QUBE

Credits

Descriptions by
Thisisanswer

Editions by
DisneyInternationalFan

Video captures courtesy of
Eric S.

Background

QUBE (formerly a division of Warner Cable, currently known as Time Warner Cable) was a cable television system that played a pivotal role in the history of American cable television. Launched in Columbus, Ohio on December 1, 1977, QUBE introduced viewers, and the international press, to several concepts that became central to the future development of cable television: pay-per-view programs, special-interest cable television networks, and interactive services. It also led to the formation of Nickelodeon (formerly C-3) and MTV, both of which are now owned by Paramount Global through their subsidiary Paramount Domestic Media Networks (VDMN).

1st Logo (1979?-1982)

Visuals: On a black background, two groups of multicolored lines spin around with a trail effect, with one of them being drawn in. As they settle in the center of the screen, the smaller group of lines gets into position to form a group of diamonds that resembles 2 outlines of cubes with each side colored differently. The cube outlines start to zoom in as a white square is drawn in on the top part of the cube on the left, which then flips onto the other outlines, forming the logo. As this happens, the logo zooms into place and the outline disappears. The logo consists of 2 cubes facing upwards and downwards respectively, with 3 sides of each one visible. Four of the sides form the text "QUBE" in a big blocky font, with the remaining sides (the top side of the left cube and the bottom side of the right one) being solid. The sides of the left cube are orange, crimson, and blood red, while the right cube's sides are blue, green, and light green.

Variants:

• A still version exists.
• At the start of some programs, the words "A" and "Presentation" may appear above and below the logo respectively.

Technique: Slit-scan photography and cel animation.

Audio: A synth theme that sounds quite a lot like an overly synthesized, rearranged version of "Star Wars: Main Title" by Isao Tomita. Most of the time, it was just the closing or opening theme of the program.

Availability: It was seen on original QUBE shows like Celebration and The Magic Touch, as well as other programs like the first run of Pinwheel.

2nd Logo (1980)

• 

Visuals: On a black background, a QUBE logo, with brighter colors than the previous logo and a white outline, zooms towards the screen and slows to a stop. The logo cycles through a pattern of certain logo colors disappearing and reappearing. After 25 seconds, the logo's remaining colors fade in, then it slowly fades out a few seconds later.

Technique: Chyron effects.

Audio: A pitched-up excerpt of "Do It Again" by Herbie Mann. As the logo finishes zooming, a female voiceover says "The followed is a videotaped presentation originating from the studios of Warner Qube".

Availability: This was used as a network ID leading into QUBE original programs such as Flippo's Screen Test, alternating with the previous logo.

3rd Logo (1982-1984)

Visuals: On a black background, an orange-red cube with two orange sides flies in from the right side of the screen, spinning and rotating along as a blue light shines on its surface. As it stops on the center-left of the screen, a large group of glowing lines appears and sweeps across the cube, forming the QUBE logo in orange-red, with the top side of the left cube in orange and the bottom part of the right side in magenta. The logo sparkles as the words "A" and "Presentation" appear above and below the logo.

Technique: CGI, followed by backlit animation after the cube stops.

Audio: An futuristic whirring sound can be heard throughout the logo, with a whoosh when the lines wipe in on the logo and a one-note synth tune with beeping at the end.

Availability: It appeared on QUBE's remaining original programming during this period, among them The Score.