Filmways

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The "Filmways Globe" logo, used from 1961 to 1978.

Filmways Inc. was a television and film production company founded by American film executive Martin Ransohoff in 1960. It is probably best-known as the production company of CBS's "rural comedies" of the 1960s, including The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres. Ransohoff left the company in 1972. Filmways acquired famous companies throughout the years, such as Heatter-Quigley Productions in 1966 for (Hollywood Squares), syndicator Rhodes Productions in 1975 (Rhodes broke apart from the company in 1980 by becoming independent), animation studio Ruby-Spears Productions in 1978, book publisher Grosset & Dunlap, and American International Pictures in 1979. In 1982 Filmways was acquired in a merger with Orion Pictures Corporation. Today, most of the Filmways library is owned by MGM (successor-in-interest to Orion).

The logos that were used

The "Filmways Globe" logo was used in 1961–1978. On a starry blue background, a small horizontally stretched out globe is seen. It has latitude and longitude lines on it, and the equator extends beyond the globe, with small Richter scale-like lines on part of it. From behind the globe, "A FILMWAYS" in a 3D font and curved to match the globe's position, zoom northwards. "TELEVISION PRESENTATION" fades in below the globe.

There is a voiceover saying " This has been a Filmways presentation". Those who said the phrase are listed below:

Petticoat Junction: Betty Jo Bradley (Linda Kaye Henning)
Green Acres: Lisa Douglas (Eva Gabor), she says it with "Dahling".
The Beverly Hillbillies: Ellie May Clampett (Donna Douglas)
Mister Ed: Roger Addison (Larry Keating)
The Addams Family: The logo was silent, but in some episodes the phrase was said in a deep baritone voice by Ted Cassidy, but he did not say it in his usual "Lurch" voice.

The "Filmways Trail" logo was used in 1978–1981. On a black screen, many differently coloured "FILMWAYS" zoom up from the bottom of the screen towards a white "FILMWAYS". All the multicoloured "FILMWAYS" merge into the white "FILMWAYS". It had a synthesized orchestrated tune edited with xylophone scales.

The most short-lived logo was used in 1981–1983. On a black background, a round orange glow of light appears, and in it a light blue light forms a logo. Underneath the words "FILMWAYS TELEVISION" fly back with a whitish blue light effect. Both the logo and the words turn solid as the lights fade, with the logo turning blue and the words white. The logo is a rounded box/maze with a stylized "F" joined with a shape that may be an upside down and/or backwards "F". It had some orchestrated tune or the end of the show's theme. It was used until Filmways' takeover by Orion.

Ownership of Television Properties

A huge majority of Filmways Television's backlog through the 1980s, such as Green Acres, The Addams Family, Cagney & Lacey, Hollywood Squares, and Mister Ed, was passed to Orion when it merged with Filmways, and is currently owned by Sony Pictures Television by way of MGM which purchased Orion in 1998, with a few exceptions. CBS holds ownership rights to The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction. Viacom (the parent of CBS from 1999-2005, actually started as CBS' syndication arm) syndicated Filmways' output through the 1970s.

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