, HUGO  (BMI) 
Publisher(s): SCREEN GEMS-EMI MUSIC INC. (BMI)


Title:        SCREEN GEMS FANFARE
Writer(s):    SHAINDLIN, JACK (BMI)
Publisher(s): METRO PARK MUSIC (BMI)
       [This dramatic logo was used for a long time,
        beginning about 1951, and was originally
        part of Shaindlin's Production Music Library
        called "Cinemusic".]


Title:        EMBLEM
Writer(s):    BETTS, HARRY RICHARD (BMI) 
Publisher(s): SCREEN GEMS-EMI MUSIC INC. (BMI)


Title:        EMBLEM
Writer(s):    HAGEN, EARLE H. (BMI) 
Publisher(s): SCREEN GEMS-EMI MUSIC INC. (BMI)


Title:        EMBLEM
Writer(s):    PHILLIPS, STUART ("STU") (BMI) 
Publisher(s): SCREEN GEMS-EMI MUSIC INC. (BMI)

[the above 4 signatures may have been for specific movies
 or TV series...since no further information is known about
 them at this time...]


Title:        SCREEN GEMS LOGO SIG
Writer(s):    DE VOL, FRANK  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): COLGEMS-EMI MUSIC INC. (ASCAP)
       [This instrumental logo made its appearance circa 1963]


Title:        SCREEN GEMS LOGO
Writer(s):    ALEXANDER, VAN (ASCAP)
              SIDAY, ERIC (British PRS, affil./BMI)
Publisher(s): COLGEMS-EMI MUSIC INC. (ASCAP) 
       [This was a collaboration with Siday in the UK who
        did electronic logos on early analog synthesizers.
        Columbia's first all-electronic sounder first heard
        circa 1965 -- a trend that was to continue.
        Van Alexander was an orchestrator-arranger.]
        
        
Title:        SCREEN GEMS MARCH
Writer(s):    SIDAY, ERIC (British PRS, affil./BMI)
Claimant:     SIDAY, ERIC
US Copyright: March 3, 1965; EU 869 976.
       [This may have been an expansion of the SCREEN GEMS LOGO
        above, or the original source of the LOGO melody]


Title:        SCREEN GEMS LOGO 2000
Writer(s):    O'BRIEN, JAMES R. (BMI)
Publisher(s): CTHV MUSIC INC. (BMI) and
              SONY/ATV SONGS LLC (BMI)
        

Title:        COLUMBIA LOGO (THEME) 
Writer(s):    CIANI, SUZANNE E.  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI GOLDEN TORCH MUSIC CORP. (ASCAP)
       [A rather amazing piece of music which modulates and
        evolves for a very dramatic effect. It is done with
        digital synthesizers...the long version only used in
        Theatrical Feature films. Circa 1975.]


Title:        COLGEMS LOGO (THEME) 
Writer(s):    CIANI, SUZANNE E. (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): COLUMBIA PICT NOW S. B. (ASCAP)
       [This was a shorter version of Ciani's Theatrical
        Feature Logo above. This version was used for Columbia
        Pictures Television. It also appeared circa 1975.]


Title:        COLUMBIA LOGO [Legal Name]
Writer(s):    GRUSIN, DAVID ("DAVE") (ASCAP/BMI)
Publisher(s): SCREEN GEMS-EMI MUSIC, INC. (BMI)
       [This more symphonic style logo appeared circa 1992,
        and has had a long run through 2001.]


Title:        COLUMBIA LOGO [Legal Name]
Writer(s):    WELCH, EDWARD WILLIAM (British PRS, affil./BMI)
Publisher(s): SCREEN GEMS-EMI MUSIC, INC. (BMI)


Title:        SCREEN GEMS [Name registered for copyright]
Writer(s):    WEBB, ROGER (British PRS, affil./BMI)
Claimant:     WEBB, ROGER
US Copyright: Nov. 24, 1969; EU 138 929.
US Renewal:   March 7, 1997; RE 756 443.


Title:        COLUMBIA LOGO [Legal Name]
Writer(s):    THOMPSON, TIMOTHY MC GOWAN (BMI)
Publisher(s): AVON GATE MUSIC, (BMI),
              c/o EMI-INTERTRAX MUSIC; and
              EMI-INTERTRAX MUSIC, INC. (BMI)


Title:        COLUMBIA PICTURES TELEVISION LOGO
         aka: COLUMBIA-TRISTAR  TELEVISION LOGO
Writer(s):    KAPLAN, STEVEN NEIL (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): COLUMBIA TORCH MUSIC INC. (ASCAP)
                 c/o SONY/ATV TUNES, LLC
                 of NASHVILLE, TN
        [This dates from roughly 1994.]


Desilu Studios [merged with Paramount]

Title:        DESILU I D (BMI)
Writer(s):    HATCH, WILBUR J. (BMI)
Publisher(s): BRUIN MUSIC COMPANY (BMI)


Disney Studios (Walt Disney Company),
Buena Vista and Touchstone Pictures

Title:        DISNEY LOGO (OP TH)(SIG) 
Writer(s):    HARLINE, LEIGH  (ASCAP)
              WASHINGTON, NED  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): BOURNE CO  (ASCAP)


Title:        WALT DISNEY CARTOONS/FANFARE
       (from "DISNEYLAND 61 OLYMPIC ELK") 
Writer(s):    WALLACE, OLIVER G.  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY  (ASCAP)


Title:        WALT DISNEY PRESENTS (SIG) (MAIN TITLE)
Writer(s):    BRUNS, GEORGE E.  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY  (ASCAP)


Title:        BUENA VISTA (MAIN TITLE) (THEME) 
Writer(s):    BRUNS, GEORGE E.  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY  (ASCAP)


Title:        BUENA VISTA THEME
Writer(s):    LAVA, WILLIAM  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY  (ASCAP)


Title:        BUENA VISTA THEME
Writer(s):    BAKER, NORMAN BUDDY  (ASCAP)
              LAVA, WILLIAM  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY  (ASCAP)


Title:        DISNEY LOGO
Writer(s):    BAKER, NORMAN ("BUDDY") (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY  (ASCAP)
Copyright:    Feb. 10, 1978; PAu-1-448.


Title:        BUENA VISTA (SIG) 
Writer(s):    SMITH, PAUL J.  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY  (ASCAP)


Title:        BUENA VISTA (SIG) (MAIN TITLE) 
Writer(s):    MARKS, FRANKLYN  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY  (ASCAP)


Title:        BUENA VISTA (SIG) 
Writer(s):    BRUNNER, ROBERT FRANCIS  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY  (ASCAP)


Title:        WALT DISNEY FRONT CARD LOGO
Writer(s):    HARLINE, LEIGH  (ASCAP)
              WASHINGTON, NED  (ASCAP)
              DEBNEY, JOHN CARDON  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): BOURNE CO  (ASCAP)
              WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY  (ASCAP)


Title:        WALT DISNEY FRONT CARD LOGO NO. 2
         aka: WALT DISNEY PICTURES LOGO
        (from the 1994 film "WHITE FANG II")
Writer(s):    DEBNEY, JOHN CARDON  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY  (ASCAP)


Title:        TOUCHSTONE LOGO
Writer(s):    ROBERTSON, JAIME ROBBIE  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): TOUCHSTONE PICTURES MUSIC AND SONGS  (ASCAP)
              C/O DISNEY MUSIC PUBLISHING


