RKO General Productions

This article is about the RKO brand owned by General Teleradio. For other uses, see RKO (disambiguation).

Credits

Descriptions by
BaldiBasicsFan

Editions by
Henrynguye5 and BaldiBasicsFan

Video captures courtesy of
Google Chrom, Broken Saw and LogicSmash

Background

After RKO Teleradio Pictures was shut down in January 1957, RKO Teleradio was renamed as RKO General under the General Tire and Rubber Company. This incarnation of RKO Pictures did not produce films, instead they handled the distribution of RKO Radio Pictures films to RKO General television stations (C&C Television Corporation purchased the television distribution rights, but only for markets that had no RKO General station).

1st Logo (1959-1962)

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Visuals: It is the radio tower from the 1929 RKO Radio Pictures opening inside of a circle that looks like a television tube from a 1950s television. "RKO GENERAL" appears in the tube, "AN" appears above it and "PRESENTATION" under it.

Technique: A still painting.

Audio: It was presumably silent or had the opening theme to the film.

Availability: May have been seen on early 1960s television prints of RKO Radio Pictures films. It turned up on a Video Collection VHS release of The Smallest Show on Earth, which was released in the US under the title Big Time Operators.

2nd Logo (September 30, 1966-1981)

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Visuals: On a white background, there is a square outlined by the letters "RKO", each with different shades of blue. Underneath is the phrase "GENERAL PRODUCTIONS" and below "IN ASSOCIATION WITH".

Variants:

• A superimposed variant was used on television series produced for RKO General television stations.
• Depending on the film quality, the background may appear as pink.

Technique: A still painting.

Audio: None.

Availability: It was seen on Target For Killing and Password: Kill Agent Gordon. Most current prints of these films will likely remove the logo. The superimposed variant was seen on RKO General television series.

3rd Logo (1970-1978)

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Visuals: On a blue background, there is a cartoon rainbow arch. Under it is the stacked text "AN RKO GENERAL PRESENTATION".

Technique: A still painting.

Audio: A calm short guitar tune.

Availability: Was only seen on The Land of Frooze (also known as The Froozles), which aired on KHJ (now known as KCAL-TV) channel 9 in Los Angeles from 1970 to 1978.

◄ RKO Teleradio Pictures

RKO General Productions

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