Tomorrow, Oct. 20, marks the 60th anniversary of the iconic CBS “Eye” logo. First introduced during the network’s station breaks on Saturday, Oct. 20, 1951, the
logo has gone on to become one of the most identifiable corporate symbols of any type, let alone among TV networks. In the Eye’s original animated incarnation, its center was a camera iris that opened and shut, and the first still version set the Eye against a background of clouds. Over the years there have been different colors and sizes of the Eye, but the design has remained unchanged.
Ironically, a culture with little need for television may be partially to credit for inspiring this classic TV logo. After being asked to come up with an on-air symbol to give CBS an identity, creative director Bill Golden was inspired while driving through Pennsylvania Dutch country, becoming intrigued by the hex symbols representing the human eye that are drawn on Shaker barns to ward off evil spirits. With the help of graphic artist Kurt Weihs, the Eye logo was created.
On Oct. 20, CBS.com will be replacing its homepage’s current and prominently placed CBS Eye with the original Eye logo. Users hovering over the Eye will see a brief explanation of its significance, and clicking on it will direct them to a Charles Osgood story about the creation and history of the logo. Users of both CBS.com and CBSNews.com can view photo essays of the Eye logos throughout the decades. Kicking off the Thursday primetime schedule at 8pm ET/PT, CBS will broadcast an on-air spot showcasing the various logos throughout the years. Additionally, a network ID featuring the original CBS Eye and date the Eye was established will be shown at the top of each of the following two hours of primetime.
CBS Eyes pictured above:
Top left: First CBS Eye in 1951
Top right: The Eye enters the era of color television in the 1960s
Middle left: The Eye celebrates 50 years of broadcasting in the 1970s
Middle right: CBS’ first fully computer-generated Eye in the 1980s
Bottom left: The Eye returns to simplicity in the 1990s
Bottom right: The Eye in high-definition for a new century
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Photo courtesy of CBS