Title:        TOUCHSTONE LOGO LASER (OPENING THEME)
         aka: TOUCHSTONE LOGO 
Writer(s):    DEBNEY, JOHN CARDON  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): TOUCHSTONE PICTURES MUSIC AND SONGS  (ASCAP)
              C/O DISNEY MUSIC PUBLISHING


Title:        TOUCHSTONE TELEVISION LOGO (CLOSING THEME)
         aka: TOUCHSTONE TELEVISION LOGO
Writer(s):    BEASLY, JOHN RULE (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): TOUCHSTONE PICTURES MUSIC AND SONGS, INC. (ASCAP)


DreamWorks SKG

Title:        DREAMWORKS LOGO
Writer(s):    DEBNEY, JOHN CARDON (ASCAP) 
Publisher(s): SKG SONGS  (ASCAP) 
              C/O SONY/ATV TUNES LLC

[circa 1997]:
Title:        DREAM WORKS LOGO
Writer(s):    WILLIAMS, JOHN T. (BMI) 
Publisher(s): DREAMWORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC  (BMI)


Family Films

Title:        FAMILY FILMS CAST SIGNATURE 
Writer(s):    DUNLAP PAUL (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): AMPHION MUSIC (ASCAP)
                 of PALM SPRINGS, CA


Filmways Pictures

Title:        FILMWAYS SIGNATURE
Writer(s):    NELSON, CHARLES EUGENE (SESAC)
              NELSON, PAUL NORRIS JR. (BMI) 
Publisher(s): MUSICWAYS (BMI)


Title:        FILMWAYS LOGO
Writer(s):    ELLIOTT, JACK (BMI)
              FERGUSON, ALLYN M. (BMI) 
Publisher(s): MUSICWAYS (BMI)


Four Star Television Productions

Title:        FOUR STAR OPENING SIG 
Writer(s):    KLATZKIN, LEON  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): BOURNE CO. (ASCAP)
             [also used as Theme for "Four Star Theatre"]


Title:        FOUR STAR EMBLEM
Writer(s):    SCHRAGER, RUDY (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): VOGUE MUSIC (BMI)


Title:        FOUR STAR TRADEMARK THEME
Variations:   4-STAR TRADEMARK (THEME) 
              FOUR STAR TRADEMARK 
              FOUR STAR EMBLEM 03 
Writer(s):    GILBERT, HERSCHEL BURKE (ASCAP/BMI)
Publisher(s): POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL  (ASCAP), and
              VOGUE MUSIC (BMI)


Title:        CLOSING I D SIG
Writer(s):    MULLENDORE, JOSEPH (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): UNIVERSAL/POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING INC. (ASCAP)


Title:        FOUR STAR LOGO (SIGNATURE)
Variations:   4-STAR LOGO SIG
              FOUR STAR LOGO SIG
Writer(s):    DAVIS, DAVID H.  (ASCAP) 
Publisher(s): UNIVERSAL/POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL  (ASCAP)


Fox -- see "20th-Century Fox"


HBO (Home Box Office Cable Network)

Title:        HBO FEATURE PRESENTATION THEME
Writer(s):    SMITH, FERDINAND J. III  (BMI)
Publisher(s): L T MUSIC PUBLISHING  (BMI)
              WARNER-TAMERLANE PUBLISHING CO. (BMI)


Hemdale

Title:        HEMDALE LOGO
Writer(s):    GOLDSMITH, JOEL K.  (BMI)
Publisher(s): DAMHEEL MUSIC (BMI)


Hollywood Pictures

Title:        HOLLYWOOD PICTURES LOGO 
Writer(s):    ELFMAN, DANNY  (BMI)
Publisher(s): HOLPIC MUSIC INC (BMI)


I T C (British Independent Television)

Title:        I T C LOGO MUSIC (CLOSING THEME)
         aka: I T C LOGO 
Writer(s):    O'KENNEDY, JOHN A.  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL  (ASCAP)


Title:        I T C (OPENING CLOSING THEME)(SIG) 
Writer(s):    PARNELL, JOHN RUSSELL  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s):


Title:        I T C LOGO (SIGNATURE)
Writer(s):    ASTLEY, EDWIN THOMAS  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s):


I T P (Independent Television Productions) -- see "Allied Artists"


King Features (div. of Paramount Studios)

Title:        KING FEATURES FANFARE
         aka: KING FEATURES OPENING (M & E) 
Writer(s):    SHARPLES, WINSTON (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): FAMOUS MUSIC CORPORATION (ASCAP), and
              SCROLL PRODUCTIONS INC.(ASCAP)
Copyright:    as "King Features Opening"
              (c) Famous Music Corp. &
              Paramount Pictures Corp.
              March 21, 1963; EU 762 908.          
              


The Ladd Company

Title:        LADD COMPANY LOGO
         aka: LADD CO. LOGO
Writer(s):    BILAO, STEPHEN LOUIS  (BMI)
              REICHENBACH, WILLIAM FRANK JR. (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI BLACKWOOD MUSIC INC (BMI)
              TYRELL MUSIC CO (BMI)
              LITTLE WILLIE MUSIC CO. (ASCAP)


Title:        LADD COMPANY LOGO [fr ORIG. MOTION PICTURE "BODY HEAT"]
Writer(s):    WILLIAMS, JOHN (BMI)


Lightstorm

Title:        LIGHTSTORM LOGO
        (from the 1994 film "TRUE LIES")
Writer(s):    FIEDEL, BRAD IRA  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): SONY TUNES INC. (ASCAP)
              SONY/ATV TUNES LLC  (ASCAP)


Lorimar-Telepictures

Title:        LORIMAR LOGO (SIGNATURE) 
Writer(s):    ELLIOTT, JACK  (BMI)
              FERGUSON, ALLYN M. (BMI)
Publisher(s): MARILOR MUSIC  (ASCAP)
              WARNER-TAMERLANE PUBLISHING CO  (BMI)


Title:        LORIMAR LOGO
        (from the 1978 TV Series "DALLAS")
Writer(s):    PARKER, JOHN C.  (ASCAP) 
Publisher(s): MARILOR MUSIC  (ASCAP)


Title:        LORIMAR LOGO 
Writer(s):    SNOW, MARK  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): LORIMAR MUSIC A CORP  (ASCAP)


Title:        LORIMAR GREENFOX LOGO 
Writer(s):    ROBINSON, JOHN (J) PETER  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): LORIMAR MUSIC A CORP.  (ASCAP)


Mark VII Productions (Jack Webb Dragnet TV trailer)

Title:        MARK VII (SIGNATURE)
        (from the 1952 TV Series "DRAGNET")
Writer(s):    HEINDORF, RAY JOHN  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): ON BACKSTREET MUSIC INC.  (ASCAP)


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM),
Metro-Goldwyn, The Goldwyn Company

Title:       [SOUND EFFECT OF "LEO, THE LION" ROARING 3 TIMES]
Writer(s):
Publisher(s): 


Title:        METRO-GOLDWYN FANFARE 
Writer(s):    AXT, WILLIAM (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): 


Title:        METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER FANFARE 
Writer(s):    SHIELD, LEROY ("ROY") (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): SOUTHERN MUSIC PUBLISHING CO., INC. (ASCAP)
                 c/o PEER-SOUTHERN ORGANIZATION
                 of LOS ANGELES, CA


Title:        NEWS OF THE DAY MARCH
Writer(s):    DE FRANCESCO, LOUIS E. ("L. E.") (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): SAM FOX PUB. CO. INC. (ASCAP) 
              WB MUSIC CORP. (ASCAP)
                 c/o WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC, INC.
                 of LOS ANGELES, CA
             [for "MGM - News Of The Day" Newsreels]


Title:        NEWS OF THE DAY
Writer(s):    ROCCHETTI, JOHN (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WB MUSIC CORP. (ASCAP)
                 c/o WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC, INC.
                 of LOS ANGELES, CA
             [for "MGM - News Of The Day" Newsreels]


Title:        MGM FANFARE
        (from the 1940 film "THE PHILADELPHIA STORY")
Writer(s):    WAXMAN, FRANZ (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI ROBBINS CATALOG INC. (ASCAP)


Title:        M. G. M. EMBLEM
         (from the 1952 film "MY MAN AND I")
Writer(s)     BUTTOLPH, DAVID (ASCAP)
Publisher(s)  LOEW'S, INC.
Copyright:    June 8, 1953; EU 319 350.


