Dick Clark Productions

Background
Dick Clark Productions was an entertainment production company established in 1957 by entertainer Dick Clark, producing television shows, television specials, and television movies. In 2007, it was sold to Daniel Snyder, owner of American football team Washington Redskins and former chairman of amusement park company Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, for $175 million. Around September 2016, Chinese family-owned conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group (which owns a controlling interest in AMC Theatres and fully owns Legendary Entertainment) was in talks of acquiring the company for $1 billion. The transaction was confirmed on November 4th, however the Wanda Group called off the deal in March 2017. In February 1, 2018, the company merged with Media Rights Capital and Billboard-Hollywood Media Reporter Group to form Valence Media. In September 2021, MRC officially discontinued the Dick Clark brand, with its productions now falling under their Live & Alternative banner.

1st Logo (1964-1980)
Nicknames: "dc", "A Dick Clark TV Production", "The Normal dc"

Logo: This logo features a line drawing downward. Then a circle is placed along the left of the line, forming the letter "d". Then, a "c" is drawn inside the "d" counter-clockwise. The stacked words "a dick clark TV PRODUCTION" appear vertically along the "d".

Variants:
 * From 1964-1969, this logo was only a still superimposed image, scrolling along with the production credits.
 * Sometimes, the text would simply read "A DICK CLARK PRODUCTION".
 * The variants before 1969 had different interpretations of the text on the logo, ranging from "Dick Clark Television Productions, Inc." to "dick clark productions".
 * The currently found variants after 1969 usually have different colors for the text. Such examples include the text rendered in an -esque color to a wine-like . The text would read "a dick clark TELEVISION PRODUCTION".

FX/SFX: The drawing of the "d" and "c".

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Music/Sounds Variant: From 1964 to 1968, Charlie O'Donnell announced American Bandstand and said, "American Bandstand is a Dick Clark Production".

Availability: Extinct. It appeared on American Bandstand and Happening. It may have appeared on Soul Unlimited.

2nd Logo (December 31, 1972-1980)
Nickname: "The Spinning Text"

Logo: A giant blue "dc" is seen on a black background. "a teleshow" and "dick clark" fly into their respective positions.

FX/SFX: The words spinning into view. Simple cel/camera animation.

Music/Sounds: A descending glockenspiel scale.

Availability: Extinct. Was seen on shows produced by the Dick Clark Teleshows subsidiary. "Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve", "American Music Awards", and "Rock n' Roll Years" were the programs to have this logo.

Editor's Note: The first appearance of the "dc" logo we know and love.

3rd Logo (1978-1980)
Nicknames: "dc II", "dc Snake", "dc ∞", "dc '77",

Logo: On a black background, we see the forming of a line in the center. At the same time, a strange shape forms on top of the line, almost forming the infinity symbol. The image appears to be an Avant Garde font "d" and "c" joined together. The name "dick clark motion pictures, inc." or "dick clark cinema productions, inc." appears below.

Variants:
 * On Birth of The Beatles, the logo lacks text.
 * On Elvis, the logo is magenta.

FX/SFX: The forming of the "dc" logo, whose animation is similar to the NBC "Snake" logo.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show/movie. Elvis, however, used the keyboard tune that was used for The Dick Clark Company logo. Future airings of the show have the music removed.

Availability: Was used for TV movies produced by Dick Clark Motion Pictures. Appeared on the TV movies Elvis, The Man in the Santa Claus Suit, and Birth of The Beatles.

4th Logo (1980-1983)
Nicknames: "dc III", "Golden dc Bar", "Spinning Bar", "80s dc"

Logo: On a black background, we see a golden bar zooming in, and starting to spin clockwise. The bar forms a circular image which splits in two and turns into an "o" and "c". All three images stick together to form the "dc" logo. The text "A Dick Clark Production" appears below.

FX/SFX: The spinning of the golden bar. Scanimate animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 2nd logo.

Availability: Extremely rare. It appeared on American Bandstand. This was also spotted in the 1982 ABC Saturday Morning Pac Preview Party special.

5th Logo (1983-1989)
Nicknames: "dc IV", "Golden dc Bar II", "80s dc II"

Logo: We see an outlined bar rising from the center of the screen. A circle emerges to the left to form the "d" and revolves around to the right to form a "c", forming the "dc" logo. It then shines to. As this happens, "dick clark productions" or "a dick clark motion picture" appears below.

Variant: On TV movies, the logo is filmed.

FX/SFX: The logo forming and the shining gold letters. Pretty neat early CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Mystical synthesizer music that ends with what sounds like a low bass sound. Sometimes, the end theme plays over the logo.

Music/Sounds Variant: One version uses the theme from the Dick Clark Video logo.

Availability: Extremely rare. It was seen on TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes, American Bandstand, and Puttin' on the Hits.

6th Logo (1989-April 7, 2019)
Nicknames: "90s dc", "dc V", "Golden dc Bar III", "CGI (Golden) dc", 3D dc"

Logo: On a black background, a line shoots up the screen, curving around an object that is revealed to be the "dc" logo, which seems to be thicker than before. A light appears in the background, as the camera rotates around so the "dc" is seen from the right. A light forms "dick clark productions", and the "dc" logo later shines.

Variants:
 * A shorter version exists, starting with the light forming the company's text.
 * In July 2000, the company's website "www.dickclark.com" appeared on some network shows.
 * In 2007, the logo was graphically enhanced to feature a background with various and  lights, a brighter "dc", and a brighter company name. This is normally seen with the short version, but a long version of it exists on Dick Clark Interviews.
 * On American Dreams, the logo is next to the Once a Frog logo.

FX/SFX: The streak of light, the "dc" shining. Polished CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as the Dick Clark Video "Golden dc" logo, complete with whooshes and lasers.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * The shorter version only uses the "crescending" synthesizer note.
 * The 2007 long version features more powerful-sounding whooshes.
 * On The Challengers, Don Morrow says "In association with Dick Clark Productions" over the logo.
 * On the short-lived FOX game show The Chamber, a generic rock tune plays.

Availability: No longer current, but easy to find given its lifespan of 30 years. Can still be found on various TV specials, including New Years Rockin' Eve, The American Music Awards, and Bloopers. Also appears on The Weird Al Show and 19 Entertainment's So You Think You Can Dance.

Editor's Note: This logo held up very well during its lifespan, and was a huge favorite for fans of Dick Clark's later works.

7th Logo (April 7, 2019-September 12, 2021)
Nicknames: "dcp", "Silver dcp", "CGI (Silver) dcp", "3D dcp"

Logo: On a black background accompanied by a light, we see a close up of the letters "dcp" in a more straightforward font rotating downwards from the left. As the logo fades in and fades out again, the "dcp" pans from the bottom right, now accompanied by the text "dick clark productions", to zoom into the center of the logo, while at same the the light and its lens flare move to the top left and bottom right respectfully. The finished logo zooms out slowly.

Variants:
 * Sometimes, the byline "a division of MRC" is below.
 * A shorter version exists, which cuts the close-up.

FX/SFX: The light and lens flare, the "dcp" panning and zooming out.

Music/Sounds: A new synthesized choir-like theme, with whooshes heard throughout.

Availability: No longer current. First appeared on the 54th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, and was seen on the company's other shows and TV specials.

Editor's Note: This logo marked Dick Clark Productions' first overall logo change in 42 years, and, compared to the iconic golden "dc", a very bland and disappointing one at that, especially in regards to the 5th logo. A sad ending for 57 years' worth of logos!