The Secret of the Torch Girl! Who Inspired the Columbia Pictures Logo?
Every time a Columbia Pictures movie starts, the screen is filled with the majestic image of a woman holding a torch. This logo has become iconic, but few people wonder: who is this mysterious girl? Let's figure out where this symbol came from, who inspired its creation, and what secrets are hidden in the history of one of the most recognizable logos in the world of cinema.
Columbia Pictures, founded in 1924, was determined to create a memorable image from the start. Columbia was originally called CBC Film Sales Corporation. But founder Gary Cohn soon realized that such a boring name would not attract any attention, so he renamed the company Columbia Pictures after the female figure named Columbia, who represented the United States of America.
The first logo appeared in the 1920s, and even then it depicted the same Columbia, a woman with a torch, symbolizing freedom, light and art. The Statue of Liberty served as a prototype, but the designers decided to add uniqueness, turning the image into something softer and more cinematic.
Over the decades, the logo changed, but the idea remained the same: a woman with a torch became the face of the brand. By the 1990s, the logo had acquired the modern look we know today - majestic, with soft lines and a cinematic scope.
Initially, instead of a burning torch, she held an olive branch and a shield, taking on the image of a Roman soldier.
The previous logo was quickly replaced by another one - a girl holding a torch in one hand, and they considered it necessary to get rid of the shield.
The concept of the logo was finally approved in 1928 and has not changed since then - only its graphic component has changed. This version existed for 40 years.
Modernity - color logos conquer the world. Columbia Pictures did not stay aside.
The logo that existed from 1981 to 1992.
The most intriguing question is: was there a real woman who inspired the image? The answer is yes, but the story is not as simple as it seems. In 1992, Columbia Pictures decided to update the logo, and for this they brought in artist Michael J. Deas. He created a new version of the image based not on one specific model, but on a combination of several ideas.
But the key figure was Jenny Joseph, an ordinary woman from Texas who accidentally found herself in the spotlight. Jenny worked as a secretary and agreed to pose for a photo shoot organized to create the logo. Photographers dressed her in a white dress, and in her hands she held a lamp imitating a torch. It was her silhouette and facial features that formed the basis for the final design.
The process of creating the logo in 1992 was a true art. Michael J. Deas used photographs by Jenny Joseph but added digital elements to them. He aimed to make the image universal, so that it would look both majestic and accessible.
The photo shoot took place in New Orleans, and simple improvised means were used to create the desired effect: fabric for drapery, a lamp instead of a torch, and even a fan to create a sense of movement. The result was so successful that the logo is still used today, with only minor modifications.
It is interesting that Jenny was not a professional model and did not even suspect that her image would become part of the world film industry. This was her first and last shooting as a model in her life. But Jenny appears on TV screens around the world almost more often than any other model! After the photo shoot, she returned to her normal life, and her name remained in the shadows for a long time.
Did you know the story behind the girl from the Columbia Pictures logo? Do you have any ideas about who might have inspired this image? Share your thoughts in the comments!