Torch Lady
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Torch Lady is the mascot for the Hollywood film studio Columbia Pictures, featured in the studio's production logo. The Columbia logo also have a television logo, Torch Lady.
Since 1924 (when the studio was re-formed), there have been around five different Torch Ladies used for the Columbia logo.
Arguably the two most recognizable Columbia logos today are the fourth Torch Lady, and the current Torch Lady. The fourth Torch Lady was used on all modified films (the current Torch Lady has been in use since 1993). However, when Groundhog Day—which had released in 1993—used the fourth Torch Lady with 1993 music in the opening sequence rather than the current Torch Lady, which had already been adapted onto the studio logo for Mallice (1993).
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Logos
Main Logos
- The first Torch Lady was used for the newly-formed studio and on all black and white Columbia films between 1924 and 1936. The words, A Columbia Production (or "This is a Columbia Picture" at the end of every Columbia film) was appeared on the first Columbia logo for the first time. It was the next couple of years, the Torch Lady would tour with Columbia promoters to signify the studio's launch and survived two severe accidents. Their Torch Lady debuted in 1924.
1936-1975 Columbia Torch Lady
Much more refined, ethereal and goddess-like, her facial features became less pronounced and she looked away (up and to the right) instead of straight ahead. Her headdress was removed and her hair swept back instead of hanging by the sides of her face. The drape over her shoulder became less-obviously an American flag, the stars on the left shoulder having been toned down in a shadow, and the stripes visible only on the portion of the drape hanging down her right side. "A Columbia Production" was replaced with the tall chiseled letters of "COLUMBIA" (which fades in a second afterward) running straight across the top section of the screen, with the lady's torch glowing in front of the "U". A new form of animation was used on the logo as well, with a torch that radiates light instead of flickers. Actually, the logo was changed to the third logo in 1981 and the current opening logo in 1993.
- The second Torch Lady was depicted on the right from a still from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). The second Torch Lady looked almost identical to the first Torch Lady, her predecessor. It was during the period 1936-1939 that Columbia used old school variants of the logo featuring the Torch Lady: the standard version is still used to this day, and features the regular Torch Lady; the CARTOON version features Wilma Flintstone, dressed as the Torch Lady! It was also the first Torch Lady whose shine (which was more likely a number of soft torch shines) was appear by audiences via a 1980's record. The second Torch Lady was also arguably the most memorable of the torch ladies, appearing on all black and white and color Columbia films (1936–1975). A special cartoon version was created for The Man Called Flintstone (1966), and the live-action version in 1959 for the Columbia film The Mouse That Roared during an excerpt from Columbia's 1968 film, Head.
December 1975-1981 Columbia Torch Lady
- This logo was now redone (or redrawn). Used from December 1975 to 1981. Columbia Torch Lady had her full music. And she has registered trademark. Then, the picture moves upward and towards the torch, which shines even more as the picture blurs around it. It then emits a flash that fills the screen. When the flash dissolves, the light torch itself appears, as if in sunburst, against a black screen and as it shrinks, it changes into a more "abstract" torch: a blue half circle, or a semicircle, with thirteen white light rays in the center and the words "Columbia Pictures" under it. The entire logo then slowly backs away as it fades out.
Actually, the logo was changed to the current opening logo (or fourth logo) in 1993.
- Columbia began producing brand new classic films in early 1982, and the logo was slightly modified in the place of the Sunburst logo. The fourth Torch Lady was used on all new classic Columbia films (1981–1988, 1989-1993). The fourth Torch Lady, who made her first comedy film appearance in Stir Crazy (1980), second only to the current Torch Lady, and appears as if she is "shining" in the logo. Whilst the Columbia logo featuring the second Torch Lady may be the most memorable, it is the fourth Torch Lady version of the logo that was the most frequently modified.
- The last Torch Lady had a new blanket than any of the previous torch ladies. This Torch Lady was used on all Columbia films since circa 1993, and the fifth Torch Lady continued to be utilized in the new version of the logo, as depicted in the 1996 logo on the right (1993-present). Changes were made to the logo; the "COLUMBIA" word fading in above it was slightly modified. The film of the fifth Torch Lady also appeared somewhat newer. Until 2005, the MGM and Columbia logo combo were introduced, and in 2006, it is trading onto the Columbia and MGM logo combo that were slighty re-introduced. In 1996, the byline was added to the studio logo (A Sony Pictures Entertainment Company).
Customized logos
- Some Columbia movies have had customized logos:
- The Mouse That Roared (1959): The torch lady is live-action, and as a mouse crawls up the pedestal, she shrieks and runs away.
- Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
- Strait-Jacket (1964): At the end of the film, a decapitated Torch Lady appears with her head at the bottom of the pedestal.
- The Man Called Flintstone (1966): Wilma Flintstone is drawn as the Torch Lady.
- Head (1968) At the end of the movie the Torch Lady stands there which flutters, travels erratically on the sprockets, and finally burns.
- Thank God It's Friday (1978): In the original theatrical release, the Torch Lady does a brief dance as disco music plays.
- The Chipmunk Adventure (1987)
- What Planet Are You From? (2000): The Torch Lady's face is replaced with star Annette Bening's, playing on the above resemblance
- Eight Crazy Nights (2002): An animated boy holds the torch, but a few seconds later, the boy melts into the original torch lady.
- Men in Black II (2002): At the end of the logo, the torch flashes like a neuralizer.
- The Age Of Innocence (1993): The sunburst animation is cut and just the Torch Lady animation plays. After the logo is complete, the entire logo turns gold and it changes a little bit.
- The Cable Guy (1996): After the logo is completed, the logo gets messed up by a set of static waves.
External links
- Sony Pictures Movies official site (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/)
- Columbia page at Hollywood Lost and Found (http://hollywoodlostandfound.net/features/studiologos/page7.html/)
- Sony page at Closing Logo Group (http://logos.ctufilms.com/sony/)
