Universal Pictures will be marking its 100th Anniversary in 2012. As Director of Archives & Collections for NBCUniversal, I am charged with keeping a vast record of the amazing work produced by our company. Part of that is also reflecting back on how our illustrious company has evolved over the past 100 years and looking at the tradition of re-imagining our logo to commemorate significant milestones.

I’m excited to share with you a recount of the many evolutions our logo has taken over the years.

Legend has it that Carl Laemmle named the company after seeing a “Universal Pipe Fittings” truck pass by his New York office window.  Though our name may have been inspired by a whim, today Universal is considered a pioneer in cinematic history.  Our logo symbolizes the films we’ve created which have not only impacted millions, but also helped tell the story of filmmaking.

The Universal logo has gone on to change over the years since 1912. From the silent logo of UNIVERSAL FILMS encircling the globe…to the ‘droning propeller plane circling the globe’ that marked the arrival of sound…and finally, to today’s more modern and vivid Universe—the Universal logo has reflected the evolution of film.

Today, we are unveiling the new still of the Universal logo for our centennial and giving you a special look into our logo’s progression over the years.  We thank you for being a part of our history and invite you to join us in the 100th anniversary celebration. It’s going to be an exciting year and I am thrilled to be documenting the entire celebration for our company!