Dan Curtis Productions

Background

Dan Curtis Productions was the production company of Dan Curtis, which was founded in June 1966. The company mainly released content based on Horror and Mystery for the big three networks during this period (ABC, NBC, CBS). The company ultimately shut down following Dan Curtis' death on March 27, 2006. They were most known for Dark Shadows (including it's short-lived remake of the same name), and various TV movies, including The Norliss Tapes and their final production, Our Fathers.

Contents

1st Logo (June 27, 1966-November 5, 1973)	2nd Logo (February 21, 1973)	3rd Logo (1975-2006)	4th Logo (January 13-March 22, 1991)

1st Logo (June 27, 1966-November 5, 1973)

Dead of Night: A Darkness at Blaisedon Variant
Dark Shadows-Episode 1082 Variant
The Invasion of Carol Enders Variant

Logo: Scrolling up in the credits of Dark Shadows, we see a superimposed logo with cursive-like text (the first letters of each word are in boxes) as follows:

Dan
Curtis
Productions, inc.
copyright © (year)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Variants:

There was different variants of the logo seen on Dark Shadows where the background would be different (like in Episode 1082). In 1970-1971, it would be in color.
On some 1970-71 episodes, a text-only version was used as follows:DAN CURTIS
PRODUCTIONS, INC.
copyright © [year]
Another variation, seen on the 1969 TV movie Dead of Night: A Darkness at Blaisedon, is like the stylized-text version used on Dark Shadows, except the following copyright disclaimer is used:© MCMLXIX DONNYBROOK PRODUCTIONS, INC.
All rights reservedIt's also in a black background with lights shown.
On The Invasion of Carol Enders, the first letters are in a bold, normal font and the rest is set to a cursive font. It also has the copyright text: ⒸCopyright 1973

FX/SFX: The text scrolling up in the credits.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of Dark Shadows, that can either be a spooky dark theme, and/or a deep voice-over with a echo/stutter-like effect saying, "Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production."

Music/Sound Variant: In Dead of the Night: A Darkness at Blaisedon, it uses its own theme.

Availability: Found on all episodes of the original Dark Shadows TV series as well as The Invasion of Carol Enders. It also appears in the TV Movie Dead of the Night: A Darkness

Legacy: The theme and the announcer are notable for being ominous. But it is fitting due to the shows above are horror-related.

2nd Logo (February 21, 1973)

Logo: There is another in-credit text that reads:

A
DAN
CURTIS
PRODUCTION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH

The logo then disappears & cuts to the Metromedia Producers Corporation 2nd logo that is superimposed on the same background (which is an extreme close-up of the antagonist of the movie's face, along with it being the last shot of the movie).

FX/SFX: The text appearing.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the film, which consists of a dramatic trumpet fanfare.

Availability: Seen on the 1973 TV movie The Norliss Tapes, which was actually a pilot for an unaired series.

Legacy: This logo is somewhat notorious for being scary to many people thanks to the scary music and the creepy look of the eyes. This can also be a bit cheesy due to the face looking like a man who never wakes up (though it's more nightmarish than cheesy). It's also intentional due to the theme of the TV Movie.

3rd Logo (1975-2006)

Kansas City Massacre
The Dark Sky Films Release of Trilogy of Terror
Shares with Osiris Films

Logo: All we see is yet another in-credit text (which is the following):

A Dan Curtis Production
A Dan Curtis Productions in Association with
Dan Curtis Productions, Inc. in Association with

On a black background. It would then show a different logo.

Variant: Over the years, the text can be in a custom font and/or be superimposed in a different background, like Kansas City Massacre, which uses the in-credit background.

FX/SFX: Either the text appearing (often TV Series) or the Scrolling of the Credits (often TV Movies).

Music/Sounds: None, or the End Theme of the Television Series/Movie.

Availability: Uncommon. Was seen on the majority of Dan Curtis's releases including Trilogy of Terror, Kansas City Massacre, Trilogy of Terror II, Winds of War, & many others. Strangely, some movies at the time don't have the logo whatsoever.

4th Logo (January 13-March 22, 1991)

Logo: Again, another in-credit text in white against a castle that reads "DAN CURTIS TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS, INC." appear. Then the text "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" in a smaller font below appear a second later. Then it fades to the MGM Television logo (due to plastering).

FX/SFX: The text appearing, as well as the slow movement of the camera on a location (including a house), which is in live-action.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the show.

Availability: It was only seen on the short-lived 1991 revival Dark Shadows, which said in the background, it ended shortly due to low ratings.