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MGM Television
Compilation by James Fabiano and Shadeed A. Kelly
Logo captures by AsdfTheRevival, Eric S, Shadeed A. Kelly, mr3urious and V of Doom
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly and Bob Fish
Video captures by Mcy919, Roygerdodger, JohnnyL80 and Bob Fish
Background: MGM Television was established in 1955 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. It's first program was the short-lived series The M-G-M Parade. The company didn't use a logo until 1957.
1st Logo
(1957-1960)
Nickname: "MGM Lion Statue"
Logo: On a dark background, we see a brown statue of the MGM logo, as seen on movies from 1924-1983, sitting on a pedestal. 
Wording seen over the statue reads: "AN MGM - TV PRODUCTION" and underneath it says "SAMUEL MARX Executive Producer".
FX: None.
Music/Sounds: Just the end theme from any show.
Availability: Extinct; hardly seen on television again. Appeared on the short-lived series Northwest Passage.
Scare Factor: None.
2nd Logo
(1959-1973)
Nicknames: "Lion Wallpaper", "Red Lion Wallpaper"
Logo: We see Leo, the infamous MGM lion, inside a black circle border, which reads "METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER TELEVISION". The lion roars once. The background has wallpapered images of a lion's face (as a matter of fact, the same image used as the print logo of MGM Records until 1968).
Variants: There are color variations of this logo:
FX: Leo roaring.
Cheesy Factor: Leo's head looks pasted onto another lion's body; however, the B&W version shows only the lion's face.
Music/Sounds: The ending music to the show plays throughout on some series; on others there is silence. The lion's roaring is heard.
Availability: Uncommon, appeared on Dr. Kildare, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Courtship of Eddie's Father, and Please Don't Eat the Daisies among others. Survives on the Dr. Seuss cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and reruns of Tom and Jerry on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. Most MGM TV series from this era are now owned by Warner Bros. Television (via parent company Time Warner's acquisition of Turner Entertainment Co.), so many current prints of these shows have the Turner Entertainment Globe and the Warner Bros. Television Shield following the MGM Television logo.
Scare Factor: Medium, due to the lion's roar.
3rd Logo
(September 1973- )
Nickname: "Leo the Lion"
Logo: It's the standard MGM logo, which has its origins starting in 1953. A live-action lion named Leo is in a circle of a ribbon-like filmstrip which flows out on the bottom sides in twos. Underneath the circle is a red drama mask. The circle has the phrase "ARS GRATIA ARTIS" (Latin for "Art for the Art's Sake") written on the top, and above it are the words "Metro Goldwyn Mayer." On the left side is "TRADE," and the right "MARK", and on the bottom is the word "TELEVISION." Leo roars once.
Variants: First here are the little differences in the logo, along with dates in which they were used:
FX: Leo roaring, as usual.
Music/Sounds: Just the Lion's roar.
Roar Variants: There are different sound bites of the lion's roar:
Availability: Common for MGM Domestic, Worldwide, International Television Distribution and with and without the MGM url and they can be found on current shows like Stargate Atlantis on Sci-Fi Channel, the 2008 revival of American Gladiators on NBC, and syndicated shows like Stargate: SG-1, The Outer Limits, Reno 911!, and Chapelle's Show, among others. Rare for MGM/UA Television Productions and MGM Worldwide Television Group: they can be found on local reruns of In the Heat of the Night. Extinct for MGM/UA Telecommunications. Also global wise on all MGM and NBC series. When VH1 did a Fame marathon in 2001, all MGM logos were retained.
Scare Factor: Medium; one of the best-known logos, but high on the scary side for people who don't like roaring lions.
Logo captures by AsdfTheRevival, Eric S, Shadeed A. Kelly, mr3urious and V of Doom
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly and Bob Fish
Video captures by Mcy919, Roygerdodger, JohnnyL80 and Bob Fish
Background: MGM Television was established in 1955 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. It's first program was the short-lived series The M-G-M Parade. The company didn't use a logo until 1957.
1st Logo
(1957-1960)
Nickname: "MGM Lion Statue"
Logo: On a dark background, we see a brown statue of the MGM logo, as seen on movies from 1924-1983, sitting on a pedestal.
FX: None.
Music/Sounds: Just the end theme from any show.
Availability: Extinct; hardly seen on television again. Appeared on the short-lived series Northwest Passage.
Scare Factor: None.
2nd Logo
(1959-1973)
Nicknames: "Lion Wallpaper", "Red Lion Wallpaper"
Logo: We see Leo, the infamous MGM lion, inside a black circle border, which reads "METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER TELEVISION". The lion roars once. The background has wallpapered images of a lion's face (as a matter of fact, the same image used as the print logo of MGM Records until 1968).
Variants: There are color variations of this logo:
- 1959-1965: Gray wallpaper backing (on black & white shows)
- 1959-1973: Red wallpaper backing
- 1965-1973: Pink/Butter Yellow wallpaper backing
- 1965-1973: Brown wallpaper backing
FX: Leo roaring.
Cheesy Factor: Leo's head looks pasted onto another lion's body; however, the B&W version shows only the lion's face.
Music/Sounds: The ending music to the show plays throughout on some series; on others there is silence. The lion's roaring is heard.
