The Evolution of

PARAMOUNT PICTURES

In this section, we will present to you some of Paramount's various motion picture and television idents that goes back many generations ago. Below is a timeline for each ident's appearance. Enjoy.

Section 1: The Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation was founded as a feature distribution orginization by William W. Hodkinson and other independent exhibitors in May of 1914. It financed and distributed the features of Adolf Zukor's Famous Players Film Company (founded in 1912) and Jesse L. Lasky's Feature Play Company, among those of other producers, and in May of 1916, Zukor and Lasky bought a controlling share of Paramount's stock.

c. Late Teens-December 1967

The first superimposed/print rendition of the Paramount logo. Often seen on posters and trailers of upcoming movies, plus during a film's opening credits.

c. Mid Teens

Standard motion picture logo, featuring a mountain peak, encircled by stars.
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1920s

With Zukor as president, their Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was incorporated on June 19, 1916. But Paramount was kept as the company's trade name. In 1927, the company is referred to as Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation, then in 1930, it became the

Paramount Publix Corporation. When the firm went bankrupt in 1933, Lasky was forced out, and it was reorganized as Paramount Pictures, Inc.

1929

Foremost, more realistic motion picture logo, from their Paramount Publix years.

1930s

Up to date motion picture logo.

1952

An updated rendering of the Majestic Mountain design.

The Paramount Television Network (c. 1950s)

The first known television division of Paramount Pictures. Also known as Paramount Television Productions, Inc. and Paramount Television Enterprises, this department was operated in conjunction with then-owned television station KTLA Los Angeles

1954

Another update to the Majestic Mountain, made especially for widescreen format; most movies during this era were being filmed in VistaVision among others.

1966 - Paramount becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf + Western Industries, Inc.

1968

Standard Paramount Pictures logo, with the Gulf+Western byline added at the bottom.

January 1968

Nicknamed the "Rising Circle", this was the first standard network television logo for the newly reformatted Paramount Television, following the merger with Desilu Productions made in 1966 by Gulf+Western Industries. It features a blue background with an abstract mountain overlapping an enlarging circle in black and white colors.

Fall 1968

The company's second standard TV logo. This one is called "The Split", a divided rectangle which features the abstract mountain design in white and blue colors over a yellow background.

Fall 1969

Updated Paramount TV logo in red, white and blue.

1974

Updated Paramount Pictures logo.

1975

The abstract "Blue Mountain" logo, as seen in motion pictures, in navy blue and white colors over a light blue background.

Fall 1975

The abstract "Blue Mountain" logo, made for TV.

1987

Computer Generated film and TV logo, featuring a remodified version of the stars around the mountain.

1989

Gulf+Western is reconfigured and renamed Paramount Communications, Inc.

1995

Paramount merges with Viacom International to become one of the world's leading producer-distributors of filmed entertainment, cable programming, and published information.