This logo can be safely attributed to one of the most famous. Still, because the American company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) has created so many wonderful films, known almost everywhere. The roaring lion became, in fact, not just the logo of the company, but of the whole of Hollywood.
In fact, there were a lot of lions. They periodically replaced each other, but most of the audience did not notice this - he is a lion and a lion. But the history of the logo MGM much more interesting than the history of the company itself. Some of these lions have become truly famous, history has preserved their names. Others were less fortunate, logos with their image were used less often or in parallel with the main ones.
For the first time a lion surrounded by film with the motto Ars gratia artis ("Art for Art's Sake"), appeared in 1916 on the logo of the newly formed company Goldwyn Pictures Corp.. This lion (read the logo) went down in history as The Original Leo the Lion. He is also known as "The Silent Lion", "Silent Lion" Cinema in those days was still silent. The logo was designed by artist Howard Dietz. On the Web, you can find several opinions as to why the lion was chosen. Those who believe that the lion was the symbol of Howard's favorite football team, others are inclined to believe that the reason for the choice is the symbolism of this animal. However, the reason is hardly known to anyone. Be that as it may, but this very first lion has to most MGM only indirect relationship.
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| This is how the MGM logo changed |
Justice triumphed in 1924, when it was formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corporation teamed up with Louis B. Mayer Productions). The management of the new company decided to return to the old logo with a live lion. This is how the logo appeared, which went down in history as the first official logo. MGM or how "Slats the Lions" - named after the lion Slets, who starred in the "leading role". History even preserved his biography: he was born in Dublin Zoo, Ireland, on March 20, 1919; immigrated to the USA as a lion cub; lived a long and interesting life, dying in 1936. The skin of Slets is now kept in McPherson Museum.
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| Remains of Slets exhibited in the museum |
Slets served as a symbol for four years - until 1928, until he was replaced by Jackie (Jackie). And although his biography is almost unknown to anyone, he was more fortunate than Slets. Jackie was no longer "dumb" - the audience had already heard his growl. Moreover, the lion roared before the movie started talking - just the first time for the sound of the beast, at the moment the logo was shown in the hall, the phonograph was turned on. Jackie was also used to present films, during the creation of which the first experiments with color were carried out. For some time, in parallel with Jackie, a logo with a lion named Telly was used - 1928-1932. He was much less fortunate - few people mention his existence. Yes, and he growled in the voice of Jackie.
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| Slets at work (1924) |
1956 was marked by the "retirement" of both Jackie and Tenner, and the appearance of a certain lion named George (George) on the logo. However, he did not last long - until 1958, when he was replaced by Leo, whom we can see even today. For the first time, viewers saw Leo in 1957, but he finally established himself as the official logo a year later.
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| Trying to do without real lions |
In fact, there were much more logos (just logos, not lions!) But, in fact, they were somewhat modified from those described above - the lion growled differently or twisted his head differently. In general, about the legendary logo MGM, about his metamorphoses and interesting facts related to him, you can write a whole book, for the creation of which you will have to conduct a real study.
