Lorimar Television/Summary

Logo descriptions by Matt A., James Fabiano, Adam P., and Gilblitz112 Logo captures by Shadeed A. Kelly, Eric S., Bob Fish, Mr. Logo Lord, V of Doom, Stephen Cezar, and others Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, Stephen Cezar and Mr. Timebomb (aka Thisisanswer) Video captures courtesy of Stephen Cezar, Phasicblu, Eric S., and JohnnyL80

Background: Lorimar was formed initially as "Lorimar Productions" on February 1, 1969 by Merv Adelson, Irwin Molasky, and producer Lee Rich, who named the company after Adelson's ex-wife Lori, and San Diego, California's Palomar Airport. Their first production was the TV movie The Homecoming (now owned by CBS Television Studios), based on the book by bestselling author Earl Hamner. Their first logo didn't appear until 1971 when The Waltons premiered. On April 21, 1986, it merged with Telepictures Corporation and later became Lorimar-Telepictures Corporation (or just simply "Lorimar-Telepictures"). In 1987, the television production companies were later split back in two companies and Lorimar was reincorporated as Lorimar Television, but "Lorimar-Telepictures" remained as the name for their parent company. On January 12, 1989, Warner Communications (now "Time Warner") acquired Lorimar-Telepictures and both distribution arms were folded into Warner Bros. Television Distribution by forming "Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution" and continued producing the surviving TV shows. The Lorimar name continued until mid-1993, when it was folded into Warner Bros. Television. However, WBTV continued producing the remaining programs under its name.

1st Logo (1971-1978)

Lorimar: 1971-1978Lorimar Productions (1972)

Nicknames: "LP", "A Lorimar Production/Presentation"

Logo: On a blank red screen, we see the words "A LORIMAR PRODUCTION" ("A LORIMAR PRESENTATION" for TV movies) in a Goudy font. A thick white line starts to draw out the letter "L" as the music begins to play. Then it turns and goes straight, then wraps around and forms the letter "P", using the bottom of the "L" above to serve as the bottom of the "P". It then stops at the bottom of, and between the words "LORIMAR PRODUCTION" as the music hits its highest note.

Trivia: The logo was created and designed by Sandy Dvore, also created the 1982 United Artists "Turning UA" logo and the brush-stroke logo and drawings from the long-running soap opera, The Young and the Restless.

FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: Very simple, rough, 2D animation. Also, part of the "P" appears before it is animated!

Music/Sounds: An electric piano-type scale is played as the "LP" is formed, going up this scale: Low C, A, E, F, A, Mid C, E, F, A, High C (hold and fade, leaving an echo). This ditty was composed by the team of Jack Elliot and Allyn Ferguson and played on a Fender Rhodes electric piano. Sometimes, the last note fades-out early. Sometimes, there would be no music.

Availability: Rare. Still saved on most episodes of The Waltons on the DVD box sets (with the WBTD logo following). This also appears at the end of various TV movies from the era such as Bad Ronald and Helter Skelter, which are retained on the recent DVD releases (and deleting the Viacom "V of Doom" logo at the end on current releases). Also seen on a few earlier episodes of Dallas in its original syndication run. Unfortunately, most current syndicated episodes prior to 1986, and all episodes on the S1/S2 DVD set omit the logo and replace it instead with the WBTD logo, and the 1988 Worldvision Enterprises logo on a couple of S2 episodes (Worldvision distributed the show internationally until the 1990s, when the rights reverted back to Warner Bros.). This was also originally seen on the 1st two seasons of Eight is Enough, but this logo along with the next logo got plastered by the 1990 WBTD logo in syndication and most reruns.

Scare Factor: Low. It's doubtful that many were freaked out by this logo. Despite the music, however, and compared to the next logo, it's nothing.

2nd Logo (1978-1986)

Lorimar (1979)Lorimar (1985)Lorimar Productions (1978, with a trademark symbol)Lorimar Productions (1978, Opening)Lorimar (B&W "Distributed by" variant) Lorimar Distribution 1978"A Presentation of Lorimar" B & WLorimar Distribution (1978)Lorimar - Dream House 1980s variantLorimar Television Lorimar (1986)

Nicknames: "The Yellow/Orange Line of Doom", "Script", "The Line of Doom"

Logo: On a black background, an orange line begins to draw itself. Going down and turning it forms the "L", then makes a loop to form the "O", turns again and goes up, around and diagonally to form the "R" and then back up to form the "I". Another section starts, goes up, diagonally down, diagonally up, then down again to form the "M", then up and down again at angles to form the "A", then finally, up, around, and down diagonally to form the second "R".

Trivia: The logo was created in 1977 by Paul Pascarella and made its debut in 1978.

