Friday, September 30, 2011

That Time Of Year Again!

About a dozen members of our family assembled at the Cheesecake Factory at the Brandon Mall last Wednesday for Barbara's birthday where this picture was taken.
We had to do it several days early since it becomes harder to find time when everyone is available, what with school activities etc.
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From Bud Copeland #1

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From Bud Copeland #2

"This 3' x 5' framed painting by Buddy was done on burlap.
A likeness also adorns the tombstone that patiently awaits us in Hugo, Oklahoma."
Buckles
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From Bud Copeland #3

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From Paul Gutheil #1

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From Paul Gutheil #2

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Jordan World Circus #1 (From Frank Ferrante)

Buckles - Attached are four shots of Adam Burck with the Jordan World Circus that will be appearing on behalf of Sabbar Shrine this week in southern Arizona, in Tucson next weekend at the Fairgrounds. Adam & Elaine are a great couple amd well represent the future of the circus and each from show families. The cats, in no particular order, are Satan, Krishan, Jaxa, Bo, Natari and Sher Khan. I've broken up the images on two transmissions. My best to Barbara. ~frank
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Jordan World Circus #3


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Jordan World Circus #2

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Jordan World Circus #4

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Mascot Tiger (From Dave Price)

One of Clyde Beatty's Tigers appeared at the beginning of some Mascot productions. Unfortunately this frame does not show the wording "Mascot Pictures."
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Thursday, September 29, 2011

MGM Lions #1 (From Eric Beheim)

The recent series on Gay’s Lion Farm mentioned the MGM lions. Following is a movie-watcher’s guide to the various lions that have appeared in the MGM logo over the years.

The first MGM lion was “Slats,” who made his initial appearance in 1917 in the logo used by Goldwyn Pictures. (The Goldwyn logo was designed by Howard Dietz, who included a lion as a tribute to his alma mater Columbia University, whose athletic teams were nicknamed the Lions.) After the Goldwyn studio was absorbed into the partnership that formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the Slats logo was revised and retained as the MGM logo. MGM used the Slats logo from 1924 until 1928. Slats died in 1936 and his skin is reportedly now on display at the McPherson Museum in McPherson, Kansas.

Trivia note: the first Goldwyn picture to use the Slats logo was POLLY OF THE CIRCUS, released in 1917. The first MGM picture to use the Slats logo was HE WHO GETS SLAPPED, released in 1924.
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MGM Lions #2

In 1927, MGM began producing two-strip Technicolor films (which could only reproduce reds and greens.) MGM’s first two-strip Technicolor logo, used from 1927 to 1932, featured a lion called “Telly. ”
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MGM Lions #3

When “talking pictures” arrived in the late 1920s, a new logo was filmed using a lion named Jackie who looked identical to Slats. Not only was Jackie photographed, but his growls were recorded was well. (This appears to be a staged publicity photo rather than one taken during the actual filming.) Jackie’s trainer was Mel Koontz.
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MGM Lions #4

Beginning in 1928, theater audiences got to hear as well as see the MGM lion. Here is how the logo played out when it was first introduced: after the fade-in, Jackie growls softly. This is followed by a louder roar, a brief pause, and then a final growl before he looks off to the right of the screen. Seconds later, he turns his gaze back to the front for a few more seconds before the fadeout. In 1932, this action was shortened so that the logo fades out while Jackie is still looking off to the right. This “Jackie logo” was used for MGM black & white films released between 1928 and 1956.

Trivia note: In the very early 1930s, MGM reissued of some of its earlier silent films with soundtracks containing recorded music and sound effects. Among the films reissued in this manner were GREED (1924), BEN-HUR (1925) and FLESH AND THE DEVIL (1926). For these sound reissues, the Jackie logo was used, causing some film authorities to assume that it had been in use earlier than 1928.
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MGM Lions #5

MGM’s second two-strip Technicolor logo, used from 1932 until 1935, featured a lion named “Coffee.”
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MGM Lions #6

When a “colorized” version of Laurel & Hardy’s 1934 black & white feature BABES IN TOYLAND was released on DVD in 1999, the black & white Jackie logo was also colorized, resulting in this interesting variant. (To get around the film’s original copyright, the colorized DVD version is called MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS.)
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MGM Lions #7

In 1934, MGM began producing three-strip Technicolor films in full color. MGM’s first three-strip Technicolor lion was “Tanner” who was also trained by Mel Koontz. The Tanner logo was used for MGM Technicolor films released between 1934 and 1956.

Trivia note: Tanner’s first appearance was in the 1934 MGM Technicolor short subject STAR NIGHT AT THE COCONUT GROVE. His first feature film appearance was in the 1938 MGM Technicolor musical SWEETHEARTS.
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MGM Lions #8

Tanner also appeared in the MGM cartoon logo used from late 1935 to 1958.
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MGM Lions #9

One notable MGM Technicolor film that does NOT use the Tanner logo is THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939), which uses sepia-toned black & white for its credits and the opening and closing scenes set in Kansas. For that film, the Jackie logo (printed in sepia) was used.

Trivia note: Although many people think that GONE WITH THE WIND is an MGM film, it was actually a Selznick International film released by MGM. There is no lion logo at its beginning.
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MGM Lions #10

In 1956, a new MGM logo was introduced using a lion named “George.” Several different variants of this logo can been seen in MGM films released between 1956 and 1958.
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MGM Lions #11

In 1957, MGM filmed yet another logo using a lion named “Leo,” who had the smallest mane of any of the MGM lions. (A unisex lion?) This “Leo logo” (which was used for both black & white and color films) is the one still in use today. In 1986, the original lion roar was replaced with one recorded in stereo. In 1995, the roar was remixed using digital audio technology to give it more “muscle.”
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MGM Lions #12

This variant of the Leo logo was used in the 1990s, after MGM was acquired by United Artists.
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MGM Lions #13

Over the years, MGM produced several parodies of its own logo. The first of these occurred in the trailer for the 1935 Marx Bros. film A NIGHT AT THE OPERA. (The Jackie logo appears at the beginning of the actual film.) In the trailer, first an actual lion (which might be Tanner) appears.
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MGM Lions #14

Then Groucho appears, roaring inside of the logo’s circle.
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