Republic Pictures Television

Credits

Descriptions by
Eric S. and Shadeed A. Kelly

Captures by
Eric S., V of Doom, Sagan Blob, Shadeed A. Kelly, and TheEriccorpinc

Editions by
Shadeed A. Kelly, Bob Fish, Livin' and V of Doom

Video captures courtesy of
JohnnyL80, mcydodge919, and Eric S.

Background

In 1985, National Telefilm Associates, a television syndicator was renamed Republic Pictures after the long-defunct film studio whose library was owned by the former company. The new Republic eventually entered television production as soon as the rebrand was official. Republic Pictures Television was formed in January 1989 as a joint venture between Republic Pictures Corporation and United Artists Communications (not to be confused with United Artists Pictures). The joint venture planned to produce television programming over the next five years with $60 million in start-up costs, while Republic Pictures Corporation managed the unit and distributed its programs. As far as we know, they didn't actually use a proper logo, just the Republic Pictures logo, mostly silent, and until 1994, bylineless. Currently, most of the library is owned by ViacomCBS, Inc., thru CBS Television Distribution and Spelling Television, Inc.

1st Logo (1986-1987)

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Nicknames: "The Bald Eagle", "The Bald Eagle in the Sky"

Logo: A still shot of the 1986 Republic Pictures logo, but the text reads as "Distributed by REPUBLIC PICTURES" in a yellow-ish orange Roman font.

Variant: A B&W variant of this logo was used for classic shows in said colors.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show or none.

Availability: Was once ultra rare but is becoming easier to find in more recent years. Appears on several episodes of Car 54, Where Are You? on Me-TV. Was also seen on Press Your Luck! (now owned by FremantleMedia).

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1987-1990)

Nicknames: "The Bald Eagle II", "Enhanced Bald Eagle"

Logo: Again, a still variant of the 1987 Republic Pictures logo with no television indicator whatsoever.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare. Currently seen on season 1 of the TV series Beauty and the Beast on Chiller and DVD (with the CBS Paramount Domestic Television "Eye in the Sky" logo following), while the later seasons has been plastered in favor of either the CBS Paramount Network Television "Wallpaper" or the CBS Television Distribution logos. Can also be spotted on a few episodes of I Spy on RTV.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (1990-1994)

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Nicknames: "The Bald Eagle III", "The Silent Bald Eagle", "The Restored Bald Eagle"

Logo: It's basically the same as the 1990 Republic Pictures logo with no television indicator whatsoever.

FX/SFX: Same as the 1990 Republic Pictures logo.

Music/Sounds: Majority of the time it's silent, otherwise it's a majestic fanfare.

Availability: Although it plasters old logos, it's rare. Can be seen on the pre-1973 NBC catalog (such as Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie (the latter premiering in 1974)), and most of the Quinn Martin produced shows; but still saved on Bonanza VHS and non-CBS DVD releases and when reran on TV Land and TVLand.com, preceding the 1995 Paramount Domestic Television logo. Also appears on Me-TV's prints of Bonanza (on some episodes, others may use the Worldvision or CBS Television Distribution logos) and Get Smart.

Editor's Note: Though not anything impressive, the fanfare is rather nice.

4th Logo (1994-1998)

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Nicknames: "The Bald Eagle IV", "The Silent Bald Eagle II", "CGI Bald Eagle"

Logo: It's only the last few seconds of the Republic Pictures logo with no television indicator whatsoever and the Spelling byline below.

Bylines:

• 1994: None.
• 1994-1995: "A Unit of Spelling Entertainment, Inc."
• 1995-1998: "A Subsidiary of Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc."

Variant: Usually, a shortened animated variant without the Spelling byline was used.

FX/SFX: A simple fade-in and fade-out. The camera zooming in the eagle and the name fading in for the animated variant.

Music/Sounds: The second half of the Republic jingle from the era. None for the animated version.

Availability: Rare. It's seen on some episodes of The High Chaparral on INSP, H&I and Decades (occasionally), if they are not updated prints that use the CBS Television Distribution logo. It was also seen on some TV movies from Republic, like Kindred: The Embraced. It is also seen on some episodes of Bonanza, as well as the mid'90s PBS broadcast of Victory at Sea.

Editor's Note: None.