Harpo Studios

Editions by Michael Bass and Mr.Logo Logo captures by snelfu, Mr.Logo, and others Video captures by sailorclose, and youngleader610 (Mr.Logo)

Background: Harpo Studios is the production company founded by the television personality and entrepreneur, Oprah Winfrey. Its name is not to be confused with one of the Marx brothers, but it is Oprah spelled backwards.

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Nicknames: "Cartoon Oprah", "Harpo Wagon"

Logo: On a white background, we see a cartoon version of Oprah Winfrey, wearing a lavender jacket over a yellow dress, pulling a wagon that reads "HARPO" (in the ITC Grouch font), with the "O" slanted, on a wagon, while under "HARPO", on the cart's outer base, reads "PRODUCTIONS, INC." (set in Akzidenz-Grotesk BQ Medium Extended font)

HARPO PRODUCTIONS, INC.

The wagon then bumps into her, causing the "HARPO" to shake, then appears normal. The copyright notice appears, and Oprah curtsies.

Variants: On late 1988 episodes of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the copyright notice fades in at the end of the logo. The copyright notice, in later years, fades in midway throughout the logo's duration. There is a short version of this logo. Sometimes in 1994, the copyright notice has the text "ALL RIGHTS RESERVED" underneath it. Starting in mid-late 2000, the copyright notice reads "HARPO, INC." Strangely, there is a version contains a video freeze at the end for about 7 seconds. On BET prints of the 1988 TV miniseries The Women of Brewster Place, "In Association With" fades in at the same time as the copyright notice. Plus, the logo is cut-short. On Brewster Place, there's no copyright notice under the logo.

FX/SFX: Oprah pulling the wagon, and the letters shaking. It's all cel animation. It is unknown who did this logo.

Music/Sounds: A somewhat dramatic 10-note violin fanfare, then 5 more quick notes, a brief piano "pluck", and a final string note. The logo had a higher pitch when it was first used in 1988. In around 1992, the music is in a normal pitch. On some occasions, the Oprah theme plays over it, or it's silent. This was composed by Frank Gari, who has composed a lot of themes for TV stations, and is also the composer of the 1986-1989 The Oprah Winfrey Show theme.

Music/Sounds Variant: On one international airing of a S1 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1989 on Channel 4, the last 3 notes of the music repeated when the Midatlantic Films logo appeared, most likely due to a an editing error. See the first video on the way left for this.

Availability: Ultra rare, despite being retired in 2003. Seen on The Oprah Winfrey Show episodes from the era. Don't expect this on reruns on classic Oprah Winfrey Show episodes on OWN, as the network edited out this logo, and replaced it with the 3rd logo. It is also found on the 1988 miniseries The Women of Brewster Place and its spinoff Brewster Place. The other variants are nearly extinct. This was surprisingly spotted on August 18, 2018 OWN re-airing of a 1999 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show with Aretha Franklin.

Editor's Note: A remembered logo for its well-done cel animation, music and cuteness, especially those who watched The Oprah Winfrey Show back in the day.

2nd Logo (2006-2010)

Nickname: "Gold Harpo"

Logo: On a black background, we see "HARPO PRODUCTIONS, INC." in gold, with "HARPO" in the same font as the 1st logo, with the "O" slanted. There is a reflection of the name on the base, and the name shines with "pings". The Harpo Productions (2005)reflection disappears at the end.

FX/SFX: The shining, and the reflection disappearing.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the show (on Rachael Ray). TBA (on Legends Ball).

Availability: The earliest known appearance of this logo is on Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball in 2006. This logo was also seen on The Rachael Ray Show.

Editor's Note: It's a satisfactory CGI logo of the time period, but nothing spectaular.

3rd Logo (2010- )

Nickname: "Harpo Rings"

Logo: Up against a white background, a ring moves up and copies into 5 rings, like a gyroscope, revealing "HARPOSTUDIOS" set in Interstate font (with "HARPO" being set in a black weight and "STUDIOS" being set in a regular weight) in green. During all of this, there is a white shadow underneath the rings.Harpo Studios (2011)

FX/SFX: The rings spinning and spelling the Harpo name.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic fanfare.

Availability: Common. It's seen on all Oprah Winfrey specials from 2010 to the present time. It is also seen on The Oprah Winfrey Show as well as The Rachel Ray Show, Dr. Oz, and the short-lived The Nate Berkus Show. This plasters the 1st logo on OWN reruns of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Editor's Note: Another fine CGI logo, but its omnipresence over classic Oprah Winfrey Show episodes may bother those who prefer the 1st logo.