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Volney Phifer, who was MGM’s choice animal wrangler, trained Slats. “The two became close, and when Slats died in 1936, Phifer had the body sent to his farm and buried it there, marking the ...
Leo, the eighth and current lion, is by far MGM's longest-used, having appeared on most MGM films since 1957. Leo was born in 1956 in Dublin Zoo, Ireland, the same as Slats. He was also the youngest at the time MGM filmed him roaring, hence his much smaller mane. Leo made his debut for the film Tip on a Dead Jockey .
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Mascot of MGM Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Mascot of MGM
Oct 26, 2021 · The first lion was named Slats, not Leo, and his iconic roar was missing from the original on-screen logo, albeit for good reason: MGM predates the use of sound in movies. Slats was born in the Dublin Zoo and chosen by logo designer Howard Dietz as an homage to the mascot of his alma mater, Columbia University.
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There's an old urban legend that says that the original MGM lion, presumably Slats, went a bit berserk when they were trying to get him to film the clip of the logo. Rumor had it that he killed his trainer and two other people on set after the filming was finished, but it's absolutely not true.
- Slats (1917–1928) Wikimedia Commons. Slats, born at the Dublin Zoo, was MGM's first lion. He had previously appeared in the logo of the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, where designer Howard Dietz chose the lion as a mascot as a tribute to his alma mater Columbia University and its athletic teams, the Lions.
- Jackie (1928-1956) Jackie, aka "Leo," in a Ryan Brougham airplane modified to take him on a transcontinental flight in 1927. Photo Courtesy of. Jackie was the first MGM lion to make his voice heard, thanks to the gramophone.
- Tanner (1934–1956) and George (1956–1958) Not much is known about either of these guys. Tanner reigned through the "Golden Age Of Hollywood” and was described as MGM's “angriest” lion by Koontz because he snarled all the time.
- Leo (1957-present) Leo is MGM's longest-serving lion and was also the youngest at the time his roar was filmed. In addition to his appearance in the logo, he appeared in several Tarzan movies, the Tarzan television adaptation, and other films.
You must have seen Leo the lion roar hundreds of times, but what do you really know about the legendary Metro Goldwyn Mayer Lions (MGM Lions)? The original classic lion trademark of Goldwyn Pictures was designed by Howard Dietz who served as its publicist/director of advertising.
Jul 24, 2023 · 01. The first MGM logos: 1924-1939. The earliest static logos, from 1924; an opening titles logo showing Jackie as Leo the Lion in 1928; Groucho Marx temporarily replacing the lion on screen in 1935. (Image credit: MGM)
