Pearl & Dean

Background: Pearl and Dean is a British cinema advertising company, founded by brothers Charles and Ernie Pearl, and Robert "Bob" Dean.

1st Logo (1953-1968, 1970-1972)
Pearl & Dean (1953-1968) #2Pearl & Dean (1970-1972) #2Pearl and Dean 1st logo "Pillars"Pearl & Dean (1953-1968)

Nickname: "Pillars"

Logo: On a sky background, we see some pillars. Some text fades in at the center of the pillars, and we then begin zooming in. Once we get close, the camera stops, and the text is then revealed to say "PEARL & DEAN present" in yellow. The logo then fades out.

Variants: A later variant in the early '70s had the camera not zooming in as much, and the sky was brighter. This variant has been nicknamed "Pillars II". A version that says, "PEARL, DEAN & YOUNGERS" exists.

FX/SFX: The zooming in of the logo.

Music/Sounds: For the 1953-1968 variant, a rather majestic fanfare. For the 1970-1972 variant, a Latin-flavored music piece.

Availability: Extinct. Was seen in UK cinemas in the '50s. Both variants are available on Pearl and Dean's website, while so far only the first variant is up on YouTube.

Editor’s Note: None.

2nd Logo (1968-1970)
Pearl & Dean (1968-1970)

Nickname: "Groovy Dancers

Logo: Two vertical lines (one green, one yellow) are made on the screen. They unfold and make the letters "P" and "D" (for Pearl and Dean). Each has a clip of someone dancing in it. They fold back again, and unfold to the "P" and "D" again, but this time with different clips. They yet again fold back, but this time, they disappear. Ten smaller lines in rows are five are made, which unfold to make the words “PEARL & DEAN” in a rather odd-looking font. Each letter has a small clip in it, but they then combine to make a large image of a car passing. When the car goes by, the smaller clips return to normal, and seven lines appear under the "PEARL & DEAN", and they unfold to read “PRESENTS”.

FX/SFX: Pretty much all the unfolding of the lines and the dancing clips.

Music/Sounds: A rather fitting dance tune.

Availability: Extinct. Was shown in UK cinemas in the '60s. The only place you can really watch it now is on Pearl and Dean's website.

Editor’s Note: None.

3rd Logo (1972-July 1996)
Pearl & Dean (1970's)Pearl & Dean (1970's, Blue Text)Pearl & Dean (With Phone Number - 1970's)Pearl & Dean (1970's)

Nickname: "Asteroid"

Logo: We begin with a black space (which constantly changes shape) on a blue background. An odd-looking white shape appears from that black space, which later fades. When it does, all manner of shapes start shooting up from the center, and while that is happening, the text "PEARL AND DEAN present" in white (sometimes blue) shoots up from the center. After it has been there for a few seconds, the logo fades.

Trivia: Heineken used the music in this logo to create an ad specifically for British cinema where the song keeps breaking down and is refreshed by the drink.

Variants: A closing version exists, with, "PEARL AND DEAN" zooming out, instead of in. The "PRESENTS" text is absent. Another closing version with the company's phone number underneath "PEARL AND DEAN". A higher-pitched version exists, although this might be because of deterioration.

FX/SFX: The zooming in of the shapes, the black space-changing shapes, and then zooming in of the Pearl and Dean text.

Music/Sounds: The now-iconic twenty-second piece named "Asteroid" composed by Pete Moore.

Availability: Extinct, but has now been recognized as legendary by many people. Lots of videos of it are on YouTube, and it can be seen on Pearl and Dean's official website.

Editor’s Note: This logo is very memorable and a favorite, thanks to the music, and lasted for a whopping 24 years!

4th Logo (1997-2011)
Pearl & Dean (1990's)

Nicknames: "Asteroid II", "Fast Filmstrips"

Logo: We see lots of colorful images of filmstrips (or at least the sprockets most of the time) moving around, constantly changing scenes, in time with the music. When that finishes, on the background of the film strips, the words "Pearl and Dean" appear in the middle of the screen.

Variant: There is a SpongeBob SquarePants variant of this. The normal filmstrip plays but it also has SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny) singing the tune. Then when the logo finishes the "Pearl & Dean" text is missing and the logo zooms out (which had the pictures of various Nickelodeon shows) to reveal the Nickelodeon 'splat' logo and the phrase "Enjoy the Show". SpongeBob then appears one last time doing his signature laugh.

FX/SFX: Pretty much all the filmstrip animation.

Music/Sounds: A remixed version of the music from the third logo.

Music/Sound Variants: On the SpongeBob variant, Gary meows then SpongeBob says "Quiet Gary, it's starting!". He then proceeds to sing the Pearl & Dean theme. Then when the logo zooms out to the Nickelodeon splat a THX-like synth note is interrupted by SpongeBob's laugh.

Availability: Extinct.

Editor’s Note: Like the previous logo, this is also very memorable. The SpongeBob variant is a favorite amongst SpongeBob fans.

5th Logo (2000-2011)
Pearl and Dean 5th logo "Film Lovers"

Nickname: "Film Lovers"

Logo: This logo bears a resemblance to "Asteroid". On a blue background, we see filmstrips appearing from the center of the screen, and then the following text zooms up all the way from the center of the screen, in this order:

"all the latest film news...

reviews of the last releases...

movie merchandise and ringtones...

cinema listings for every site in the UK and Ireland..."

When that text finishes appearing, the filmstrips stop appearing the text "Pearl and Dean for film lovers everywhere" flips in, with "Pearl and Dean" in pink, and at the same time, the website URL, www.pearlanddean.com, fades in. The URL "shines.", and the "Pearl and Dean for film lovers everywhere" text zooms in.

FX/SFX: The filmstrips appearing, all the text zooming in, the "Pearl and Dean for film lovers" text, and the website URL fading in and "shining".

Music/Sounds: Same as the fourth logo.

Availability: Extinct.

Editor’s Note: None.

6th Logo (2011-2014)
Pearl & Dean (2011)

Logo: On a purple background, a sort of wave appears along with what looks like glitter. When that is almost off the screen, a shooting star flies on from the right of the screen, splits in two, and draws a carmine pink "&" sign. That zooms out as the words "Pearl" and "Dean" appear on either side of it. They stop in the center of the screen.

FX/SFX: The wave, the shooting star, and the text zooming out.

Music/Sounds: A shortened and remixed version of the Asteroid music.

Availability: Extinct. You can see it in cinemas which aren't part of the Vue, Cineworld or Odeon chains, like for example Empire Cinemas or the Prince Charles Cinema just off of Leicester Square.

Editor’s Note: None.

7th Logo (2014- )
Pearl & Dean (2014)

Nickname: "Circles"

Logo: A group of white circles' movement is being synchronized on a violet background. After the music finishes, a larger circle with the "Pearl & Dean" name appears.

FX/SFX: The circles.

Music/Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: Currently in use.

Editor’s Note: None.