Title:        GOLDWYN LOGO 
Writer(s):    MANY, CHRISTOPHER N.  (ASCAP)  
Publisher(s): WB MUSIC CORP  (ASCAP)


MetroMedia

Title:        METRO-MEDIA
Writer(s):    MERRICK, MAHLON (BMI)
Publisher(s): EMI-GROVE PARK MUSIC, INC. (BMI)
                 c/o EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING
                 of NEW YORK, NY


Title:        METROMEDIA TELEVISION LOGO
Writer(s):    GREENE, TONI
              GREENE, LARRY
Publisher(s): ROBLAR MUSIC CORP. (BMI)
                 c/o FRICON MUSIC COMPANY
                 of HENDERSONVILLE, TN
Copyright:    January 2, 1968; Eu 31 384.


Title:        METROMEDIA TELEVISION THEME
Writer(s):    MERRIMAN, THOMAS W. ("TOM") (BMI)
Publisher(s): ALLEY MUSIC CORP. (BMI)
                 c/o CARLIN AMERICA INC.
                 of NEW YORK, NY;             
              TRIO MUSIC COMPANY
                 div. of T/Q MUSIC INC.
                 c/o BMG BUMBLEBEE
                 of LOS ANGELES, CA
Copyright:    Dec. 8, 1969; EU 151 223
                 by SUNBEAM MUSIC INC.


Morgan Creek

Title:        MORGAN CREEK LOGO MUSIC 
Writer(s):    BANKS, BRIAN M.   (ASCAP)
              MARINELLI, ANTHONY JOSEPH  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): MIRACLE CREEK MUSIC INC.  (ASCAP)


N B C Radio and Television Networks

[Even "three little notes" can be an official logo...] Here are some credits from ASCAP and BMI:

Title:        NBC CHIMES SIGNATURE
         aka: NBC CHIMES THEME
Writer(s):    ANTONINI, ALFREDO (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): [Public Domain ??] 

[Antonini (1901-1983) was an NBC Music Director who is credited with an
 early orchestral arrangement of the 3 famous notes in the ASCAP Biographical
 Dictionary; but no information so far has pinned down in what year, or
 for what show(s) he created this arrangement...]


Title:        NBC CHIMES
Writer(s):    KOURY, REX (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI-APRIL MUSIC INC.

[EMI Copyright Dept. said the above was not an NBC Chimes logo, but
 was a "song"; however, they could not provide any more information
 about it or its date of copyright or composition. A promotional song
 posted on Napster at one time was apparently written to celebrate
 the occasion of some network anniversary in the 1930s/1940s. So it
 may be that this ASCAP citation refers to that song. Koury also was
 composer of the "Gunsmoke" radio/TV THEME.]


Title:        VARIATIONS - NBC CHIMES
Writer(s):    MURRAY, LYN (ASCAP)
             [pseudonym of Lionel Breeze]
Publisher(s): M. BARON COMPANY, INC. (ASCAP)

[Can't find any mention of this project in Murray's published journal
 entitled "Musician"...so it must not have been a major commission which
 he considered worthy of mention.]



Title:        CHIMES
Writer(s):    D'ARTEGA, ALFONSO (ASCAP)
              ZABKA, STANLEY W. (ASCAP)
Orig. Pub:    BROUDE BROTHERS LIMITED (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI-APRIL MUSIC INC. (ASCAP)
Creation Date: 1947 [as per correspondence with 
              the original publisher, Broude Bros. Ltd. 6/8/82]
Copyright:    Jan. 13, 1958; Eu 508 466.

[NOTE: There were at least 2 arrangements made with the above title
 released on 45rpm singles and CDs "composed" by Stan Zabka, and
 orchestrated by Alfonse D'Artega. One version was a BALLAD-style
 thematic piece, and the other was a sports MARCH arrangement.]


Title:        BING, BANG, BONG - A FANTASY FOR BAND
         aka: FANTASY ON THE NBC CHIMES
Writer(s):    GILLIS, DON (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI-MILLS MUSIC INC./OLD ACCT. (ASCAP)
                c/o of EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING
Copyright: Dec. 23, 1955; EP 100 480.



Title:        N B C CHIMES
Writer(s):    ROGER, ROGER (SACEM, France; affil. BMI)
Publisher(s): WEISS AND BARRY COPYRIGHTS, INC. (BMI)
                 c/o PICKWICK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.


Title:        CHIMES
Writer(s):    FARNON, ROBERT BRUCE (PRS, Great Britain; affil. BMI)
Publisher(s): CARBERT MUSIC INC. (CARLIN SPECIAL ACCT.) (BMI)
                 c/o CARLIN AMERICA, INC.

[both Roger Roger in France and Robert Farnon in England are
 two of the most well-known composers of Light Music and Mood
 Music (Production Music.) How they got the contract to arrange
 the NBC Chimes motif would be an interesting story indeed...
 But since Farnon is British, it is more likely that his may 
 be arrangements of the Westminster Chimes ("Big Ben") motif...]


Title:        THEME ON THE CHIMES
Writer(s):    SHORE, HOWARD L. (BMI/ASCAP)
Orig. Pub.:   A PRINCE IN N.Y. MUSIC (BMI)
Publisher(s): LIVING MUSIC, INC. (BMI),
                c/o EMI-BLACKWOOD MUSIC INC. 
                a div. of EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING
Creation Date: [circa 1976]

[above is the NBC network Movie Theme used on the air between 
 Fall, 1976 - March, 1980 according to 1982 correspondence
 with the composer who was kind enough to write and share a
 copy of the score.]


Title:        GEC LOGO
         aka: GE CHIMES LOGO
         aka: NBC CHIMES LOGO
         aka: CHIMES LOGO
Writer(s):    SARANEC, CHRISTOPHER ROSS
Publisher(s): BARTER MUSIC, INC. (ASCAP)
                c/o EMI-APRIL MUSIC INC. 
                a div. of EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING
Creation Date: 1993
Copyright:     November 3, 1998; PAu-2-442-377

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

The above credits are not conclusive proof of anyone "composing" the 3-note
motif...since these arrangers worked for NBC at one time...they probably
received some performance credits for adaptations used for various purposes
during the radio days onward...but they are the credits I could find.

Too Many Notes(??)

The 3-note sequence of notes G - E - C, which ended up known as "the 
NBC chimes" were notes which "spelled" a major triad chord -- very 
vanilla -- easy to remember, etc. But what seems like an obvious choice
took nearly three years to decide. The story is told in "A History of the 
NBC Chimes", by Bill Harris, and in "More on the NBC Chimes", by Brian Wickham.

