(x) 1960s/70s The Omega Man - Rubens {Mark S}

James Gareth
7.Jan.2004 10.15am
James Gareth's picture

Hello All,

The following is a screen capture from the movie The Omega Man. It features a font I've seen many times being used in projects of the period (1960s-early 80s). Perhaps it's most notable use was as the typeface used for the Knight Rider television show. I've tried my usual sources. Does anyone know its name and whether it's been digitized?

Rubens Extended (except for the omega character).


Or maybe not. There's another one in the Solotype Catalog called Kildare that looks like a better match.


Thanks Mark! Quick catch. Is this available anywhere commercially? All I found was this:

http://home.together.net/~jordy/Pages/rubens1.html


It doesn't appear to be available commercially. A bit surprising as it was pretty common in the phototype days.


This is an interesting development!

And here is your font, Excelsis.

More on Dan X. Solo






Laurence and some of the MyFontsFolks probably did that same dance ...

I did a doubletake, then smiled and had that Good For Him feeling


Excelsis is similar but not quite identical to Rubens. I remember seeing Rubens on one of the Solotype CD's, probably the Victorian one. Castcraft/Optifont also sells a version. There is a "freeware" version of dubious origin under the name Ruben.

I worked on a new digitization of a condensed Rubens-style typeface, based on typography from Disney's Haunted Mansion attractions. It's called Ravenscroft and is freeware.

Treehouse also has a Haunted Mansion inspired font called Victorian Mansion.


Linotype's Macbeth is of a different weight, but apart
from a couple of characters it's very close. It could
do the trick.


It sure is! Holy macaroni it's about time! Good one BJ!
(does little indian dance around his desk)


(suddenly notices baffled look on colleagues' faces)


I know this is an old thread, but I thought I'd concur with gargoyle that my font, "Mansion,"
is the style you are looking for. It's a Haunted Mansion font that was also used in the TV show "Knight Rider."

You can check it out at http://davidocchino.com/portfolio/typography/mansion.html

David Occhino
David Occhino Design