Dick Clark Productions

Logo descriptions by Jason Jones, Edc4, and File Preserver
Logo captures by AsdfTheRevival, The Museum of Broadcast Communications, Eric S., snelfu, EnormousRat, TheEriccorpinc, Edc4, Unidassler, and ENunn
Editions by AsdfTheRevival, Bob Fish and Unidassler
Video captures courtesy of Phasicblu, TLogos, Eric S., Senritsu Aiko, Edc4 and Unidassler

Background: Dick Clark Productions is an entertainment production company established in 1957 by entertainer Dick Clark, producing television shows, television specials, and television movies. In 2007, it was sold to Daniel Snyder, owner of American football team Washington Redskins and former chairman of amusement park Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, for $175 million. Around September 2016, the Dalian Wanda Group, a Chinese family-owned conglomerate (which owns a controlling interest in AMC Theatres and fully owns Legendary Entertainment), was in talks of acquiring the company for $1 billion. The transaction was confirmed on November 4th. However the Wanda Group called off the deal in March 2017. In February 1, 2018, the company merged with Media Rights Capital and Billboard-Hollywood Media Reporter Group to form Valence Media.

1st Logo
(1964-1980)

Nicknames: "dc", "A Dick Clark TV Production", "The Normal dc"

Logo: This logo features a line drawing downward. Then a circle is placed along the line, forming the letter "d". Then, a "c" is drawn inside the "d" counter-clockwise. The words:

---a-------------------------------------------------
dick----------------------------
clark-----------------------
TV PRODUCTION

appear vertically along the "D".

Variants:

From 1964-1969, this logo was only a still superimposed image, scrolling along with the production credits.
Sometimes, the text would simply read "A DICK CLARK PRODUCTION".
The variants before 1969 had different interpretations of the text on the logo, ranging from "Dick Clark Television Productions, Inc." to "dick clark productions".
The currently found variants after 1969 usually have different colors for the text. Such examples include the text rendered in an orange-esque color to a wine-like purple. The text would read "a dick clark TELEVISION PRODUCTION"

FX/SFX: The drawing of the "D" and "C".

Music/Sounds: The outro of any program produced by the company, like American Bandstand, for instance.

Music/Sounds Variant: From 1958 to 1968, Charlie O'Donnell announced American Bandstand and says the following during the credits: "American Bandstand is a Dick Clark Production".

Availability: Extinct. It appeared on American Bandstand and Happening.

2nd Logo
(1977-1980)

Nicknames: "dc II", "dc Snake", "dc ∞", "dc '77",

Logo: Over a black background, we see the forming of a line in the center. At the same time a strange shape forms on top of the line, almost forming the infinity symbol. The image appears to be a lowercase Avant Garde font "D" and "C" joined together,.

Variant: On the Media Home Entertainment edition of The Man in the Santa Claus Suit, the words "dick clark cinema productions, inc." appeared when the logo was forming.

FX/SFX: The forming of the "dc" logo, whose animation is similar to the NBC Snake logo.

Music/Sounds: Had a short keyboard tune or the closing theme of the show/movie.

Availability: Rare. Appeared on the TV movies Elvis,The Man in the Santa Claus Suit, and Birth of The Beatles, as well as American Bandstand.

3rd Logo
(1980-1983)

Nicknames: "dc III", "Golden dc Bar", "Spinning Bar", "80s dc"

Logo: Starts with a golden bar zooming in, and starting to spin clockwise. The bar forms a circular image which splits in two and turns into an "o" and "c". All three images stick together to form the "dc" logo. The text "A Dick Clark Production" appears below.

FX/SFX: The spinning of the gold bar.

Music/Sounds: A descending xylophone scale.

Availability: Extremely rare. It appeared on American Bandstand. This was also spotted in the 1982 ABC Saturday Morning Pac Preview Party special.

4th Logo
(1983-1989)

Nicknames: "dc IV", "Golden dc Bar II", "80s dc II"

Logo: We see an outlined bar rising from the center of the screen. A circle emerges to the left to form the "D" and revolves around to the right to form a "C", forming the "dc" logo. It then shines to gold. As this happens, "dick clark productions" or "a dick clark motion picture." appears below.

FX/SFX: The logo forming and the shining gold letters. Pretty neat animation.

Music/Sounds: Mystical synthesizer music that ends with what sounds like a low bass sound. Sometimes, the end theme plays over the logo.

Music/Sounds Variant: One version uses the theme from the Dick Clark Video logo.

Availability: Extremely rare. It was seen on TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes, American Bandstand, and Puttin' on the Hits.

5th Logo
(1989-April 7, 2019)

Nicknames: "90s dc", "dc V", "Golden dc Bar III", "CGI (Golden) dc", 3D dc"

Logo: On a black background, a yellow line shoots up the screen, curving around an object that is revealed to be the "dc" logo. A purple light appears in the background, as the camera rotates around so the "dc" is seen from the right. A light forms "dick clark productions", and the "dc" logo later shines.

Variants:

A shorter version can be seen only with the light forming the company's text.
In July of 2000, the company's website "www.dickclark.com" appeared on some network shows.
In 2007, the logo was graphically enhanced to feature a background with various red and blue lights, a brighter "dc", and a brighter company name. This is normally seen with the short version, but a long version of it exists on Dick Clark Interviews.

FX/SFX: The streak of light, the "dc" shine.

Music/Sounds: Same as the Dick Clark Video "Golden dc" logo, complete with whooshes and lasers.

Music/Sounds Variants:

The shorter version uses the "crescending" synthesizer note (see the Dick Clark Video logo).
On The Challengers, Don Morrow says "In association with Dick Clark Productions" over the logo.
On the short-lived FOX game show The Chamber, a generic rock tune plays.

Availability: No longer current, but easy to find. Can still be found on various TV specials, including New Years Rockin' Eve, The American Music Awards, and Bloopers. Also appears on The Weird Al Show and 19 Entertainment's So You Think You Can Dance.

Editor's Note: All in all, the FX used in the logo have held up very well over the years, as the logo was nice looking for its time.

6th Logo

(April 7, 2019- )

Nicknames: "10s dcp", "Silver dcp", "CGI (Silver) dcp", " 3D dcp"

Logo: On a black background accompanied by a light, we see a close up of the letters "dcp" rotating downwards from the left. As the logo fades in and fades out again, the "dcp" pans from the bottom right, now accompanied by the text "dick clark productions", to zoom into the center of the logo, while at same the the light and its lens flare move to the top left and bottom right respectfully. The finished logo zooms out slowly.

FX/SFX: The light and lens flare, the "dcp" panning and zooming out.

Music/Sounds: A new synthesized "choir-like" theme, with whooshes heard throughout.

Availability: Brand new. First appeared on the 54th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, and should be seen on the company's current and future shows and TV specials.

Editor's Note: This logo marks Dick Clark Productions' first overall logo change in 42 years, and compared to the iconic golden "dc", a very bland and disappointing one at that, especially in regards to the 5th logo.

Dick Clark Productions

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