The story is as follows: In 1926, shortly after the NBC Network began, its
principal orchestra conductor -- Ernest La Prade was assigned to a committee 
which included a former ATT telephone engineer Oscar Hanson and NBC Announcer 
Philip Carlin. The committee was charged with the assignment of coming up with 
a memorable way to identify the network that would distinguish its programs 
from those of other networks and stations. 

At that time, several radio stations including Atlanta's WSB had been using a
sequence of bell-like sounds or chimes. These individual local stations had been 
using chimes as signatures which sometimes included up to 7 different notes. So 
the idea of using chimes wasn't original with the NBC network. But the committee 
decided that the network ID announcement should occur after each program, and 
should include a recognizable musical signature on chimes. But which melody?

From 1926 - 1929 the network tried various combinations of melodic notes. By
1929 they had eliminated longer melodic sequences, and had arrived at a simpler
four-note sequence (or "musical logo") which consisted of G - C - F - E, the
same note sequence that begins "When I Fall In Love" and "You've Lost That
Lovin' Feeling".

Then, shortly after Thanksgiving in 1929 (and just a month following
the stock market crash) the now-familiar sequence of three notes: G - E - C 
debuted as the official NBC network signature on November 29, 1929. And it
was a perfect fit for the three letters NBC, so it never changed after that
(except during World War II when the melody was transposed to E - G - C, a
fragment of the wartime song "Over There" in honor of the fighting men.)

First Chimes were a Glockenspiel

Originally, this note sequence was not really played on that percussion 
instrument known as "chimes" (tubular bells) at all. In fact, it was often
played by the announcer on a small custom-made 3-note glockenspiel (which 
are called "orchestra bells" in a symphony orchestra.) As simple as this 
task was, it could have been embarassing if the announcer missed a note 
or struck the side of the instrument while performing "live." (And who 
said announcers were musicians anyway??)

The "Rangertone Chimes" Machine

So later (probably in 1932) an electric mechanism which could play 
this note sequence reliably, at the push of a button, was commissioned by 
the NBC Radio Engineering Department, and constructed by the engineering 
firm of Rangertone, which had previously produced electronic organs. 

So at NBC, the device came to be known as "The Rangertone Chimes Machine." 

Several "Rangertone Chimes Machines" were built for each city where radio
network programs originated, including backup devices. Presumably that
would have been New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia,
and probably several others.

This gadget resembled a music box with electrical pickups. Each note was
produced by eight metal tines, or "reeds", as they were called. These
multiple reeds allowed not only the fundamental frequency but also its
overtones to be produced, so the timbre of the sound could be made to
resemble any mallet tuned-percussion instrument or piano.

A rotating metal drum on which the reeds were mounted caused them to be "plucked" 
by a metal piece in sequence, exactly one second apart. The reeds were 
amplified using magnetic pickups similar to those mounted under electric 
guitar strings.

Although the physical appearance of the mechanism might have looked like 
a large music box, because of the reeds which produced overtones, the
timbre produced on the air was a cross between an amplified acoustic
piano and a vibraphone (known to jazz musicians as the "vibes".)

The whole mechanism was enclosed in a box, and mounted on the wall at
NBC Master Control, connected to a button which the network announcer or
engineer could push to begin the sequence. The gadget could also be set to 
play the sequence automatically at preset times. That explains why some
sports or news events may have suddenly been interrupted by the chimes.
This may have sounded like a mistake, but was merely do to the preset
timing which someone forgot to suspend.

There is a video on YouTube taken at the "California Historical Radio Society" 
with a Rangertone Chimes machine with Serial Number "2" used in the 
San Francisco NBC Station. The video demonstrates how the machine works 
and demonstrates its sound. It is at:

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0_WL735Ueg

That patented ServiceMark sound

Although NBC's 3-note musical logo was so simple it was apparently never
filed for a musical copyright, NBC took the unusual step of filing a
Service Mark (similar to a TradeMark) on the sound of the logo in 1950. 
TradeMarks and Service Marks are filed with the U.S. Patent Office.

Supposedly, the NBC Chimes and the creaking door heard on "Inner Sanctum" 
are the only sounds ever granted a patent (as opposed to a musical copyright.)

A Patent isn't better than a copyright in this case. In fact, the term
of copyright protection was for 28 years, renewable for a second term of
28 years for a total of 56 years of protection. And the 1976 copyright
law even extended protection of all copyrights in force at the time until
the death of the composer plus 50 years so his heirs could benefit. 

Since patents, trademarks and service marks have a duration of only 
17 years, the Patent on the NBC Chimes in 1950 would have expired 
in 1967. But probably no one else would have a reason to use this famous 
melody even though it is in "public domain" since it is so firmly 
identified with the NBC network. Who's gonna want to use it? ABC? :-)

Musical Compositions based upon the "NBC Chimes" motif

The 3-note "NBC Chimes" signature motif has been the basis for several 
other NBC THEME compositions...as listed above. Here is a summary: 

An easy-listening adaptation simply called "Chimes" was used as a 
station-break "bumper" theme during the early days of the "Tonight Show"
circa 1958. The "composers" of this adaptation were Stan Zabka (who was 
an Associate Director of the Tonight Show through the Johnny Carson years) 
and veteran arranger/conductor Alphonse D'Artega.

This same duo also produced a march version also called "Chimes" -- which
was used as a theme for NBC Sports during the 1950s.

Howard Shore wrote a nice short composition called "Theme on the Chimes" 
used for NBC Network Primetime Movies from Fall, 1976 - March, 1980. 

During John Chancellor's reign as NBC News anchorman, a synthesized 
signature by Joy Sicurella which combined the melody with simulated
teletype effects was the Nightly News Logo.

And even library music composer Roger Roger in France wrote an ASCAP
piece called "NBC Chimes" (no information yet on what it was used for.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NBC-TV's "Living Color" Logo/Signature

[When NBC Network began to broadcast color circa 1957, the Peacock  
animation used the announcement "The following program is brought to you in 
Living Color on N-B-C". The first announcer who spoke these words was Ben  
Grauer, and later the voice was that of Bill Hanrahan.

The animation was scored with a full-orchestral signature logo;
It began with a cymbal roll and whole-tone harp glissando, then a
chromatic string run in contrary motion led to a final orchestral
tutti with melody doubled in brass and strings ending on an A-minor
chord. It was a dramatic (nearly melodramatic) signature. 

In 1999 a contact at NBC phoned Milton DeLugg to ask who the composer might
have been. Mr. DeLugg said the first Peacock music was composed by New York
composer LOUIS ALBERT ("LOU") GARISTO, founder and leader of the Metropolitan 
Jazz Quartet. There was no title information found in either ASCAP or BMI 
databases under Lou Garisto's name so the exact title was not verified at
that time. 

Then an article appeared by the Creative Director of the animation studio
that produced the Peacock animation, UPA/New York. The author, Gene Deitch 
described the process in detail on his web site describing how they didn't
get the right color effect of the Peacock "wings" until they used colored
gels -- the kind used for stage footlights, and back-lit them from behind.

He also said he hired the composer to write the music for the original
Peacock logo. His name was IRWIN A. "BUD" BAZELON. Deitch said a lifelong
friendship with the composer developed as a result.

So at last, the mystery has been solved!]

