Vitagraph Studios

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a film studio founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, originally titled the American Vitagraph Company. In the late 1900s, Vitagraph was one of the most prolific American film studios. However, World War I would mark a decline for the company thanks to the rise of the Studio system. This led Albert E. Smith to sell the company to Warner Bros. Pictures on April 20, 1925. The Vitagraph name had a revival in the 1960s, appearing on the end titles of Looney Tunes shorts between 1960 and 1968, while Merrie Melodies would use the Vitaphone name; both names were switched in 1968 (with Looney Tunes using Vitaphone and Merrie Melodies using Vitagraph) until the series' end in 1969.

1st Logo (February 23, 1907)

Visuals: On a black background, an image of an eagle with its wings up is standing on a globe with the words "VITAGRAPH" in an arc when overlapped with it.

Technique: A still, printed image.

Audio: None.

Availability: It was resurfaced on The Haunted Hotel.

2nd Logo (December 25, 1911-April 20, 1925)


Visuals: On a black background, there is a white print of an eagle standing on an emblem with a "V" on it. The text "THE VITAGRAPH CO." arcs above the eagle, whereas the words "TRADE" and "MARK" are next to it and "LONDON" is underneath.

Variant: A version for Paris productions exist where the bottom text is replaced with "PARIS", the "O" in "CO." is smaller and aligned to the top as well as the period being omitted, the eagle and the "V" have clearer details as well as fill, and the logo is closer to the screen.

Technique: A still, printed image.

Audio: None.

Availability: It was seen on The Greater Love, Aunty's Romance, and The Helpful Sisterhood.

Vitagraph Studios
Warner Bros. Pictures
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