Availability: Uncommon, appeared on Dr. Kildare, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Courtship of Eddie's Father, and Please Don't Eat the Daisies among others. Survives on the Dr. Seuss cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and reruns of Tom and Jerry on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. Most MGM TV series from this era are now owned by Warner Bros. Television (via parent company Time Warner's acquisition of Turner Entertainment Co.), so many current prints of these shows have the Turner Entertainment Globe and the Warner Bros. Television Shield following the MGM Television logo.
Scare Factor: Medium, due to the lion's roar.
3rd Logo
(September 1973- )
Nickname: "Leo the Lion"
Logo: It's the standard MGM logo, which has its origins starting in 1953. A live-action lion named Leo is in a circle of a ribbon-like filmstrip which flows out on the bottom sides in twos. Underneath the circle is a red drama mask. The circle has the phrase "ARS GRATIA ARTIS" (Latin for "Art for the Art's Sake") written on the top, and above it are the words "Metro Goldwyn Mayer." On the left side is "TRADE," and the right "MARK", and on the bottom is the word "TELEVISION." Leo roars once.
Variants: First here are the little differences in the logo, along with dates in which they were used:
- 1973-1979: A short version of the standard movie design.
- 1979-1983: The word "TELEVISION" appears during this era. Almost similar to the 1960 MGM theatrical cartoon logo, which looks very tacked/chyroned on, and very unprofessional.
- 1982-1990?: Referred to as "MGM/UA Entertainment Co. TELEVISION". Kids Incorporated kept using this until 1990.
- 1982-1987: Another variation around this era exists of the logo where it is a still picture of the then-current Home Video logo with "Entertainment Co." taking the place of "HOME VIDEO", this includes a sound bite of Leo's roar. Referred to as "(FROM) MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television Distribution".
- 1984-1985: Company identified as MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television. "DIAMOND JUBILEE (in an arc above the ribbon) SIXTY YEARS OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION" (all in silver) is used in the 1984-85 season. The ribboning was gold in the latter version.
- 1986: Another variation existed having the 1979 MGM Television logo all in gold.
- 1986-1993: The company is identified as "MGM/UA Television Productions, An MGM/UA Communications Company". The ribboning is now gold from this point on.
- 1987-1993: The syndication division is now ID'ed as MGM/UA Telecommunications. The words "Distributed by" appear above the logo and the MGM/UA byline appears below. There is a rare version of this logo which just shows "MGM/UA" at the top.
- 1989-1993: A version reads "MGM/UA" and no byline below.
- 1991-: A short version of the movie design without anything below. Appears in either black & white or color in 1996.
- 1993-1996: The company is reverted back to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, along with the byline "MGM Worldwide Television Group" or "MGM/UA Telecommunications Group" underneath the logo. For In the Heat of the Night, there is a byline that says "In The Heat Of The Night" Property Of United Artists".
- 1993-1996: Another variant has the words "MGM/UA" above the logo.
- 1996-2005: The syndication division is referred to as "MGM Domestic Television Distribution", along with the new lion roar track (finally). Global arm referred to as "MGM Worldwide Television Group".
- 1996-: The logo was shifted up some for television distribution without anything underneath the logo. Appears in either black & white or color.
- 1997-2004: Network arm referred to as "MGM Television Entertainment".
- 2001-: A short version of the current movie logo with the URL, "www.mgm.com " below the logo using only part one of the lion roar.
- 2005-: Referred to as "MGM Worldwide Television Distribution" for US and "MGM International Television Distribution" for global distribution.
FX: Leo roaring, as usual.
Music/Sounds: Just the Lion's roar.
Roar Variants: There are different sound bites of the lion's roar:
- 1973-1996: The last lion roar from the 1956-1982 lion roar.
- 1982-1987: On the MGM/UA Television Distribution logo, there was a short version of the 1982 United Artists movie theme followed by the last roar sound bite from 1957-1982.
- 1991-1992/1996-: The first lion roar sound from the 1995 lion roar.
- 1991-1999: The last lion roar sound from the 1982 lion roar or the 1957 lion roar.
- A long version exists on Holiday Heart, Rocky V, and Terminator 2. MGM Domestic Television Distribution only.
Availability: Common for MGM Domestic, Worldwide, International Television Distribution and with and without the MGM url and they can be found on current shows like Stargate Atlantis on Sci-Fi Channel, the 2008 revival of American Gladiators on NBC, and syndicated shows like Stargate: SG-1, The Outer Limits, Reno 911!, and Chapelle's Show, among others. Rare for MGM/UA Television Productions and MGM Worldwide Television Group: they can be found on local reruns of In the Heat of the Night. Extinct for MGM/UA Telecommunications. Also global wise on all MGM and NBC series. When VH1 did a Fame marathon in 2001, all MGM logos were retained.
Scare Factor: Medium; one of the best-known logos, but high on the scary side for people who don't like roaring lions.
Latest page update: made by BobFish
, Today, 3:46 AM EDT
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Edited by BobFish
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Edited by BobFish
4 words added
2 words deleted
view changes
- complete history)
Keyword tags:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
MGM Holdings Inc.
MGM Television
More Info: links to this page