MGM Logo (1961)

[actionsub]

@2000rubs Not exactly sure what that was. The circle that appeared just before it was a cue for the film operator that the reel was ending, but I'd never seen a glitch go sideways like that.

[ShaDeed329]

So the "Asphalt Jungle" TV series must be in the public domain?

[actionsub]

@ShaDeed329 Not sure. I got a copy of this particular episode off a tape trader.

[therealgreatqball]

The lion lost his voice that day, so they sent out the MGM orchestra to try and simulate the roar for the poor lion. Sounds like a cute and silly story to me.

[MattTheSaiyan]

Poor Lion...he wants to roar but all that comes out is a horn sound.

[EdwardMrCahill]

funny production

[tonilou32]

creepy

[45debbie]

this is the one that i did not i have not seen this in thirty years , since now.and even today it is still scary to look at.

[JessieDaughtry]

Two words: Frickin Scary.

[segasonic623]

notice after his second roar, his head goes backward like the picture is being reversed.

[ECG3485]

The music makes it all the more creepier...

[fhb3isback]

And they say Paramount's Zooming Box theme is Closet Killer...

[westpoint64]

@ECG3485 Wow, I know. That is one harsh sounding fanfare.

[linkhill17]

oh my word

[headphone355]

That doesen't even look like wallpaper in the background. It looks to much instead like the scenery when the closing credits came up!

[westpoint64]

@headphone355 You're right, it's not the "lion wallpaper"...it's Leo-in-a-circle superimposed over the "dark city night with lights" background which was shown during the closing credits of the "Asphalt Jungle" TV series. At that time (1960 and 1961), MGM was placing this logo in front of whatever scene was closing their shows.

[zekepig]

I'm not sure which I'd rather see at the end of a show: the (torch-wielding) lady, or the tiger (or, in this case, the lion). Both are scary to me.

[DJKhrome]

That ranks up there with the power nightmare logos! Damn, I'm glad I never saw Asphalt Jungle as a kid, that would scare the shit out of me!

[cheviotomy]

This IS an amazing find; I've not seen it since "National Velvet".

One lion I have never seen posted is Telly. Though primarily used for two-strip Technicolor films in the early 30s, I remember a b/w version that opened a small number of Hal Roach/Laurel and Hardy shorts (not to be confused with Jackie); now those were creepy. I would like to see some of those resurrected...lol

[inkedwell]

I believe the silent version is on Youtube somewhere. Someone also has claimed to have found the roar track but it isn't uploaded anywhere yet. That lion looked scary as hell in color, even worse than Tanner

[sammyreed]

The one at the end of "Dr. Kildare" mentioned earlier was here until very recently when it was taken down.

[tonilou32]

Creepy

[ElCartero]

That. Is. One. Freaky. Ass. Logo. Theme.

And to think there's supposed to be a longer, three-"roar" version that appeared after "National Velvet". Isn't there?

[actionsub]

I'm not sure how many "roars" there are after "National Velvet" (I'm still looking for a copy of that one), but this is the same jingle. The fact that it was lopped off most of the way through accounts for the uncertainty.

[actionsub]

@actionsub Finally tracked down an episode of "National Velvet". The ending logo has two roars with the same backing music as in this video, but adds a little fanfare at the end.

[westpoint64]

@actionsub You're right, this jingle was lopped off. If you listen to "MGM Television 1960" on here, you get to hear the full fanfare with the rising ending, along with the words "National Velvet" afterwards. I wouldn't be surprised if this was the treatment that was given this show, too. (Complete fanfare and "The Asphalt Jungle" at the end).

[ElCartero]

@westpoint64 I don't think so. At the end you can see this fading out.

[westpoint64]

@ElCartero You may be right. The three-note flourish at the end of "National Velvet" episodes may have been limited only to that show. Having listened to this again,it does seem like the sound is a natural fade, not a part cut out. 

[EdwardMrCahill]

yeah spot on

[JessieDaughtry]

Creepy, but I like it.

[sexymama1966]

this was too funny

[BobMargeCorp]

Thanks again for this rare (and new for me) logo. 5 stars.

[phsycospacezilla]

How Did you Find this?

[actionsub]

Quite by accident, actually. I got a copy of this show from a tape trader; and this was at the end!

[phsycospacezilla]

That would explain the white-out at the end.

[actionsub]

It was the background under the closing credits. MGM did this for a couple of seasons (ex. see first season of Dr. Kildare) before developing the Red Lion Wallpaper logo for the 62-63 TV season.

[Kartoonkid95]

You're right. I saw a similar logo at the end of the Dr. Kildare episode "Road to the Heart" (this was at the end of the 1961-62 TV season, right before the lion wallpaper). The lion was superimposed over a shot of a hospital exterior. It's here on YouTube. Watch it!

[meesterfonnyboy]

And that's not the usual "Wallpaper" background of the period, either! (I can't make out what it is - I assume it's the same background used under the closing credits.) And Leo all-but-roars TWICE - unheard of for a TV logo!

I agree with Juniorfan89 - This IS a great find! A rare bird - er, cat - indeed!

First post, too! Good work!

[actionsub]

A summer replacement series from 1961 called "Asphalt Jungle".  You can find the same thing if you can track down a rerun of the "National Velvet" tv series, which is where I saw this first.

[revueguy]

@actionsub Try finding a series titled "The Islanders" starring William Reynolds, James Philbrook, and Diane Brewster. It aired on ABC in 1960-61 before it was cancelled and replaced by The Asphalt Jungle from the same MGM-TV studio. The ident at the end of The Islanders would have the MGM-TV Logo superimposed over a shot of an island.

[actionsub]

@revueguy THAT one is rare! I haven't been able to find that anywhere. "Islanders", "National Velvet", and "Asphalt Jungle" were the only three MGM shows to have this logo with the music. The next season, MGM would still use the logo over a background from the credits, but used the real lion's roar.

[GOOSEYGOOSE9]

what was this really taken from

[Juniorfan89]

That's interresting how MGM pretty much muted Leo roaring his head off and replacing it with a pretty ominous low-brass piece where he roars. Great find, my friend!