Where Can I Learn More About The History Of The NBC Peacock?

Question

Any Website Or Video Or Book Is Nice.

Answer 1

NBC Peacock logos
Contrary to popular belief, the Peacock was not originally used as NBC's own logo; the 1956 and 1962 versions were used solely to identify the network's color broadcasts, while other logos (initially the xylophone logo, but most commonly the "NBC Snake") identified NBC itself. Nonetheless, the Peacock became so famously identified with NBC that it was incorporated into the network logo in 1979 by Fred Silverman, then President of NBC, due to prior research from 1977 in NBC's corporate planning department by Peter Kliegman who recommended the station identification value of the Peacock and suggested the Peacock be utilized as a logo. The Peacock became the sole logo in 1986.

1956 Peacock logo

The first NBC Peacock logo designed by John J. GrahamIn 1956, John J. Graham created an abstraction of an eleven-feathered peacock to indicate richness in color. This brightly hued peacock was adopted due to the increase in color programming. NBC's first color broadcasts showed only a still frame of the colorful peacock. On September 7, 1957 on Your Hit Parade the peacock was animated, and thereafter appeared at the beginning of every NBC color broadcast until a revamped animation appeared in 1961. Its musical backing was a gong while the peacock began its formup, then an announcer saying "The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC" while the music crescendoed, and after that a bombastic nine-note flourish while the peacock's feathers changed color and finally "filled out". According to the Game Show Network executive David Schwartz, the first announcer who spoke those famous words behind the Peacock graphic logo was Ben Grauer, a familiar voice on NBC's since 1930.

1962 Peacock logo ("Laramie Peacock")
On January 1, 1962, on the Laramie series, a second version of the Peacock opening was introduced in which the bird fanned its bright plumage against a kaleidoscopic color background. Like the 1956 Peacock, this logo only appeared at the start of NBC color broadcasts; as all NBC broadcasts eventually became color, it was generally used only to open those shows that had traditionally opened with the Peacock such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The "Laramie Peacock" (named for the series which introduced it) was retired on December 31, 1975. It used the same "living color" spiel as did the first peacock, but its music piece was a soft, woodwind-based number.

1979 Peacock logo

NBC 1979 logoThe Peacock, still with eleven feathers, returned in the fall of 1979, was married with the N, to create a design called "the Proud N". This was the first time the Peacock was actually part of NBC's own logo. It was simplified in keeping with the letter's pared-down design. Although all eleven feathers were intact, the teardrop tips were gone, the feet were gone and the Peacock's body became a simple triangular shape. On several occasions, the new Peacock was used independently of the N (starting with the 1979 "Proud as a Peacock" advertising campaign that reintroduced the Peacock). However, the N and the Peacock were usually used together between 1979 and 1985.

As before, the peacock featured 11 feathers and 11 different colors. However, due to the limitations of character generators at the time, a version of the logo with all red feathers was used frequently in promotions.

1986 Peacock logo

The 1986 Peacock logo, redesigned by Chermayeff & Geismar. The feathers were said originally to represent the network's six divisions.On May 12, 1986, during a broadcast of the NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration, every NBC star (past and present) stood on stage to introduce a new logo to America. The arranged marriage of "N" and Peacock ended, and "The Bird" finally assumed its official place as NBC's symbol. The peacock was now flipped to the right to suggest it was forward looking, not back. With its six feathers then representing the network's divisions (at the time: News, Sports, Entertainment, Stations, Network, and Productions) as well as the six primary and secondary colors, this Peacock, redesigned by Chermayeff & Geismar, remains one of the world's most recognized logos. Almost all of NBC's affiliates added the new peacock to their logo, but a few still kept the old peacock on their logo for a few months after the logo's introduction. The new logo was adopted January 1, 1987.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Broadcasting_Company_logos

Answer 2

Nbc Peacock History

Answer 3

I have no idea. But, hey, I was there. In the days before color television, the NBC Peacock let the country know that the following program was being broadcast in COLOR for all of the fortunate rich people who owned the first color televisions. I think NBC was the first network to broadcast in color. Go, NBC. You are still the best!

Answer 4

Here is one for general history.
www.nbc17.com/station/1333030/detail.html

This is about the guy who designed it.
http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/desi.2003.19.4.91?cookieSet=1&journalCode=desi

more specifics and pics
http://www.big13.net/NBC%20Peacock/NBCPeacock1.htm

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

http://www.big13.net/NBC%20Peacock/NBCPeacock1.htm
http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/nbcLivingColor.html