Pearl & Dean (UK)

Logo descriptions by It'sATrap
Photos by youjustfailedfilms and StephenCezar15
Editions by StephenCezar15

Background: Pearl and Dean is a British cinema advertising company, founded by brothers Charles and Ernie Pearl, and Robert "Bob" Dean. They advertise in cinemas which aren't part of the Vue, Cineworld or Odeon chains, like for example Empire Cinemas or the Prince Charles Cinema just off of Leicester Square.

1st Logo
(1953-1968, 1970-1972)

Nickname: "Pillars"

Logo: On a sky background, we see some pillars. Some text fades in at the center of the pillars, and we then begin zooming in. Once we get close, the camera stops, and the text is then revealed to say "PEARL & DEAN present" in yellow. The logo then fades out.

Variants:

A later variant in the early 70's had the camera not zooming in as much, and the sky was brighter. This variant has been nicknamed "Pillars II".
A version that says, "PEARL, DEAN & YOUNGERS" exists.

FX/SFX: The zooming in of the logo.

Music/Sounds: For the first variant, a rather majestic fanfare. For the second, a Latin-flavored music piece.

Music/Sounds Variant: The later "Pillars II" variant mentioned above had a slightly cheerful all-brass fanfare.

Availability: Was seen in UK cinemas in the 50's.

Editor’s Note: None.

2nd Logo
(1968-1970)

Nickname: "Groovy Dancers"

Logo: Two vertical lines (one green, one yellow) are made on the screen. They unfold and make the letters "P" and "D" (for Pearl and Dean). Each has a clip of someone dancing in it. They fold back again, and unfold to the "P" and "D" again, but this time with different clips. They yet again fold back, but this time, they disappear. Ten smaller lines in rows are five are made, which unfold to make the words “PEARL & DEAN” in a rather odd looking font. Each letter has a small clip in it, but they then combine to make a large image of a car passing. When the car goes by, the smaller clips return to normal, and seven lines appear under the "PEARL & DEAN", and they unfold to read “PRESENTS”.

FX/SFX: Pretty much all the unfolding of the lines and the dancing clips.

Music/Sounds: A rather fitting dance tune.

Availability: Very rare. Was shown in UK cinemas in the 60's.

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Editor’s Note: None.

3rd Logo
(1972-1997)

Pearl & Dean (With Phone Number - 1970's)

Nickname: "Asteroid"

Logo: We begin with a black space (which constantly changes shape) on a blue background. An odd looking white shape appears from that black space, which later fades. When it does, all manner of shapes start shooting up from the center, and while that is happening, the text "PEARL & DEAN PRESENTS" in white (sometimes blue) shoots up from the center. After it has been there for a few seconds, the logo fades.

Trivia: Heineken used the music in this logo to create an ad specifically for British cinema where the song keeps breaking down and is refreshed by the drink.

Variants:

A closing version exists, with, "PEARL & DEAN" zooming out, instead of in. The "PRESENTS" text is absent.
Another closing version with the company's phone number underneath "PEARL & DEAN".
A higher-pitched version exists, although this might be because of deterioration.

FX/SFX: The zooming in of the shapes, the black space changing shapes, and the zooming in of the Pearl and Dean text.

Music/Sounds: The now iconic twenty-second piece named "Asteroid" composed by Pete Moore.

Availability: No longer showing in cinemas, but has now been recognized as legendary by many people. Lots of videos of it are on YouTube, and it can be seen on Pearl and Dean's official website.

Editor’s Note: This logo is very memorable and a favorite, thanks to the music.

4th Logo
(1997-2011)

Nicknames: "Asteroid II", "Fast Filmstrips"

Logo: We see lots of colorful images of filmstrips (or at least the sprockets most of the time) moving around, constantly changing scene, in time with the music. When that finishes, on a background of the filmstrips, the words "PEARL & DEAN" appear in the middle of the screen.

Variant:

In its earlier years, the text is smaller, in a different font, and it fades in.
There is a SpongeBob variant of this. The normal filmstrip plays but it also has SpongeBob singing the tune. Then, when the logo finishes the "Pearl & Dean" text is missing and the logo zooms out to reveal the Nickelodeon 'splat' logo and the phrase "Enjoy the Show". SpongeBob then appears one last time doing his signature laugh.

FX/SFX: Pretty much all the filmstrip animation.

Music/Sounds: A re-recorded version of the music from the third logo. On the SpongeBob variant, Gary meows then SpongeBob says "Quiet Gary, it's starting!". He then proceeds to sing the Pearl & Dean theme. Then, when the logo zooms out to the Nickelodeon splat, a THX-like synth note which is interrupted by SpongeBob's laugh.

Availability: No longer current.

Editor’s Note: Like the previous logo, this is also very memorable. The SpongeBob variant is a favorite amongst SpongeBob fans.

5th Logo
(2006-2011)

Nickname: "Film Lovers"

Logo: This logo bears a resemblance to "Asteroid". On a blue background, we see filmstrips appearing from the center of the screen, and then the following text zooms up all the way from the centre of the screen, in this order:

"all the latest film news...

reviews of the latest releases...

movie merchandise and ringtones...

cinema listings for every site in the UK and Ireland..."

When that text finishes appearing, the filmstrips stop appearing, the text "Pearl & Dean for film lovers everywhere" flips in, with "Pearl & Dean" in white, and at the same time, the website URL, <a class="external" href="http://www.pearlanddean.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.pearlanddean.com</a>, fades in. The URL shines, and the "Pearl & Dean for film lovers everywhere" text zooms in, with "Pearl & Dean" zooming in first.

FX/SFX: The filmstrips appearing, all the text zooming in, the "Pearl & Dean for film lovers" text, and the website URL fading in and shining.

Music/Sounds: Same as the fourth logo.

Availability: No longer current but can still be seen on YouTube.

Editor’s Note: None.

6th Logo
(2011-2014)

Logo: On a purple background, a sort of wave appears along with what looks like glitter. When that is almost off the screen, a shooting star flies on from the right of the screen, splits in two and draws a carmine pink "&" sign. That zooms out as the words "Pearl" and "Dean" appear on either side of it. They stop in the center of the screen.

FX/SFX: The wave, the shooting star and the text zooming out.

Music/Sounds: A shortened and remixed version of the Asteroid music.

Availability: No longer current.

Editor’s Note: None.

6th Logo
(2014- )

Nickname: "Circles"

Logo: A group of white circles' movement is being synchronized on a violet background. After the music finishes, a larger circle with the "Pearl & Dean" name appears.

FX/SFX: The circles.

Music/Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: Currently in use.

Editor’s Note: None.

Pearl & Dean (UK)

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