Reeves Entertainment: Difference between revisions

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=== Background ===
'''Alan Landsburg Productions''' was a production company founded in April 1970 by '''Alan Landsburg''', who formerly worked for [[Metromedia Producers Corporation]]. In August 1971, it was acquired by [[Tomorrow Entertainment|Tomorrow Entertainment, Inc.]], then it was spun off as an independent company in late 1974 as Tommorow closed. The company would be sold to '''Reeves''' Teletape Corp. (later part of "Reeves Communications Corp.") on September 18, 1978. Alan Landsburg then left the company in 1985 to form "[[The Landsburg Company]]", and Alan Landsburg Productions became "'''Reeves Entertainment Group'''" on May 6 that year. In 1990, Reeves was sold to [[Thames|Thames Television]] for $89 million. Reeves Entertainment was closed down in 1994 and folded into Thames. Most of the television series it made are currently distributed by [[NBCUniversal Television|NBCUniversalSyndication Television DistributionStudios]] in the US if previously distributed by [[MCA TV]], while ''What Would You Do?'' and ''Wild and Crazy Kids!'' are owned by [[Nickelodeon]] and ''Doctor, Doctor'' is distributed by [[Sony Pictures Television]]. Some made for TV movies such as 1983's ''Adam'' and 1977's ''Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo'' are distributed by [[Fremantle|FremantleMedia]], successor to Thames Television.
 
{{SeparateTOC
|Alan Landsburg Productions|
{{ImageTOC
|Alan_Landsburg_Productions_1973.png|1st Logo (1971-1975)
|Alp1.png|2nd Logo (1975-1980)
|Alp2.jpeg|3rd Logo (September 20, 1979-May 11, 1985)
}}
|Reeves Entertainment|
{{ImageTOC
|Reevesent.jpeg|1st Logo (Late 1984?-1985)
Line 17 ⟶ 9:
|Reevesent9.jpeg|3rd Logo (September 19, 1990-March 8, 1995)
}}
}}
 
 
==Alan Landsburg Productions==
===1st Logo (1971-1975)===
{{Gallery
| align=center
| mode=packed
| height=200
| width=
|Alan Landsburg Productions 1973.png
}}
{{YouTube|id=bQ3FuJxFF70|id2=nYGmQHF2FTg}}
 
'''Logo:''' On a white background, a {{color
|blue|blue}} circle zooms towards us and stops in place. Then three colored vertical rectangles slide in from the top and bottom of the screen from right to left and stop in place over the circle: a {{color
|red|red}} one from the bottom, a {{color
|#FFD900|yellow}} one from the top, and a {{color
|dodgerblue|blue}} one from the bottom. The {{color
|red|red}} and {{color
|dodgerblue|blue}} rectangles then slide across each other and swap places, with the {{color
|red|red}} rectangle forming an "{{color
|red|'''a'''}}", and the {{color
|dodgerblue|blue}} one forming a "{{color
|dodgerblue|'''p'''}}". The {{color
|#FFD900|yellow}} rectangle stays in place, thus forming the letters "'''{{color
|red|a}}{{color
|#FFD900|l}}{{color
|dodgerblue|p}}'''". A second later, the stacked words "ALAN LANDSBURG PRODUCTIONS" appear below the letters.
 
'''Variant:''' Certain shows just had the text "ALAN LANDSBURG PRODUCTIONS, INC. A SUBSIDIARY OF TOMORROW ENTERTAINMENT, INC." in a bold white font, left aligned and placed in the center of a turquoise background.
 
'''Technique:''' 2D animation, possibly done by a computer.
 
'''Music/Sounds:''' A synth xylophone theme.
 
'''Availability:''' Rare. It is found in ''In Search of: Ancient Astronauts'' and ''It Was A Very Good Year''.
 
===2nd Logo (1975-1980)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Alp1.png
</gallery>{{YouTube|id=I9zZS21ukCw|id2=JSGaYt2XRwc|id3=UVbUQ_yQ7wA|id4=wgXpOng7E3s|id5=BQLOCARQs9Q|id6=LxFLR_n4cl4}}
 
'''Logo:''' Over a black background, 5 arrows facing to the right appear from left to right on screen one segment at a time, forming a director's slate. The top half of the slate then rises, and rapidly drops down and hits the bottom half. This changes the top half into the words "'''ALAN LANDSBURG'''" in a white Avant Garde font. The words rise again, then drop down once more. This causes the bottom half to change into the word "'''PRODUCTIONS'''". Another slate pops in, also one-by-one, on top of the words in a traffic arrow-like fashion.
 
