The Hidden Meaning Behind These Movie Logos

Founded in 1918 by siblings Harry and Jack Cohn and friend Joel Brandt as CBC Film Sales Corporation, Columbia Pictures is one of the oldest studios in Hollywood. In its early years, the studio mostly churned out low-budget fare, leading the Cohns and Brandt to re-brand themselves in 1924 as the more sophisticated-sounding Columbia Pictures. Their name and torch-bearing female logo refer to Lady Columbia, which is the mostly forgotten female symbol of the United States. Before there was Uncle Sam, there was Lady Columbia in her patriotic robes and armor, leading the way for America.

The studio has always used an image of a woman with a torch. The most recent iteration was designed by painter Michael Deas in 1992 during a massive reorganization of the studio. The original Lady Columbia was draped in an American flag, but Deas was told to change the color scheme to white, orange, and blue. (In a 2013 interview, Deas said he couldn't remember whether it was due to legal or trademark issues.) On the suggestion of a mutual friend, he asked Jenny Joseph, a graphic artist at The Times-Picayune of New Orleans, to be his model. The photo shoot lasted four hours, and Deas used the resulting images for his iconic painting. It's the only time Joseph has ever modeled, but millions of people have seen her face for the last 25 years every time they go to the movies. Not a bad torch to bear.

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