Variants: •This logo has two distinctive colors, which are yellow and orange. Yellow-orange and athletic gold variants also exists. •On some programs, the text "DISTRIBUTED BY" above. This was mainly seen on TV prints of Allied Artists films. •TV movies had "P R E S E N T S" appearing below. •The end of presentations would have "a presentation of" above the logo. •This comes with or without a Registered trademark "®" symbol on the lower-right hand corner of the letter "R". •Later episodes of the 1980s version of Dream House play this logo's animation as usual but instead of playing over the usual black background, it plays over the set as an in-credit logo. •There exists a black & white version of the "a presentation of". In this one, the top text is a little thicker and it's silent. •There is another black & white version that has "DISTRIBUTED BY" above the logo in a font that resembles "Cooper Black" in white, and is still, but with the music. •A zoomed-in widescreen variant exists on the Warner Archive instant streaming release of the 1982 TV movie One Shoe Makes it Murder.

FX/SFX: Superb animation and timing.

Music/Sounds: Same as the last logo or silence.

Availability: Uncommon, bordering on rare. Can be seen on The Waltons, Dallas, Knots Landing and Falcon Crest episodes from the era. The "PRESENTS" version has been long gone from television, however, but is still intact on the first season DVD set of Knots Landing and a couple of episodes on the DVD set of the first season of Falcon Crest. This can also be found on much later episodes of the 1980s version of Dream House as well. The B&W version of the "A presentation of Lorimar" logo is found on the 1989 VHS release of House on Haunted Hill, released by CBS/Fox Video (though the box has the Lorimar-Telepictures logo). On some pre-fall 1986 episodes of Falcon Crest, the logo this logo got plastered over with the Lorimar-Telepictures logo. This logo was also originally seen at the end of S3-S5 episodes of Eight is Enough, but this logo got plastered over by the 1990 WBTD logo on some reruns in syndication. This was originally seen on the pilot of Valerie and early episodes of Perfect Strangers. It has been spotted at the end of the Karl-Lorimar, Lorimar Home Video, and Warner Home Video prints of Americathon with the music (it was omitted from the Warner Archive DVD release). The logo has been spotted on a select handful of Dallas episodes on DVD from season 3 and onward, Dallas: The Early Years on DVD from the Dallas Movie Collection (preceded by the Roundelay logo), and followed by the 1972 "Distributed by Warner Bros." logo on some episodes of Knots Landing on DVD. It was seen at the end of the unsold game show pilot Babble, when Game Show Network first aired the full pilot on October 5th, 2014 (without the credit crunching). The Warner Archive instant streaming retains this on the TV movies Desperate Lives and One Shoe Makes it Murder.

Scare Factor: Medium to high, because the logo was shown on a black background (adding a sort of creepiness to it), the space between the end credits and the logo morphed quite well. The gap would last a few sections, but the creepy electric piano chord all adds up to a very dark vibe as well as the connecting letters, including the perfect timing. None for the opening and superimposed variants.

3rd Logo (October 3, 1988-September 1993) Lorimar Television (1992, Filmed)Lorimar Television (1988)Lorimar TV: 1988-bLorimar TV: 1991-bLorimar Television: 1992-1993

Nicknames: "Marble Background", "CGI Lorimar", "White Marble", "Marble", "Lorimarble"

Logo: We start with a white marble background. At about the same time, wave ripples zoom out from the center. This causes "LORIMAR" (in black, and in a revised version of the design in the "Line of Doom" logo) to be written out, not unlike the 2nd logo. At about the same time the "A" in "LORIMAR" is finished, a shadowed red bar with "TELEVISION" in white, etched in, rotates in below "LORIMAR". From 1991-1993, the Time Warner byline, in the same font as used in the Warner Bros. logo, appears below the red bar.

Trivia: The logo was first created in 1987. The design was used for Lorimar-Telepictures' other divisions, but the red bar would have read either "MOTION PICTURES" (or "FILM ENTERTAINMENT"), "HOME VIDEO", "SYNDICATION", "INTERNATIONAL", or "RECORDS" depending on the unit; they were never seen onscreen with the possible exception of trailers.

Bylines: •1991-August 8, 1992: "A TIME WARNER COMPANY" •September 1, 1992-July 15, 1993: "A TIME WARNER ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY"

Variants: •As with the 2nd logo, this comes with or without a Registered trademark symbol "®" on the lower-right hand corner of the letter "R". •There is also a rare filmed variant of this logo used mainly on TV movies. •On a few episodes of 3rd Degree!, the logo is shortened with the words "LORIMAR" already in place and the "TELEVISION" bar rotating into place before the 1984 WBTV logo appears. •On the TV movie O Pioneers!, after the Craig Anderson Productions logo, the "in association with" text from the previous logo is seen at the beginning of the animation of the logo.

FX/SFX: The CGI bar rotation, ripple, pretty neat stuff.