'''Variants:'''
* There was also a still shot of the logo.
* Most programs, such as the series ''In Search of...'' and the TV movie ''It Happened at Lakewood Manor'', have the logo shortened to either the slate already formed, or the "ALAN LANDSBURG" swinging down.
 
'''Technique:''' 2D animation.
 
'''Music/Sounds:''' The sounds of a camera shutter, one for each of the segmented lines as they appear, followed by a clapperboard sound during the respective action, before the shutters are heard again for the top slate.
 
'''Music/Sounds Variants:'''
* The end-title theme from any show is usually heard instead, or the logo is silent.
* On the DVD release of ''Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo'', the short version of the music from the 3rd logo plays over this logo, followed by the logo for [[Fremantle|FremantleMedia North America]].
 
'''Availability:''' Uncommon.
* It is intact on the Visual Entertainment DVD of ''In Search of...'' and would be presumed intact if ever reran again.
* This can be spotted on the DVD release of ''Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo''.
 
===3rd Logo (September 20, 1979-May 11, 1985)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:Alp2.jpeg
File:Alp3.jpeg
File:Alp4.png
File:Alp5.png
File:Alp6.jpeg
File:Alp7.jpeg
File:Alp8.jpeg
File:Alp9.jpeg
</gallery>
{{YouTube|id=QFvn7nXvFp8}}
 
'''Logo:''' On a black background is a stylized {{color
|blue|blue}} "{{color
|blue|'''ALP'''}}" in a bold, partially segmented font. It is wiped away from left to right, revealing the following text:
 
<center>'''Alan Landsburg<br>Productions'''<br>A Reeves Communications Company</center>
 
'''Trivia:''' This logo's design is based on that of the Reeves Teletape Company logo from the time.
 
'''Variants:'''
* Sometimes, the logo is closer to the screen than usual.
* This logo was superimposed on the first two seasons of ''Gimme a Break!'', ''No Soap, Radio'' and the 1983 TV pilot ''Sutters Bay''.
* An alternate version featured the usual logo animation, except that the Reeves byline appeared a second later. This appears on ''Jaws 3'', later season 5 episodes of ''In Search of...'', and the TV movie ''The Jayne Mansfield Story''.
* On some shows like ''Kate & Allie'', ''Gimme a Break!'' and ''Spencer'', a copyright stamp is shown below.
 
'''Technique:''' Simple wiping effects.
 
'''Music/Sounds:''' A jaunty synthesizer stinger. There were three versions of this theme: the normal version, a long version, and a version with a different middle section similar to that of the long version.
 
'''Music/Sounds Variants:'''
* On ''Jaws 3'', the logo is silent.
* Sometimes, it's the end-title theme. This appears on productions such as the U.S. adaptation of ''The Krypton Factor'', season 1 of ''Kate & Allie'', the first two seasons of ''Gimme a Break!'', and the short-lived series ''No Soap, Radio.''
 
'''Availability:''' Common.
* It was seen on episodes of ''That's Incredible'' and ''Kate & Allie'' and on seasons 1-4 of ''Gimme a Break!''; most episodes with this logo often have the next one plastering this over on TV One prints.
* This was also seen on the last two seasons of ''In Search of...,'' which is preserved on DVD.
* It was also seen on the 1981 U.S. adaptation of ''The Krypton Factor'' with Dick Clark.
 
==Reeves Entertainment==
===1st Logo (Late 1984?-1985)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Line 202 ⟶ 93:
* The only shows known to have this logo are ''The Home Show'', ''What Would You Do?'', the first season of ''Homicide: Life on the Street'', ''Doctor, Doctor'', ''Covington Cross'', and the 1992 remake of ''The Tomorrow People''.
* Of these five, ''Homicide: Life on the Street'' is commercially available on DVD from A&E Home Video and VHS, and was airing reruns on Centric until 2012, and ''Doctor, Doctor'' can be seen on CTV Throwback.
 