The 2001 ASCAP database lists the following composition WITHOUT COMPOSER, 
implying that since it is a "work for hire", no composer gets the royalty,
or the composer was not affiliated with ASCAP, so now we assume this is 
indeed the first one composed by Mr. Balezon:

Title: N B C PEACOCK THEME 

Title Variations: NBC PEACOCK THEME 
                  PEACOCK THEME 
                  PEACOCK MUSIC 
                  NBC PEACOCK THEME 01

Writer(s):    (none found)

Publisher(s): SPECTACULAR MUSIC INC. (ASCAP)
                 c/o EMI-APRIL MUSIC INC.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

The following well-known signature was the second "living color logo"
which was heard a lot in later years -- is a more subtle logo recorded
by a smaller ensemble than the first one which was bombastic. This logo
began with woodwinds runs and harp glissandi, without strings or brass, 
using jazz harmonies, written by composer Jack Easton, who primarily 
was known for composing advertising jingles.

Title:        PEACOCK LOGO
         aka: N B C PEACOCK THEME

Writer(s):    EASTON, JACK (formerly in ASCAP; non-affiliated in 2001)
         aka: GERALD, JOHN (alternate "professional name")

2000 Publisher(s): EMI-APRIL MUSIC INC. (ASCAP)
Copyright:    March 1, 1966; Eu 917 158.

For more information about the animated Peacock Logos and the history
of NBC compatible Living Color shows, see the following URL:

    N B C Living Color (Peacock Logo)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Some other Living Color/Peacock LOGO's and BILLBOARDs for individual shows 
have also been written, although they are not as famous nor as widely 
used as the two above...


Title:        PEACOCK BILLBOARD 
Writer(s):    DAVIS, BUSTER (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): FULLARTON MUSIC CO (ASCAP).; and later:
              M. M. I. MUSIC (ASCAP); and later
              UNTOLD MUSIC CO. (ASCAP)
                c/o Len Freedman Music
                of Santa Barbara, CA


Title:        PEACOCK COLOR ETC. 
Writer(s):    SAXON, DAVID (ASCAP); and
              WELLS, ROBERT (ASCAP)
             [pseudonym of ROBERT ("BOB") WELLS LEVINSON]
Publisher(s): COSMIC MUSIC INC. (ASCAP)
                of Beverly Hills, CA


Title:        THE PEACOCK
Writer(s):    SCHARF, WALTER (ASCAP)
Publisher:    PATTI ENTERPRISES, INC.
Copyright:    May 22, 1958; Eu 525 620.
Renewal Date: Jan 8, 1966; RE-277-936


Title:        DE VOL PEACOCK
Writer(s):    DE VOL, FRANK (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): LAKESIDE MUSIC COMPANY  (BMI)


Title:        PEACOCK OPENING 
Writer(s):    MANN, JOHN R ("JOHNNY") (ASCAP),
             [pseudonym of John R. Mangini]
Publisher(s): BIRDEES MUSIC CORPORATION (ASCAP),
                c/o ALMO MUSIC CORPORATION of
                Los Angeles, CA
Copyright:   [none found at the LC]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Title:        THE PEACOCK 
         aka: COLOR LOGO SIGNATURE
Writer(s):    ROSE, DAVID D (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI MILLER CATALOG INC. (ASCAP)
Copyright:    EU 693851; Nov. 2, 1961

             [This logo was used behind the peacock ONLY on NBC's
              "Bonanza", which was one of the first regular TV series
              to be broadcast using NBC's color television technology.]


National General Corporation

Title:        NGC LOGO THEME SIGNATURE
         aka: NGC LOGO
Writer(s):    LOOSE, WILLIAM GEORGE ("BILL") (ASCAP/BMI)
              KANTOR, IGO (BMI)
Publisher(s): NGPC MUSIC PUBLISHING (BMI)
                 c/o WARNER-TAMERLANE PUB. CORP.
                 of LOS ANGELES, CA


Orion Pictures

Title:        ORION LOGO 
Writer(s):    COLOMBIER, MICHEL  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL  (ASCAP)


Title:        ORION SIGNATURE (THEME)
        (from the 1984 film "THE TERMINATOR")
         aka: ORION FILM LOGO 01
         aka: ORION LOGO 
Writer(s):    BOND, LELAND B. (ASCAP) 
Publisher(s): POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL  (ASCAP)


Paramount Studios

Title:        PARAMOUNT NEWSREEL
             ["Paramount News" newsreel theme]
Writer(s):    CICOGNINI, ALESSANDRO (Italian SIAE, affil. w/BMI)
Publisher(s): FAMOUS MUSIC CORPORATION (ASCAP)


Title:        PARAMOUNT MARCH
Writer(s):    LASKY, JESSE L. (words)
              RIESENFELD, HUGO (music)
Publisher(s): FAMOUS PLAYERS-LASKY CORP. (ASCAP)
Copyright:    Mar.  6, 1925; E 607 775.
Renewal:      Mar. 13, 1952; R  91 748.


Title:        PARAMOUNT MARCH
Writer(s):    FREY, HUGO
Publisher(s): ROBBINS MUSIC CORPORATION (ASCAP)
Copyright:    Nov. 28, 1927; E 678 994.
Renewal:      Nov. 29, 1954; R 139 929.


Title:        PARAMOUNT ON PARADE
             [Title song from the film "Paramount On Parade";
              This song incorporates Cicognini's "Paramount News" 
              motif as the last phrase of the song melody.]                  
         aka: PARAMOUNT SIGNATURE
             [Apparently Paramount decided to make the King-Janis song the
             "signature", instead of the shorter Paramount Newsreel 
              signature that was originally composed by Cicognini.]
Writer(s):    KING, JACK (ASCAP)
              JANIS, ELSIE (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): FAMOUS MUSIC CORPORATION (ASCAP)
Copyright:    Feb. 17, 1930; E Unp[ublished] 17 180; 
             [This song has been recorded commercially
              by Erroll  Garner, Chet Atkins, and Tommy Dorsey.]


Titles:       PARAMOUNT NEWSREEL MUSIC,
              OPENING FANFARE (MAIN TITLE)
          and END TITLE III
Writer(s):    STEINER, GEORGE (ASCAP)
             [Manuscripts with these titles were found among the
              "George Steiner" papers -- music manuscripts at the 
              University of Oregon at Eugene. Since they are not
              listed among Steiner's ASCAP credits as a composer,
              they may be updated arrangements of the Cicognini
              Newsreel theme. In the same collection Steiner provided
              many cues for newsreel background scoring.]
              
              
Title:        THE VOICE OF PARAMOUNT
Writer(s):    CHASE, NEWELL (1904 - 1955)
Publisher(s): FAMOUS MUSIC CORP., NEW YORK (ASCAP)
Copyright:    March 3, 1931; E Unp[ublished] 36 127;
             [This may have been an later Newsreel or Theatrical
              Short subject Signature written by the 27-year-old Chase.]
            

Title:        VISTA VISION TITLE (incorporating "PARAMOUNT SIGNATURE"
                                  by Cicognini/Janis and King)
        (from the 1954 film "WHITE CHRISTMAS")
         aka: VISTA VISION TRADEMARK LOGO
         aka: VISTAVISION THEME
         aka: PARAMOUNT SEAL
Writer(s):    VAN CLEAVE, NATHAN LANG (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): FAMOUS MUSIC CORPORATION  (ASCAP)
Composition Date: Mar. 30, 1954, on manuscript at 
              the American Heritage Center, Univ. of Wyoming


Title:        PARAMOUNT SEAL - REVISED ("SOFT VERSION" FINAL ENDING)
        (from the 1955 film "ANYTHING GOES")
         aka: VISTA VISION TRADEMARK LOGO
         aka: VISTAVISION THEME
         aka: PARAMOUNT SEAL 
Writer(s):    VAN CLEAVE, NATHAN LANG  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): FAMOUS MUSIC CORPORATION  (ASCAP)
Composition Date: Sept. 12, 1955, [on manuscript at 
              the American Heritage Center, Univ. of Wyoming]
             [Copyright registered as "VistaVision Theme"#93;:
Copyright Date: Nov. 16, 1955; EU 417 286.


