GoodTimes Entertainment

Credits

Captures by
Eric S. and others

Editions by
VPJHuk and BaldiBasicsFan

Video captures courtesy of
Jordan Rios, - VPJLogo -, Archive Entertainment and others

Background

GoodTimes Entertainment was a home video company founded in 1984 by the Cayre brothers, who previously ran (and later revived) the record label Salsoul Records. It distributed TV shows, movies (both classic and contemporary) and lifestyle programs. The Kids Klassics division was formed to distribute children's programming. It also distributed budget priced releases from the Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures and Orion Pictures catalogs, among others. The company went bankrupt and closed down in 2005 and the assets were sold to Gaiam.

Among the VHS community, the company is particularly known for having what is referred to as the "black screen of death", which is usually seen at the end of their tapes, with the black screen and a Hz tone heard, it depends on the pitch of the tone on any tape.

Note: This is not to be confused with Goodtimes Enterprises. Early GoodTimes releases from 1984-85 did not have an onscreen logo; it generally cut straight to the film. It did have a print logo, which served as the basis for the first logo.

GoodTimes Entertainment

Contents 1st Logo (1985-1990) 2nd Logo (1989-2002) 3rd Logo (1997-February 4, 2006)

GoodTimes DVD

Contents   Logo (1998-2005)

GoodTimes Entertainment

1st Logo (1985-1990)

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Visuals:

• 1985-1987: On a black-pink gradient background, an outlined arch with four empty sections is seen bottom center, which is quickly covered by a fuzzy-looking, parabolic rainbow from left to right. Then, the rest of the logo fades in: the text "GOODTIMES" is arched above the rainbow in a outlined tubular font, "HOME VIDEO" is stacked below the rainbow in a similar font, and "PRESENTS" below everything at the beginning of the tape, or a copyright date in white at the end.
• 1987-1990: On a sky blue-blue gradient background, a cartoon rainbow with eight sections wipes in from left to right, with a notable 3D effect to the entire thing. After it wipes in, the same text as before, but rendered with a 3D effect and in metallic gold, fade in. At the end of tapes, "PRESENTS" is omitted.

Variants:

• A black & white version exists, which is seen on B&W films.
• On reprints of MCA Home Video releases distributed by GoodTimes, the 1983 MCA Home Video logo would play as normal with a freeze frame at the end and "UNDER LICENSE TO" appearing underneath, followed by the GoodTimes logo.

Technique: 2D computer animation, with the early variant appearing to use Scanimation.

Audio:

• 1985-1987: A rather generic synth tune in a cheerful tone.
• 1987-1990: A crystallized sparkling sound followed by a synth percussion tune.

Audio Trivia: Some versions of the song "Future Love" by Kristinia DeBarge feature a synth wind chime-like pad note at the beginning that's sampled from the penultimate half of this logo theme.

Availability:

• Seen on VHS releases from the time-period until 1990, namely Three Stooges and Abbott and Costello material.
• It can also be found on budget re-releases of MCA Home Video content.
• Some early printings of 1989-90 releases have the 2nd variation, but were later updated with the 2nd logo.

2nd Logo (1989-2002)

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Visuals: On a black-blue gradient background with several stars and nebulas dotting it, a giant silver film reel glides across the screen at high speeds. When the front comes into view, a film strip with pink cells is seen within the space, with every other space filled with the letters for "HOME VIDEO", though the space has only two spaces to represent it. The camera also starts to lower as the film reel flies backwards, revealing the rounded text "GOODTIMES" in a shiny material, and the film strip straightens out beneath the logo.

Variants:

• On Platinum Series releases starting in at least 1991, a silver rectangle with the words "PLATINUM SERIES" swings in from under the film strip and shines after the logo forms.
• Sometimes, the logo would transition away to the intro of the program, which varies from tape to tape.
• Starting in 1996, the URL text "www.goodtimes.com" appears at the bottom of the logo. The GoodTimes website is currently redirected into Gaiam's web page.
• A still version of the logo exists, which is seen at the end of several VHS releases.
• The closing version of the Platinum Series variant has the rectangle shine twice.
• On The Three Stooges Story, the logo plays out normally with a much cheaper starfield. After a few seconds, it fades to a clip of The Three Stooges acting out a barbershop trio act. It remains still until the logo finishes, of which it they take off their hats and then freeze frame again as the Platinum Series logo pops in below and shines. The URL is also now in a tall serif font, which fades out before the logo ends.
• On MCA/Universal Home Video reprints distributed by GoodTimes, the MCA/Universal logo would play as normal, but the logo fades out when the wrapped around words 'UNDER LICENSE TO" appears in its place and straightens itself out on the star field. The logo proper plays afterward.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Starts with some "tinkles" and a whoosh as the film reel shifts downward, followed by a bombastic synth orchestral fanfare with a choir mixed in. On the "PLATINUM SERIES" variation, an additional whoosh is heard as the rectangle shines.

