The legendary lion of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

This logo can be safely attributed to one of the most famous.

Still, after the American company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) has created many remarkable films, known almost everywhere. Roaring Lion has become, in fact, not just the company logo, and all of Hollywood.

In fact, there were many lions. They periodically replace each other, but most of the audience is not noticed - a lion, he is the lion. But the story MGM logo far more interesting than the history of the company. Some of these lions have become known in the present, history has preserved their names. Another less fortunate logos with their image were used less frequently or in parallel with the main.



first lion, surrounded by the celluloid with the motto "ARS gratia artis» («Art for art's sake"), appeared in 1916 in the newly formed company logo Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. This lion (ie logo) went down in history as the «The Original Leo the Lion». It is also known as a «The Silent Lion», «Silent Lion" - movies in those years was still mute. The author of the logo has become an artist Howard Dietz (Howard Dietz). In the web you can find several opinions as to why the lion was chosen. Who believes that the lion was a symbol of Howard's favorite football team, while others tend to believe that the reason for choosing to symbolism of the animal. However, for certain reason hardly anyone famous. Whatever it was, but this one is the first lion of the MGM to have only an indirect relationship.



In 1923, Goldwyn Pictures merged with Metro Pictures Corp., to form Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. In the year of living has replaced the lion statue, known in history as the «The Lion Statue».

Justice has triumphed in 1924, when was formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corporation merged with Louis B. Mayer Productions). Management of the new company decided to revert to the old logo with a live lion. So there was a logo, went down in history as the first official logo of MGM or «Slats the Lion» - named Lion Sletsa, starring in the "leading role." History even kept his biography: born in Dublin Zoo in Ireland, March 20, 1919; lion cub immigrated to the United States; He lived a long and interesting life, who died in 1936. Skin Sletsa now kept in the McPherson Museum.

Slets served as a symbol of four years - to 1928, until he was replaced by Jackie (Jackie). Although his biography is almost unknown to anyone, it has carried more than Sletsu. Jackie has not been "dumb" - he heard the roar of the audience already. And the lion roared before the movie started talking - just the first time for the voice of the beast at the show logo in the hall included the phonograph. Jackie was used for the presentation of films, the creation of which carried out the first experiments with color. For some time, along with Jackie to use the logo with a lion named Telly (Telly) - 1928-1932 years. He was lucky much less - about its existence, few mentions. Yes, and he was growling voice Jackie.

In 1934, Jackie was replaced Tanner (Tanner). This lion is a symbol of the era of color film. Moreover, it marked the roar of many blockbusters ("Gone with the Wind", "The Wizard of Oz" and many others), which have become real legends of Hollywood. Because of this, Tanner is considered the main logo of MGM. Logo with him was named «The Angry Lion» - «the evil lion." The most interesting thing is that the studio is not immediately stopped using the logo with Jackie - he put on a headband black and white films that are still filmed, and right up to 1956.



Slets at work (1924)

1956 was marked by the "retirement" as Jackie and Tanner, and the appearance of the logo of a lion, named George (George). However, and it lasted long - until 1958, when it was replaced by Leo, which we can contemplate in our days. For the first time viewers saw Leo in 1957, but finally he had established himself as the official logo of a year later.

It is unknown what motivated the leadership of MGM, but in 1966 an experiment with a change of the very principle of the logo. And to say that the logo has been changed, to say nothing - instead of live animals and a roll of film, now use a stylized image of a lion. Fortunately, this venture turned out to be the final in 1968 and more to her return.



Attempts to do without these lions

In fact, the logo (just logo, not the lions!), It was much more. But, in fact, it was modified several of the above - the lion growled at another or twisted head against another. And in general, about the legendary logo of MGM, about his metamorphosis and related interesting facts you can write a book, which will have to create to hold the present study.

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