Title:        PARAMOUNT LOGO
Writer(s):    HATCH, WILBUR J. (BMI)
Publisher(s): BRUIN MUSIC COMPANY (BMI)
    [Used when Desilu became a sister company of Paramount as part of the
               Gulf & Western merger of 1966]


Title:        PARAMOUNT LOGO [see also the "NGC Logo" above]
Writer(s):    LOOSE, WILLIAM GEORGE ("BILL") (ASCAP/BMI)
              KANTOR, IGO (BMI)
Publisher(s): NGPC MUSIC PUBLISHING (BMI)
                 c/o WARNER-TAMERLANE PUB. CORP.
                 of LOS ANGELES, CA
    [Used when National General became a sister company of Paramount as 
              part of the Gulf & Western merger of 1966]


Title:        PARAMOUNT LOGO  
Writer(s):    STEVENS, LEITH  (ASCAP/BMI)
Publisher(s): BRUIN MUSIC COMPANY  (BMI)


Title:        PARAMOUNT LOGO  
Writer(s):    FRONTIERE, DOMINIC  (BMI)
Publisher(s): BRUIN MUSIC COMPANY  (BMI)
    [A short-lived logo circa 1969]


Title:        PARAMOUNT MUSIC LOGO
         aka: PARAMOUNT MUSIC LOGO: NO. 6
         aka: L. S. MUSIC LOGO
Writer(s):    SCHIFRIN, LALO
  [orchestrator HAYES, JACK]
Publisher(s): ENSIGN MUSIC CORPORATION
Copyright:    August 12, 1987; PAu-1-003-518

    [The original version of this appeared circa 1970,
     but has had several revisions through the years,
     and seems to have the most longevity.]


Title:        COLOR ID 
Writer(s):    SCHIFRIN, LALO (BMI)
              DRASNIN, ROBERT (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): BRUIN MUSIC COMPANY (BMI)

    [Another version of the Lalo Schifrin motif, adapted
     for television by veteran arranger/orchestrator Drasnin]


Title:        PARAMOUNT LOGO  
Writer(s):    GOLDSMITH, JERRALD ("JERRY") (BMI)
Publisher(s): BRUIN MUSIC COMPANY  (BMI)
    [This first appeared in 1976]


Title:        PARAMOUNT SEAL 
Writer(s):    MARKOWITZ, RICHARD  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): FAMOUS MUSIC CORPORATION  (ASCAP)


Title:        PARAMOUNT FANFARE
         aka: PARAMOUNT LOGO
Writer(s):    MATZ, PETER   (BMI)  
Publisher(s): ENSIGN MUSIC CORPORATION  (BMI)


Title:        PARAMOUNT MUSIC LOGO
         aka: PARAMOUNT LOGO
Writer(s):    MOLLIN, FRED  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): FAMOUS MUSIC CORPORATION  (ASCAP)


Title:        PARAMOUNT MUSIC LOGO (SIG) 
Writer(s):    CONNER, OTIS  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): FAMOUS MUSIC CORPORATION  (ASCAP)


Title:        PARAMOUNT TV LOGO 
Writer(s):    KRIZMAN, RICHARD J.  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): FAMOUS MUSIC CORPORATION  (ASCAP)


Title:        PARAMOUNT VIDEO LOGO (SIG) 
Writer(s):    KRIZMAN, RICHARD J 
Publisher(s): FAMOUS MUSIC CORPORATION  (ASCAP)


Title:        PARAMOUNT LOGO
Writer(s):    HOWARD, JAMES NEWTON  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): DICKIEBIRD MUSIC AND PUBLISHING  (BMI) and
              ENSIGN MUSIC CORPORATION (BMI)


Republic Pictures

Title:        SIGNATURE REPUBLIC
Writer(s):    COLOMBO, ALBERTO (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): 


Title:        EMBLEM SIGNATURE
         aka: REPUBLIC EMBLEM "A" 
Writer(s):    LAVA, WILLIAM (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): VERY NICE MUSIC (ASCAP)


Title:        CHAPTER CARD/TECHNICAL CREDITS
Writer(s):    LAVA, WILLIAM (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): VERY NICE MUSIC (ASCAP)


Title:        EMBLEM
             [from the Republic Pictures "The Far
              Frontier" (1948) & "Down Dakota Way" (1949),
              both starring Roy Rogers; Manuscript in
              the UCLA Music Dept. Special Collections]
Writer(s):    BUTTS, R. DALE
Publisher(s): ANNE RACHEL MUSIC CORP. (ASCAP)
          c/o WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC INC.


Title:        REPUBLIC EMBLEM
Writer(s):    SAWTELL, PAUL (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI MILLS MUSIC INC/OLD ACCT (ASCAP)


Title:        EMBLEM MAIN TITLE
         aka: REPUBLIC EMBLEM 02
         aka: YOUNG EMBLEM--REPULIC LOGO 
Writer(s):    YOUNG, VICTOR POPULAR (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): VICTOR YOUNG PUBLICATIONS, INC. (ASCAP)

Later
Publisher(s): CHAPPELL & CO. INC.  (ASCAP)
              c/o WARNER-CHAPPELL MUSIC, INC.
              
[1954 publisher: Santly-Joy Select (ASCAP), as seen
 on cue sheet in book, "Mystery of the Masked Man's Music"
 for a 1954 RKO John Wayne film, "Pals of the Saddle"]
 

Title:        REPUBLIC PICTURES LOGO 
Writer(s):    FRANCO, DAVID (ASCAP)
              FRIEDMAN, GARY WILLIAM  (BMI)
Publisher(s): A BMI Publisher
              COMPELLING MUSIC CORPORATION (ASCAP)


Revue Television -- see "Universal Studios/MCA"


RKO Radio Pictures

Title:       [SOUND EFFECT OF MORSE CODE OSCILLATOR]
Writer(s):   [N/A]
Publisher(s): 

Title:        R.K.O. MARCH (BROADCASTING SIGNATURE)
Writer(s):    THOMAS KENNEDY (words)
              MILTON SCHWARZWALD (music)
              A.C. [ALBERTO C.] COLUMBO (arranger)
Claimant:     RADIO, KEITH, ORPHEUM CORP., NEW YORK
Copyright:    June 18, 1929; E Pub[lished] 7 538;


Title:        THE VOICE OF THE R.K.O. 
Writer(s):    KENNEDY, TOM  (ASCAP/non-affil.) (words & music)
Publisher(s): SHAPIRO, BERNSTEIN & CO., INC.  (ASCAP)
Copyright:    Sep. 26, 1929; E Pub[lished] 9 584;
        

Title:        RKO SIGNATURE 
Writer(s):    DREYER, DAVE  (ASCAP)
              SAWTELL, PAUL  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WILLIAMSON MUSIC CO.  (ASCAP)


Title:        RKO SIGNATURE
         aka: R K O SIGNATURE 02
Writer(s):    BENNETT, ROBERT RUSSELL  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): WILLIAMSON MUSIC CO.  (ASCAP)


Title:        RKO FANFARE
Writer(s):    RKO PICTURES MUSIC CORPORATION, EMPLOYER FOR HIRE
Publisher(s): RKO PICTURES MUSIC CORPORATION
Copyright:    Dec. 16, 1996; PAu 2-068-877.


