Milwaukee Public Television

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum



Background

Milwaukee Public Television is a PBS affiliate located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.



1st ID (1965-1970)


Visuals: On a photo of the Milwaukee skyline, there are two TV tube-like shapes (not like in the Mark Goodson logo), the big one having "10" inside it, and "wmvs" on the bottom, and the small one having "36" inside it, and "wmvt" on the bottom. If you look closely on one of the buildings in the background, you can find the NET logo in white.

Technique: None; it's a still logo.

Audio: None.

Availability: May be on some old tapes at the Museum of Broadcast Television and Radio, but it did make an appearance on the 50th anniversary special (called "MPTV: 50 Years of Being More").

2nd ID (1970-1983)


Visuals: On a black background, there is a white, wavy, swirly thing waving all over, while ten pentagons, five green, and five blue, spin from the right of the screen. The wave moves over to the right to reveal the text "A PRODUCTION OF WMVS MILWAUKEE", and the screen fades out.

Technique: Early '70s scanimation.

Audio: A '70s-esque Moog synth sound.

Availability: See above. It was also seen on Hatha Yoga.

3rd ID (1975?-1988)


Visuals: On a black background, there is a brown/pink glass marquee, comprised of the same pentagons, with the number 10 inside, turning into place. "WMVS MILWAUKEE" is below the logo. Then, the same marquee spins, but with the number 36 inside it, and the "S" in the call letters changes to a "T".

Technique: Practical effects.

Audio: Probably an announcer saying "You're watching WMVS and WMVT in Milwaukee, 10 and 36."

Availability: It was likely used as a station ID, but it also showed up in the 50th anniversary special.

4th ID (1988-1993?)

Visuals: On a black-blue gradient background, there is a silver pedestal. "A Production Of" and "Milwaukee", on top and bottom, respectively, zoom out a bit. At the same time, jumbled polygons tumble into place and form "WMVS" and "WMVT". They then turn and face each other, and we cut to the program intro.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A synth-pop drum beat sound, then two orchestral drums and an orchestral hit at the end.

Availability: Seen on many shows from this period, like I Remember, Smith & Company, Tracks Ahead, Outdoor Wisconsin, etc.

5th ID (1993?-2000)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a big pentagon containing the Milwaukee skyline. Then it splits into five smaller pentagons at the same time "MILWAUKEE" slides in from the left. A bit later, "Public Television" slides in from the bottom and zooms out into place, and pentagons glow as they spin. They seem to get smaller, that they begin to form a star in middle and stop.

Variant: A zoomed-in widescreen variant exists.

Technique: Computerized 2D animation.

Audio: A quiet synth-country note followed by a cymbal, which is a snippet of "Mercy Street" by Peter Gabriel.

Availability: Seen on programming of the era.

6th ID (2000-2001)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a person with highway like arms and "MPTV" carved below zoom in against a drop shadow that is zooming out. Above that is "PRODUCTION OF" spaced out. All of a sudden, the "person" zooms out, shines, and the words "MILWAUKEE PUBLIC TELEVISION" zoom out via a trail effect. The logo shines as a white square "blinds" in.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Same as the previous logo.

Availability: Unknown.

7th ID (2001-2004)

Visuals: Over the Milwaukee skyline, as we pan to the left is signals being emmited from the centre. "PRODUCTION OF" centres in and fades out. "mptv" fades in and then above fades in "MILWAUKEE" and below "PUBLIC TELEVISION". The P-Head flips into place.

Technique: Live-action and 2D CGI.

Audio: A short piano tune.

Availability: Unknown. [Examples?]

8th ID (2004-2006)

Visuals: There is the same background from the 2002 CPB logo, superimposed into a tower and camera, with a long, black rectangle stretching out throughout the screen on top. Inside of that is "PRODUCTION OF" stretching into view. The PBS logo fades in and zooms out from the left, wiping in the italic letters "mptv" from the previous logo, beating from right to left, and zooming out. Above fades in "MILWAUKEE" and below "PUBLIC TELEVISION". The tower fades in place of another.

Variant: For local use, "PRODUCTION OF" and the rectangle is absent. Below is "(WMVS/WMVT) · WMVS-DT · MILWAUKEE" and then "Viewer-Supported Service of MATC". For WMVT, it has a green tint.

Technique: 2D CGI.

Audio: Same as the previous logo.

Audio Variants:

  • I Remember uses a big band style jazz tune, that is actually part of its theme song.
  • Tracks Ahead uses the Choo Choo of a train followed by the sound of the train on the tracks.
  • Outdoor Wisconsin uses the call of a loon.

Availability: Seen on local productions such as Outdoor Wisconsin, Black Noveau, Adelante!, The Arts Page with Mike Gosha, 10nThirtySix starring Portia Young, Around the Corner with John McGivirin, I Remember!, Smith and Company and Tracks Ahead.

9th ID (2006-December 1, 2009)

Visuals: On a hazy background filtered on the Milwaukee City Hall building zooming up, the same "PRODUCTION OF" on a black rectangle fades in. Sun rays appear with the MPTV logo animation in the previous logo except a bit more rough and zoomed in. A bigger PBS logo in the background moves from right to left in the background. The city hall then fades to the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Variant: On its 50th anniversary, a celebrating badge was shown in front at the beginning, which then zooms out to reveal the MPTV logo.

Technique: 2D CGI.

Audio: Same as the 7th logo.

Audio Variants: Same as the 7th logo

Availability: Same as the previous logo.

10th ID (December 2, 2009-2012)

Visuals: On the purple version of the PBS logo background at the time with the Milwaukee Art Museum's wings slowly moving. A big bubble is seen in the centre leaning right with "PRODUCTION OF" on top. The "MPTV" letters appear one-by-one. The words "MILWAUKEE" and "PUBLIC TELEVISION" swipe in from different sides as the PBS logo fades in.

Technique: Live-action and 2D CGI.

Audio: Same as the 7th logo.

Availability: Same as the previous logo.

11th ID (2012-2017)

Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D CGI.

Audio: A low bass strings and ascending piano theme. Sometimes, a guitar version would be used.

Availability: Can be seen on programs at the time like 10thirtysix starring Portia Young and Around the Corner with John McGiverin.

12th ID (Mid-to-late 2016)

Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D CGI.

Audio: Same as the previous logo.

Availability: Seen on several documentaries and specials such as The Arts Page and On the Issues with Mike Gousha.

13th ID (January 2017-December 24, 2019)

Visuals: Unknown

Technique: Live-action and 2D CGI.

Audio: A upbeat and gentle jingle with chimes.

Availability: Same as the previous logo.

14th ID (December 26, 2019-)

Visuals: Unknown

Variant: Unknown

Technique: Live-action and 2D CGI.

Audio: Same as the previous logo.

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