Lorimar Productions
Encyclopedia : L : LO : LOR : Lorimar Productions
Lorimar Productions was an American television production company, active from 1968-1993. It was founded by Merv Adelson, Irwin Molasky and Lee Rich, who named the company after Adelson's ex-wife Lori, and their last initials (M for Molasky, A for Adelson, R for Rich).
Lorimar's first major hit production was The Waltons, which premiered in 1972. Throughout the 1970s, Lorimar produced several other shows as well; of these, the most popular by far was Dallas. In 1980, Lorimar Productions purchased the bankrupt Allied Artists Pictures Corporation.
In the 1980s, Lorimar's output swung toward family-friendly sitcoms; among these were Perfect Strangers and Full House. In 1986, Lorimar merged with television syndication firm Telepictures, becoming Lorimar-Telepictures; later that year, they purchased the MGM lot from Ted Turner.
In 1988, Lorimar-Telepictures was purchased by Warner Communications. Telepictures' distribution business was folded into Warner Bros. Television; since then, the Telepictures name has been resurrected as both a production company (circa 1990), and once again as a syndication company (1996, after the Turner merger). The former MGM studio lot was sold to Sony to house Columbia Pictures and Sony's other film operations (interestingly, a group led by Sony would eventually acquire MGM itself). Lorimar continued as a production company until 1993, when it was absorbed into Warner Bros. The last series to premiere under the Lorimar name was Time Trax.
Additionally, Lorimar has owned key components of the film library of the defunct Allied Artists film studio (originally Monogram Pictures); these too are now owned by Warners.
The Logos
One notable thing about Lorimar when it comes to production logos is that more than a few were scared by its 1978-1986 logo, commonly called "The Line of Doom". The logo has a black background with yellow-orange letter/logo colour. The company name was totally animated out by a thin line. The yellow-orange line would begin its trip at left center screen. Going down and turning, it forms the "L", the makes a loop to form the "O", turns again and goes up, around, and diagonally to form the "R", and then back up to form the "I". Another section starts, going up, diagonally down, diagonally up, then down again forming the "M", then up and down at angles to form the "A", then finally, up, around, and down diagonally to form the second "R". It had the same music as its predecessor.Though this logo appeared on all TV shows, mini-series, and movies, both theatrical (post MGM/United Artists period, starting around 1980-1981), and made-for-TV, as well as syndicated shows (starting in 1983), its most famous use was at the end of the hit TV drama series Dallas. More often than not with this hit Lorimar title, the splice between the end credit roll and the logo animation was 1.5-2 seconds.
Other Lorimar Logos
Its predecessor: The \"LP\" logo
The Line of Doom replaced this logo which was used starting in 1972, and lasting until the new TV season in Autumn of 1978. On a blank red screen, a thick white line draws out the letter "L", then it turns and goes straight, then wraps around to form the letter "P". While the 'logo' was formed, the text 'A LORIMAR PRODUCTION" is drawn out simultaneously.
The short musical jingle (aka 'stinger') was created using a filtered/sustained electric piano. This seemed to have more of a creepy effect with the 1978-1986 'LORIMAR' animation, rather than this predecessor. The theme was composed by Jack Elliot and Allyn Ferguson, who penned the themes to TV hits Barney Miller and Charlie's Angels.
The successors: The White Marble Background and the in-credit logo
The Line of Doom was replaced with the Lorimar-Telepictures logo that was used from 1986-1988. That was replaced with the White Marble that was used from 1988-1993. On a white marble background, wave ripples zoom out from the center, causing "LORIMAR", in black, to be written out. Then a shadowed red bar with "TELEVISION", in white, etched in, rotates in below LORIMAR. In 1990, a Time Warner (Entertainment) byline is seen below, right after the bar rotates in. It had a synth driven track with a horn that plays 5 notes. There is also some wind FX behind the music.
The 1990-1993 variant (seen on Miller-Boyett sitcoms like Full House and Step by Step) had gone back to the Line of Doom for this, but with "TELEVISION" below and no animation. It had an announcer who said "(Show title) is a (show creator... usually Miller-Boyett Productions) in association with Lorimar Television and is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution". This logo can get cut off after the "Miller-Boyett line often, meaning they skip to the 1984 WB Television logo with AOL Time Warner byline.
Notable productions
- The Waltons (1972-1981)
- Sybil (TV movie) (1976)
- Helter Skelter (TV mini-series) (1976)
- Eight is Enough (1977-1981)
- Dallas (1978-1991)
- Knots Landing (1979-1993)
- Flamingo Road (1980-1982)
- The Big Red One (1980)
- S.O.B. (theatrical film) (1981)
- The People's Court (1981-1993)
- Falcon Crest (1981-1990)
- King's Crossing (1982)
- Love Connection (1983-1994, 1998-1999)
- Hunter (1984-1991)
- Mama's Family (1986-1990 version, distribution only)
- The Hogan Family (1986-1991)
- Perfect Strangers (1986-1993)
- Max Headroom (1987)
- Full House (1987-1995)
- Family Matters (1989-1998)
- Homefront (1991-1993)
- Sisters (1991-1996)
- Step By Step (1991-1998)
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