Universal Newsreel: Difference between revisions

===Background===

Universal Newsreel was a series of newsreels produced by [[Universal Pictures]] between 1929 and 1967, producing at least 40 volumes. The majority of the 7-10 minute reels were shot in black and white. In 1976, MCA, Universal's owner at the time, unusually turned over ownership of all their newsreels to The National Archives. This decision effectively ended Universal's copyright claim, releasing the films into the public domain. Many of Universal's newsreels can be found online, and have since become a popular source of file footage in recent years (two notable examples of the films' use are the 80's PBS TV show ''Newton's Apple'' starring Ira Flatow, and the kids' series ''Retro News: A Blast from the Past'' on TBN's family-oriented network Smile).  

=== 1st Logo (1929?-1932?) ===

'''Logo:''' In a black and white flower-like background, we see the face of newscaster Graham McNamee. Above McNamee is the curved text "GRAHAM MCNAMEE broadcasting as the". Under the face is the text "Universal Talking Reporter". The text fades out and is replaced by "UNIVERSAL NEWSPAPER NEWSREEL", with "NEWSPAPER NEWSREEL" being curved above the head, and the bottom now has a byline "By Arrangement With NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY". The logo then cuts to a cloudy background with a globe. We see the text "THE NEWSPAPER NEWSREEL", and a biplane passing the globe. The biplane leaves the text "UNIVERSAL NEWSPAPER NEWSREEL" behind.

'''Variant:''' An early version features a choppier animated biplane, the globe moving to the left and a darker background.

'''Music/Sounds:''' An announcer says "How do you do ladies and gentlemen? This is Graham McNamee broadcasting the latest event, as the Universal Newsreel Talking Reporter." As soon as the announcer stops, an orchestral horn is heard.

=== 2nd Logo (1929?-1934) ===

=== 3rd Logo (March 5, 1933-January 1935?) ===

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'''Logo:''' In a cloudy background, we see the Universal globe. In front of the globe, we see "UNIVERSAL NEWSPAPER NEWSREEL" and at the bottom, there is a copyright notice. The text "THE TALK OF THE WORLD" fades and zooms in, making the other text fade out. After the "TALK OF THE WORLD" has zoomed in, we fade out to the NRA emblem.

'''Music/Sounds:''' A five note orchestral theme, with the last note stretched out, with a cymbal crash at the end, or the end of the last newsreel story.

=== 4th Logo (July 7, 1934-1936) ===

'''Logo:''' In a dark cloudy background, we see a globe spinning from left to right. We see the text "UNIVERSAL NEWSPAPER NEWSREEL" in a curvy font, and a copyright notice in the bottom. The texts fade out, as a new text, saying "THE TALK OF THE WORLD", fades in. It is still for a second, then it suddenly zooms towards the viewer. After a few seconds, it fades out to the NRA emblem.

'''Variant:''' A prototype version with a much cloudier background, as well as a different globe spinning right to left, exists.

'''Music/Sounds:''' None.

=== 5th Logo (1936-May 15, 1937?) ===

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'''Variant:''' The copyright notice may change between newsreels.

'''Music/Sounds:''' None.

=== 6th Logo (1936-1939) ===

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=== 7th Logo (1939-1940) ===

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'''Variant:''' A closing variant exists, where we see the text "The Talk of the World" zooming in the middle, along with "UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL" on top replacing "THE NEW UNIVERSAL PRESENTS", though separated by the cameramen, and a different copyright notice on the bottom. The zooming of the "The Talk of the World" text varies.

'''Music/Sounds:''' Two bombastic themes were used during the usage of this logo. One for the opening, and one for the closing. In some cases, none.

=== 8th Logo (1941-1944) ===

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* A Canadian version exists, in which we see an outlined "THE CANADIAN UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL".

'''Music/Sounds:''' Same as the previous logo's opening variant.

=== 9th Logo (1944-1946) ===

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'''Logo:''' Above the US Capitol Building, that's surrounded with searchlights in a cloudy background, we see "UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL" curved above the building. Above, we see "UNIVERSAL PICTURES" and "Present", with the latter being written in a script.

'''Music/Sounds:''' None.

=== 11th Logo (1946-1949) ===

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'''Variant:''' A closing version exists, where in a gradient/shiny-looking background, we see the text "THE END" stacked to each other. Under that, we see "UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL" and "COVERS WORLDWIDE EVENTS" stacked to each other.

'''Music/Sounds:''' A bombastic theme.

=== 12th Logo (1949-1955) ===

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'''Variant:''' A closing version exists where we see "THE END" in the middle and "Universal International NEWSREEL" in the bottom right corner.

'''Music/Sounds:''' Typical 50's music.

=== 13th Logo (March 31, 1955-January 27, 1964) ===

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* A variant with bigger letters exists.

'''Music/Sounds:''' A bombastic theme.

=== 14th Logo (September 3, 1964-October 24, 1967) ===

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* A later variant was made in 1965, where we see "Universal Pictures" coupled with their print logo at the time appearing from the glow, and "NEWSREEL" popping up before the camera has stopped zooming. The copyright notice appears when the camera has stopped zooming. The closing version exists has the globe zooming in and "THE END" in the center of the screen. This later closing version used a different font for "THE END" and the "UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL" text was removed.

'''Music/Sounds:''' A bombastic theme composed by Hal Mooney, who at that time was Universal's director of music.