Margaret;
This is about the silliest thing I've heard yet...
I checked out the item on the page. I was there from the very beginning (and I do mean VERY beginning). I have never seen this piece of art before. Examining it, I can tell you that it bears no resemblance at all to the original logo art (which was done in pen by Larry Elmore and which, interestingly enough, I have around here somewhere). More than just the art itself, the story is ludicrous to those of us where were there. Here's the text from the website:
"The $1,000,000 painting! Sensing that there new Dragonlance novels and campaign were going to be huge, TSR hired a national advertising company to come up with the new logo. At a cost of $1,000,000 they were presented with these 3 different variations. TSR decided they liked the idea but it was too plain, and asked one of there own artists to finish the project at his normally hour rate. Thus the Dragonlance logo was born and TSR learned not to drop $1,000,000 without seeing something first
"
(1) TSR absolutely NEVER sensed anything -- Harold tried to cancel the entire line after the first three games and the advertising department (as you well recall) only considered marketing the book AFTER it was in print.
(2) TSR never hired a national advertising firm -- they had their own in-house advertising/marketing department and always in those days bought their own ads.
(3) The idea that TSR could EVER get approval for $1million for ANYTHING is riotously funny.
(4) Larry Elmore did the original Dragonlance logo art (which was rejected) and then produced the now more familiar celtic background logo -- no outside firm was ever contracted, let alone rejected.
Well, that's about it for that one.
Tracy