Music/Sounds: A futuristic whoosh sound leads into a relaxing synth driven track with a horn that plays a few notes. There's also some type of wind FX behind the music. The music was composed by X-Files composer Mark Snow.

Music/Sounds Variants: •On the Full House S2 episodes "Tanner vs. Gibbler" and "Working Mothers", the music was slightly recomposed with better enhancement. •Some 1988-1991 episodes of The Hogan Family will exclude the fourth and fifth notes in the logo theme. •October 28, 1988, September 22, 1992-May 18, 1993: There is also a warp-speed variant, which was heard on the Full House S2 episode "It's Not My Job" and some S1 episodes of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. •On one episode of Perfect Strangers from the 1987-1988 season, it has the music from the Lorimar-Telepictures logo playing over it. Likely due to a plaster error. •On some shows such as Love Connection, Fun House, College Mad House, and the short-lived 3rd Degree!, as well as early season 1 episodes of Time Trax, the closing theme plays over this logo. •College Mad House had the theme playing over while announcer Beau Weaver spoke, "College Mad House is a Stone Television production, in association with Lorimar Television, and is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution!".

Availability: Uncommon. The warp speed version was last seen on S1 of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper on ION Television and TV One. The standard version can be seen on reruns of Full House (second and third seasons only) when shown on TeenNick and ABC Family and on DVD releases. It can also be seen on reruns of the 7th season (1989-90) season of Love Connection on GSN (whenever they decide to re-air it), Step by Stepwhen last seen on Hub Network, Dallas and Knots Landing last aired on the now-defunct SOAPnet, and the final two seasons of Falcon Crest, among others. The last series that had this logo was Time Trax, which premiered on January 20, 1993 and ended on December 3, 1994. The filmed variant of this logo was seen on old prints of TV movies from the era, such as It, The Owl, and O Pioneers! After that, Lorimar was put to an end in late September 1993 and folded into Warner Bros. Television. Also appeared on S4-S6 episodes of Perfect Strangers, S4-S6 of The Hogan Family and on the final pre-FOX era episodes of Fun House and spin-off College Mad House. The Lorimar Television logo with the "A TIME WARNER COMPANY" byline plastered the Lorimar "Line of Doom" logo seen on S1 episodes of The Hogan Family (when it was originally titled Valerie at that time) and the Lorimar-Telepictures logo on S2-S3 of The Hogan Family (when it was originally titled Valerie and Valerie's Family from fall 1986-88) on syndicated reruns and on certain other reruns, namely ABC Family reruns. This has also popped up on some international reruns of the 3rd and 4th season of ALF as well. This was also seen on the short-lived 1989-90 game show 3rd Degree! with Bert Convy as well.

Scare Factor: None to low. It is much better than the previous logo, but the music will get to some.

4th Logo (September 22, 1989-August 6, 1993)

Lorimar Television - Family Matters (1989)Lorimar Television -Step By Step- (1991)Lorimar TV-Full House: 1990Lorimar TV-Perfect Strangers: 1991Lorimar Television (1991) Lorimar-Full House-1990Lorimar-Family Matters-1992Lorimar TV-Family Matters: 1992Lorimar TV-Full House: 1992Lorimar Television: Step by Step (1992) Lorimar Television 1992 (Perfect Strangers)Lorimar TV-Family Matters: 1993

Nickname: "Still Script"

Logo: We go back to the yellow-orange "LORIMAR" logo for this, but with the word "T E L E V I S I O N" below and no animation whatsoever (here the "LORIMAR" logo is based on the 1978 and 1988 logos). This is seen on screen in the credits. From 1991-1993, the Time Warner byline is seen below.

Bylines: •1991-May 12, 1992: "A TIME WARNER COMPANY" •September 18, 1992-August 6, 1993: "A TIME WARNER ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY"

Variants: •The logo would appear in either yellow, yellow-orange, or gold. •The logo would appear centered in the screen or shifted down.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds/Voice-over: Only the closing theme of the show played, except during syndication, an announcer says: "(Show title) is a (show creator...usually Miller-Boyett Production) in association with Lorimar Television", (on the WBTD logo) and is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution).

Availability: Common. It first appeared on Family Matters in 1989, then appeared on seasons 4-6 of Full House, Going Places, later season 6 and beyond episodes of Perfect Strangers, and lastly appeared on the first 2 seasons of Step by Step. It can be seen on reruns of Family Matters on BET, along with seasons 4 and 5 of Full House on Nick @ Nite, and Step by Step on Hub Network. On a few episodes from season 4 of the Full House DVD box set, you can hear the music from the 1988 Lorimar Television logo after the theme song finishes; it may have been an audio goof. The final 2 seasons of the original broadcasts and some reruns of Perfect Strangers from 1991-93 also had this in-credit notice with their respective bylines of the time on their closing credits during that period as well.

Scare Factor: None, unless you play the second logo's animation in your head.