Audio Variants:

• The closing version of the Platinum Series variant just had two whoosh sounds in-sync with the rectangle shining.
• On some releases and at the end of VHS releases, the logo is silent.
• A version of the Platinum Series variant where the sound effects are absent exists, which can be found on the 1991 Platinum Series VHS release of the colorized version of March of the Wooden Soldiers.
• A Spanish announcer can be heard on the Spanish VHS release of Leo the Lion: King Of The Jungle.

Availability: This was used in tandem with the next logo for its last three years.

• Seen on various releases of the period, mostly consisting of public domain films and cartoons, licensed classic material, and even films like Halloween 3: Season of the Witch.
• The Platinum Series variant of this logo is seen on the 1991 U.S. VHS release of Robin Hood: The Movie, the 1995 UK VHS release of The Adventures Of Pocahontas: Indian Princess from Tempo Video, the 1997 UK VHS release of GoodTimes' Black Beauty (1995) from Channel 5 Video, and the 2004 UK VHS release of Goodtimes's Jungle Book from Abbey Home Video, respectively.
• It also replaces the "Rainbow" logo on some 1989-90 releases that uses earlier VHS masters.
• One of the last releases was the 2002 DVD release of The Beatles: Unauthorized.

3rd Logo (1997-February 4, 2006)

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  Filmed version
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  Videotaped version
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  Filmed version with URL
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  Videotaped version with URL
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  Videotaped version with the text "Feature Presentation"
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  Videotaped version with the text "NOW IN PRODUCTION"
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  Wulin Warriors variant

Visuals: Fading into a time-lapse shot of a cloudy afternoon sky, it zooms out to reveal the following text:

GOODTIMES
ENTERTAINMENT

The text is divided by a line and "GOODTIMES" is in a very tall font. The surrounding sky is also a different evening sky. The logo shines.

Variants:

• Filmed and videotaped versions exist. The former is also cropped while the latter is open-matte.
• A variant with an URL below exists. This variant exists in both filmed and videotaped forms, and a stretched variant also exists.
• A variant with "FEATURE PRESENTATION" fading underneath exists. This variant is also videotaped.
• A shorter variant where "NOW IN PRODUCTION" fading underneath also exists. This variant is videotaped.
• On Wulin Warriors, the logo is colored white and is placed by the top left corner of the screen. This is to the left of the logo for Distant Horizon, on top of the logo for Broadway Video and the above left of the logo for Pili International Multimedia.

Technique: A mix of live action and CGI.

Audio: None.

Availability:

• Seen largely on DVD releases of later content, as the previous logo was mostly used for VHS releases.
• The URL variant can be seen on Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys.
• The "FEATURE PRESENTATION" variant is seen on the DVD release of The Night Before Christmas.
• The "NOW IN PRODUCTION" variant is seen on a trailer for In Search Of Santa on the U.S. VHS release of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie.
• The trailer variant is seen on trailers for Ben Hur and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie.
• The Wulin Warriors variant was only seen on the aforementioned show, which was released after GoodTimes Entertainment filed for bankruptcy and was pulled after two episodes, before being put up on the AOL Kids service before that closed.

GoodTimes DVD

Logo (1998-2005)

Visuals: On a black background, the GoodTimes Entertainment logo from before is seen in silver, floating above a pool of black-tinted water. The logo lowers into the pool, creating droplets as it sinks, and then blue lightning circulates around the area for a second before the logo rises once more, releasing a cloud of mist as a chrome DVD logo rises and rotates towards the screen with the logo. The URL also rises up with the rest of the logos.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A brief synth note and a deep whir as the logo lowers into the pool, followed by a synth tune with heavy percussion, ending with a MIDI-like cymbal crash and three synth horn notes.

Availability: Seen on GoodTimes DVD releases from the time-period until 2005, such as The Nutcracker Prince, Car Wash, Earthquake, Born in East L.A., Problem Child, Jaws: The Revenge, Judgement Night, and Bustin' Loose.