{{Chronology|[[Alan Landsburg Productions]]}}
 
[[Category:United States]]

Revision as of 20:37, 8 February 2023


Background

Alan Landsburg Productions was a production company founded in April 1970 by Alan Landsburg, who formerly worked for Metromedia Producers Corporation. In August 1971, it was acquired by Tomorrow Entertainment, Inc., then it was spun off as an independent company in late 1974 as Tommorow closed. The company would be sold to Reeves Teletape Corp. (later part of "Reeves Communications Corp.") on September 18, 1978. Alan Landsburg then left the company in 1985 to form "The Landsburg Company", and Alan Landsburg Productions became "Reeves Entertainment Group" on May 6 that year. In 1990, Reeves was sold to Thames Television for $89 million. Reeves Entertainment was closed down in 1994 and folded into Thames. Most of the television series it made are currently distributed by NBCUniversal Syndication Studios in the US if previously distributed by MCA TV, while What Would You Do? and Wild and Crazy Kids! are owned by Nickelodeon and Doctor, Doctor is distributed by Sony Pictures Television. Some made for TV movies such as 1983's Adam and 1977's Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo are distributed by FremantleMedia, successor to Thames Television.



1st Logo (Late 1984?-1985)


Logo: On the left side of a black background is an "REG" in the same appearance as the ALP in the 3rd logo. Next to it is

Reeves
Entertainment
Group

in the same font as "Alan Landsburg Productions" in the 3rd logo, and under it is the Reeves Communications byline.

Variants:

  • On Gimme a Break!, after a few seconds, we cut to a copyright notice for this logo for Alan Landsburg Productions, followed by the 1982 MCA TV logo.
  • On season 2 of Kate and Allie, instead of the music, the outro of the series' closing credits played over the logo.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: Same as ALP's 3rd logo, but extended.

Availability: It's seen on episodes of Gimme a Break! from the time. On some episodes with the previous logo on TV One, it's tacked on this logo.

2nd Logo (September 14, 1985-December 1, 1992)


Logo: Against a black background, a blue "R", in the same appearance as before, glows briefly before backing away a bit. The "E" slides out from the right of the "R", also glowing briefly, as the letters back away, and then the "G" slides out of the right of the "E", also glowing, and completes the logo. When it stops, the words "Reeves Entertainment Group" appear underneath, and "A Reeves Communications Company" appears under it.

Variants:

  • Sometimes, "Reeves Entertainment Group" will flash in instead of just fading in.
  • On Wild & Crazy Kids, there is a copyright date under it that says "© [YEAR] Reeves Entertainment and MTV Networks". On the 1992 episodes, the copyright stamp reads "© [YEAR] MTV Networks. A Division of Viacom International, Inc. and Reeves Entertainment, A Thames Television Company". The logo is bylineless on the pilot. The copyright date was also seen on Gimme a Break! and early Kate & Allie episodes from 1985-1986 until it was moved to the end credits, as well as 1988-91 episodes of the talk show The Home Show (also known simply as Home).
  • On the 1989 syndicated version of the game show Jackpot!, a still text "in Association with" is seen above the logo while the logo is animating.
  • On Kate & Allie, the animation is in warp-speed.

Technique: 2D animation, possibly done by a computer.

Music/Sounds: A fast descending, Asian-inspired synth chime section, then a warm 4-note synth horn theme. Otherwise it is the ending of the show's theme song.

Availability: Rare.

  • It was seen on What Would You Do? and Wild & Crazy Kids!, 1988-91 episodes of The Home Show, Kate and Allie, and the 1989 version of Jackpot!.
  • It's also seen on the final two seasons of Gimme a Break!.

3rd Logo (September 19, 1990-March 8, 1995)


Logo: Against a dark purple curtain, a comedy mask moves up towards the top of the screen while spinning around, followed by a sad drama mask. Underneath the masks, several shards come together to form an upside-down blue triangle. The text

REEVES
ENTERTAINMENT

fades in at the triangle's tip, and the byline "A Thames Television Company" appears below that. The text then shines.

Variants:

  • A shortened version exists.
  • This appeared on a split-screen alongside the Nickelodeon and the 1991 Thames Television logos on 1992's The Tomorrow People.
  • On Doctor, Doctor, the logo is sped-up. Also, the "REEVES ENTERTAINMENT" text doesn't shine.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Either the same as the last logo, the end-title theme from any show, or silence.

Availability: Rare.

  • The only shows known to have this logo are The Home Show, What Would You Do?, the first season of Homicide: Life on the Street, Doctor, Doctor, Covington Cross, and the 1992 remake of The Tomorrow People.
  • Of these five, Homicide: Life on the Street is commercially available on DVD from A&E Home Video and VHS, and was airing reruns on Centric until 2012, and Doctor, Doctor can be seen on CTV Throwback.
Alan Landsburg Productions
Reeves Entertainment
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