Screen Gems -- see "Columbia"


Selznick International Pictures

Title:        SELZNICK TRADEMARK
         aka: SELZNICK INT'L TRADEMARK
         aka: SELZNICK INTERNATIONAL FANFARE
Writer(s):    NEWMAN, ALFRED  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): BOURNE CO. (ASCAP)


Sony Pictures Television

Title:        SONY PICTURES TELEVISION LOGO
         aka: SPT LOGO
Writer(s):    KURTZ, DAVID MERRILL (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): COLUMBIA TORCH MUSIC INC. (ASCAP)
                 c/o SONY/ATV TUNES, LLC
                 of NASHVILLE, TN


SuperScope

Title:        SUPERSCOPE (BRN) 
Writer(s):    INGMAN, NICHOLAS DAN  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): BRUTON MUSIC DIVISION  (ASCAP)


Title:        SUPERSCOPE (DWS) 
Writer(s):    SAUNDERS, JOHN  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s):


Thames Television (British)

Title:        SALUTE TO THAMES (SIG)
         aka: THAMES I D
         aka: THAMES LOGO 
Writer(s):    HAWKSWORTH, DENIS ("JOHNNY")  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): [originally KPM]


THX

Title:        DIGITAL DOMAIN THEME 
Writer(s):    MOORER, JAMES ANDERSON  (BMI)
Publisher(s): BANTHA MUSIC  (BMI)


Time-Life Productions

Title:        TIME-LIFE LOGO (CLOSING THEME)
Writer(s):    ROSENMAN, LEONARD (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): T L MUSIC PUBLISHING (ASCAP)
              c/o WB MUSIC CORP 
                a div. of WARNER-CHAPPELL MUSIC INC 
                of LOS ANGELES, CA


Touchstone Pictures -- see "Disney"


Tri-Star Pictures

Title:        TRISTAR TELEVISION LOGO
Writer(s):    ASHER, JAY  (Affiliation Unknown)
Publisher(s): TSTV MUSIC INC. (BMI)


Title:        TRISTAR PICTURES LOGO 1993 
Writer(s):    GRUSIN, DAVID (BMI)
              JOHNSON, WILLIAM (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): TSP MUSIC, INC. (ASCAP)
              EMI INTERTRAX MUSIC INC  (BMI)
              EMI INTERTRAX TRIPLE STAR MUSIC (BMI)


United Artists (UA)

Title:        U A LOGO
Writer(s):    CORDELL, FRANK (BMI)
Publisher(s): EMI UNART CATALOG, INC. (BMI)


Title:        U A LOGO SIGNATURE
         aka: UNITED ARTISTS LOGO SIGNATURE
Writer(s):    BURKE, J. FRANCIS ("Sonny")  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI U CATALOG, INC. (ASCAP)


Title:        U.A. TV LOGO [as filed for copyright]
Title (in ASCAP): UA LOGO
Writer(s):    FRONTIERE, DOMINIC (BMI)
Publisher(s): EMI UNART CATALOG, INC. (BMI)
Copyright:    March 23, 1965; EU 875 401.
              by Esteem Music Corp., and
              United Artists Television Productions, Inc.
              

Title:        U A LOGO SIG
         aka: U A LOGO
         aka: UNITED ARTISTS LOGO SIGNATURE  
Writer(s):    GOODWIN, CHARLES DOUGLAS  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI U CATALOG INC. (ASCAP)


Title:        UNITED ARTISTS LOGO 
Writer(s):    HARNELL, JOSEPH  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): EMI U CATALOG INC. (ASCAP)

        [This dramatic logo used only for Feature Films, 
         begins with a low pedal point over which five
         sustained piano notes are heard (Harnell is a
         pianist); and then an orchesetral tutti sweeps
         into a nice broad statement. One of the better
         logos ever written in my humble opinion. It was
         apparently introduced in 1982.]


Title:        UNITED ARTISTS LOGO 
Writer(s):    FAIR, JEFFREY EDEN ("JEFF") (BMI) and
              PARODI, TAMI "STARR" (BMI)
Publisher(s): UNITED LION MUSIC (BMI), a div. of
              U/A MUSIC, INC.
Copyright:    in "MGM Trailer and Advertising Compositions", (??)
              a copyrighted collection on Sound Cassette;
              June 5, 1998; PA-898-020.

        [This logo was produced by the L.A. music production duo
         "ParodiFair", which produced several movie trailers for
          MGM/UA films. The logo premiered in the James Bond film 
         "GoldenEye" released by United Artists. An interview
          on the "soundtrack.net" web site reveals that there
          were two versions -- a 14-second and a 4-second version
         "recorded on the Sony Scoring Stage with a 90-piece
          orchestra." Starr Parodi said of their assignment to 
          compose this logo, "Our instructions were, 'We want 
          something that represents the past, present, and future 
          of United Artists.'" (A typically paradoxical client
          dictum which indicates the person hiring the composer
          really doesn't know what he wants, but is trying to 
          cover all bases and cover his backside with the bosses. 
          -DS.) Starr Parodi continued, "So we started with classic
          orchestral instrumentation, moving to futuristic sounds 
          and concepts at the end."] 


Universal Studios/MCA and
its Revue Television Production Division

Title:        FORWARD NEW UNIVERSAL MARCH
        (from the 1937 film "The Mighty Treve")
              TOMMASINO, ALFRED S.
Publisher:    UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORP. (ASCAP)
Copyright:    May 26, 1937; Eu 145 582.
Renewed:      May 26, 1964; R  340 047.

             [This may be the same composition
              as "New Universal March" by 
              Alfred S. Tommasino, that was
              registered in 1942 below.]


Title:        NEW UNIVERSAL SIGNATURE
        (from the 1936 film "Top Of The Town")
        [aka: TOP OF THE TOWN CUES]
Writer(s):    MC HUGH, "JIMMY" [JAMES RUSHTON MC HUGH] (ASCAP)
        [arranged and conducted by Frank Skinner]
Publisher(s): USI A MUSIC PUBLISHING (ASCAP)
              c/o UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORPORATION
Copyright:    June 29, 1937; Eu 147 465.
Renewed:      June 29, 1964; R  342 682.

             [new recording for the 1982 film
             "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid",
              conducted by Miklos Rozsa]
              
              
Title:        PIVAR SIGNATURE
        (from the 1937 film "The Man In Blue";
    used in pictures produced by Maurice Pivar,
    under contract to Universal as Producer & Editor);
Writer(s):    DAVID RAKSIN (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORPORATION (ASCAP)
Copyright:    Aug. 7, 1937; Eu 150 243.
Renewed:      Aug. 7, 1964; R  343 283.

              
Title:        SIGNATURE NO.3
        (from the 1940 film "Ski Patrol")
Writer(s):    SKINNER, FRANK C. (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): USI A MUSIC PUBLISHING (ASCAP)
              c/o UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORPORATION
Copyright:    June 28, 1940; Eu 226 534.
Renewed:      June 28, 1967; R  412 659.
              
              
Title:        NEW UNIVERSAL MARCH
        (from the 1942 film "There's One Born Every Minute")
              TOMMASINO, ALFRED S.
Publisher:    UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORP. (ASCAP)
Copyright:    Sept. 15, 1942; Eu 309 807.
Renewed:      Sept. 15, 1969; R  468 659.

