The Evolution of

PARAMOUNT PICTURES

In this section, we will present to you some of Paramount's various motion picture and television idents that goes back many generations ago. Below is a timeline for each ident's appearance. Enjoy.

Section 1: The Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation was founded as a feature distribution orginization by William W. Hodkinson and other independent exhibitors in May of 1914. It financed and distributed the features of Adolf Zukor's Famous Players Film Company (founded in 1912) and Jesse L. Lasky's Feature Play Company, among those of other producers, and in May of 1916, Zukor and Lasky bought a controlling share of Paramount's stock.

1912

c. Late Teens-December 1967

The first superimposed/print rendition of the Paramount logo. Often seen on posters and trailers of upcoming movies, plus during a film's opening credits.

c. Mid Teens

Standard motion picture logo, featuring a mountain peak, encircled by stars.

1920s

With Zukor as president, their Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was incorporated on June 19, 1916. But Paramount was kept as the company's trade name. In 1927, the company is referred to as Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation, then in 1930, it became the Paramount Publix Corporation. When the firm went bankrupt in 1933, Lasky was forced out, and it was reorganized as Paramount Pictures, Inc.

1929

Foremost, more realistic motion picture logo, from their Paramount Publix years.

1930s

Up to date motion picture logo.

1952

An updated rendering of the Majestic Mountain design.

The Paramount Television Network (c. 1950s)

The first known television division of Paramount Pictures. Also known as Paramount Television Productions, Inc. and Paramount Television Enterprises, this department was operated in conjunction with then-owned television station KTLA Los Angeles

1954

Another update to the Majestic Mountain, made especially for widescreen format; most movies during this era were being filmed in VistaVision among others.

1966 - Paramount becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf + Western Industries, Inc.

1968

Standard Paramount Pictures logo, with the Gulf+Western byline added at the bottom.

January 1968

Nicknamed the "Rising Circle", this was the first standard network television logo for the newly reformatted Paramount Television, following the merger with Desilu Productions made in 1966 by Gulf+Western Industries. It features a blue background with an abstract mountain overlapping an enlarging circle in black and white colors.

Fall 1968

The company's second standard TV logo. This one is called "The Split", a divided rectangle which features the abstract mountain design in white and blue colors over a yellow background.

Fall 1969

Updated Paramount TV logo in red, white and blue.

1974

Updated Paramount Pictures logo.

1975

The abstract "Blue Mountain" logo, as seen in motion pictures, in navy blue and white colors over a light blue background.

Fall 1975

The abstract "Blue Mountain" logo, made for TV.

1987

Computer Generated film and TV logo, featuring a remodified version of the stars around the mountain.

1989

Gulf+Western is reconfigured and renamed Paramount Communications, Inc.

1995

Paramount merges with Viacom International to become one of the world's leading producer-distributors of filmed entertainment, cable programming, and published information.

1999

Paramount's enhanced Computer Generated film logo.

Spring 2002

Updated film and TV logo, dubbed The Ultra Majestic Mountain.

2010

Features the logo with a newer version of the viacom byline.

5th Car Crash

The 100th anniversary logo.

Summer 2013

This version was seen on Caidin Film Company Films.
2015

This was used on television shows made by warner bros pictures.

September 2016

Due to viacom's rebranding from warner bros. pictures, The viacom byline was removed.
December 2017

Viacom International Media Networks was founded and Paramount switched back to their 2002-2011 logo due to low ratings. This appeared on later copies of looney tunes and merrie melodies cartoons, braveheart and titanic on VHS and DVD.

Part 2: Paramount Home Entertainment

1978

Paramount's first home video logo.

1979

The Growing Mountain, Paramount's first animated home video logo.

1983

Paramount's more common video logo from the 1980s.

1989-Fall 2002

Paramount's video logo from the CGI Mountain years.

Fall 2002-Winter 2003

Paramount's Ultra Majestic Mountain logo, made for home video.

Winter 2003-Fall 2006

Paramount's alternate companies - Flying On A Balloon and Jumping On A Ball were founded.

Fall 2006-October 2010

This version's last appearance was on the season 2 theme song of wow wow wubbzy.

October 2010-September 2014

The third and last logo before their rebranding with pogo sticks rather than balls.

September 2014-January 2016

The logo used in Caidin Film Company's The Caidin Movie in 2015.

January 2016

The 15th Anniversary prototype logo from You've Got Snail on KissCartoon's Launch at 8 PM. The first 3 programs were Steven Universe, Brandy and Mr. Whiskers and Zig and Sharko.

February 2016-December 2016