             [This may be the same composition
              as "Forward New Universal March" by 
              Alfred S. Tommasino, that was
              registered in 1937 above.]


Title:        UNIVERSAL FANFARE (SIG)
Writer(s):    GREENE, WALTER W. (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): LANTZ MUSIC CORPORATION (ASCAP)


Title:        UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL FANFARE
Writer(s):    MOONEY, HAROLD "HAL" (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): [listed without publisher]


Title:        UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL
Writer(s):    MOONEY, HAROLD "HAL" (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): USI A MUSIC PUBLISHING (ASCAP)
              c/o UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORPORATION
              

[++ see also: AMERICAN-INTERNATIONAL PICTURES logos above]


Title:        REVUE EMBLEM
         aka: UNIVERSAL CITY EMBLEM
         aka: UNIVERSAL LOGO
         aka: MCA THEME LOGO
         aka: MCA TV LOGO
         aka: MCA TV EXCLUSIVE DIST. LOGO
         aka: MVA <sic> TV EXCLUSIVE DIST. LOGO
         aka: DUCHESS LOGO

Writer(s):    ESQUIVEL, JUAN GARCIA  (BMI)               
              WILSON, STANLEY (USA 1)  (ASCAP) 
Publisher(s): DUCHESS MUSIC CORPORATION  (BMI)
Copyright:    Sep 2, 1960; Eu 638 227.

            [a long thematic version was filed for copyright, but
             usually it was the "hitch-hike" trailer version of 1958
             heard at the end of shows released by Universal/MCA-TV]


Title:        UNIVERSAL EMBLEM
Writer(s):    RUGOLO, PETE (BMI)
Publisher(s): DUCHESS MUSIC CORPORATION (BMI)


Title:        UNIVERSAL EMBLEM
Writer(s):    MARSHALL, JACK (BMI)
Publisher(s): DUCHESS MUSIC CORPORATION (BMI)


Title:        UNIVERSAL EMBLEM
         aka: UNIVERSAL EMBLEM LOGO
Writer(s):    JONES, QUINCY DELIGHT (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): LEEDS MUSIC CORPORATION (ASCAP)
[Later Pub.]: UNIVERSAL-ON BACKSTREET MUSIC CORPORATION (ASCAP)


Title:        UNIVERSAL EMBLEM
Writer(s):    PRINCE, ROBERT (BMI)
Publisher(s): DUCHESS MUSIC CORPORATION (BMI)
[Later Pub.]: DUCHESS/HAWAII MUSIC CORPORATION (BMI)

             [It's possible that the above 4 are the shorter
              "hitch-hike" arrangements of the Wilson/Esquivel
              TV Emblem, which were heard in subsequent years.]

Title:        UNIVERSAL LOGO (OPENING THEME)
         aka: UNIVERSAL CITY EMBLEM
         aka: UNIVERSAL PICTURE LOGO
Writer(s):    HORNER, JAMES (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): MCA INC (ASCAP)


Title:        MCA-TV EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR LOGO
Writer(s):    HORNER, JAMES  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): MCA INC  (ASCAP)


Title:        MTE LOGO
         aka: UNIVERSAL/MTE LOGO
Writer(s):    KAPROFF, DANA (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): MCA INC (ASCAP)


Title:        UNIVERSAL LOGO
Writer(s):    WHITFIELD, NORMAN JESSE (BMI)
Publisher(s): DUCHESS-HAWAII S/A (BMI)
                c/o DUCHESS MUSIC CORPORATION,
                a div. of MCA MUSIC, INC.
                of NEW YORK, NY; and
              MAY TWELFTH MUSIC (BMI)
                of LOS ANGELES, CA


Title:        UNIVERSAL LOGO
Writer(s):    GOLDSMITH, JERRALD ("JERRY") (BMI)
Publisher(s): SONGS OF UNIVERSAL, INC. (BMI)
                c/o UNIVERSAL STUDIOS,
                of LOS ANGELES, CA

             [since the 1997 Universal Studios film 
             "The Lost World: Jurassic Park"(??)]


VistaVision

[++ see: PARAMOUNT STUDIOS logos above]


Vitaphone

Title:          VITAPHONE FANFARE
Writer(s):      DUNN, REX (ASCAP)
Publisher(s):   WITMARK, M & SON (ASCAP)
Orig. Claimant: Music Publishers Holding Corp.
Copyright Date: May 17, 1930; EU  21 975.
Renewal   Date: May 17, 1957; R  192 481.


Walt Disney Pictures -- see listing under "Disney"


Warner Brothers Studios and
Warner Bros./Seven-Arts

Title:          VITAPHONE FANFARE
Writer(s):      DUNN, REX (ASCAP)
Publisher(s):   M. WITMARK & SONS (ASCAP)
Orig. Claimant: Music Publishers Holding Corp.
Copyright Date: May 17, 1930; EU  21 975.
Renewal   Date: May 17, 1957; R  192 481.


Title:        WARNER BROTHERS SIGNATURE
        (from the Main Title for the 1937 film "Tovarich")
         aka: WARNER BROTHERS LOGO
 Writer(s):   STEINER, MAX (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): M. WITMARK & SONS (ASCAP)
                 c/o WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC, INC.
                 of LOS ANGELES, CA


Title:        WARNER-PATHE NEWS
Writer(s):    LAVA, WILLIAM B. ("BILL") (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): M. WITMARK & SONS (ASCAP)
                 c/o WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC, INC.
                 of LOS ANGELES, CA
             [for "Warner-Pathe News" newsreels]


Title:        WARNER BROS. SHIELD SIGNATURE 
Writer(s):    DUNING, GEORGE W. (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): M. WITMARK & SONS (ASCAP)
                 c/o WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC, INC.
                 of LOS ANGELES, CA


Title:        W B SHIELD
Writer(s):    PERKINS, FRANK S. (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): M. WITMARK & SONS (ASCAP)
                 c/o WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC, INC.
                 of LOS ANGELES, CA


Title:        NEW W B SHIELD NO. 1
Writer(s):    COMSTOCK, FRANK G. (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): M. WITMARK & SONS (ASCAP)
                 c/o WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC, INC.
                 of LOS ANGELES, CA

Title:        WB LOGO [probably the WB/UA LOGO SIGNATURE for 
                                    United Artists above]
Writer(s):    BURKE, SONNY (ASCAP)
             [professional name of Joseph Francis Burke]
Publisher(s): WB MUSIC CORP. (ASCAP)
Copyright Date:  April 21, 1970, EU 176 463.


Title:        SEVEN ARTS LOGO 
Writer(s):    SIEBERT, HARRY (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): CAROLCO MUSIC (ASCAP)


Title:        WARNER BROS EMBLEM
Writer(s):    SCOTT, PATRICK JOHN O HARA  (PRS/BMI)
Publisher(s): WARNER-TAMERLANE PUBLISHING CO. (BMI)


David Wolper Productions

Title:        WOLPER SWIRL LOGO SIGNATURE
Writer(s):    BERNSTEIN, ELMER  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): THE HERALD SQUARE MUSIC COMPANY (ASCAP),
              c/o CARLIN AMERICA, INC.


Ziv-TV Productions

Title:        ZIV INTERNATIONAL LOGO (SIG) [circa 1976]
Writer(s):    GIBBONS, MARK WILLIAM ("Bill") (ASCAP)
              WINN, JERRY  (ASCAP)
Publisher(s): MARILOR MUSIC (ASCAP)


Return to the Light Music Hall of Fame Main Page



Copyright 1960 - 2021 by The Media Management Group. All Rights Reserved.