WYES

Credits

Captures by
Camenati

Video captures courtesy of
The PBS-ST Archive, TheZulaPatrolFan2005 VGCP and Broken Saw

Background

WYES-TV is a PBS affiliate located in New Orleans, Louisiana, that signed on the air on April 1, 1957. From the station's sign-on until June 8, 1970, WYES was on channel 8. On June 8, 1970, WYES would switch channel numbers with then-ABC affiliate WVUE (now a Fox affiliate), and now broadcasts on channel 12.

1st Logo (1977-1986)

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Visuals: On a dark blue background, a rotating red-orange mass of stripes comes rotating in from the right. As such, it then zooms out and forms into an abstract-looking "12", made of orange/hot pink bicolored lines, and the "2" ending with an arrow. "WYES·TV", in a black font styled after the 1971 PBS logo, zooms in from the bottom and flips to face upright.

Technique: Scanimation.

Audio: A whimsical synth flute tune, which ends with horns. Taken from "Links and Bridges [1-7]" by Roger Roger from Chappell LPC 706-717.

Availability: It could be found on Rumplestiltskin, Varsity Quiz Bowl, and others.

2nd Logo (1984-1987?)

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Visuals: On a blue gradient background with a white "horizon" in the back, a white bordered shot of a Mardi Gras parade zooms in. It then fades out, which is followed by a shot of a tram, then a overhead view of New Orleans, which follow the same animation. "WYES" in a rounded sans font, then flies in from behind as "New Orleans" in a red script font, swings in from the right.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A four-note tune made of reverbing synth tones.

Availability: It can be seen on The Anderson File: The Contra Connection and Hands That Picked Cotton/The Story Of Black Politics In Today's Rural South.

3rd Logo (1987?-2001?)

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Visuals: Panning from behind a plant, there is a series of brick walls holding a iron gate, partially open. The gate has flowing patterns on it, as well as the letters "WYES" in a fancy script font. A row of flowers lines the adjoined wall. As the camera pans to the left, it pulls over to reveal "WYES-TV" in the same font as the previous logo, as well as a "12" in a bolder version of the font. Below it is "New Orleans" in the CG Omega font.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A soft piano ditty, with an announcer saying "The following is a Stereo presentation of WYES TV, New Orleans."

Availability: It can be found at the end of Justin Wilson's cooking shows on VHS. Chef Paul Prudhomme's Fiery Foods also has this logo at the end. However, this doesn't appear on the WETA/WYES coproduction Spaceflight despite WETA's logo putting in an appearance at the start.

4th Logo (1988-1990's?)

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Visuals: Above a overhead shot of New Orleans at night, the same logo from the previous logo, but in a metallic silver, swoops into middle center, shining and pinging occasionally. After a bit, it shrinks and moves to the bottom, as "New Orleans" writes itself in below in a script font.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The tail end of the piece Action, with the same announcer as before.

Availability: It was seen on local productions like Informed Sources.

5th Logo (2001-2009)

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Visuals: On a orange/yellow gradient background with moving white bars, a translucent video of a black trumpet player is seen at the bottom of the screen. After a second, the WYES logo at the time, consisting of "WYES" in a blue, italicized version of the font from the previous logo, a stylized white fleur de lis, and "New Orleans!" in an angled white script font, fades in as the video fades out. At the end, "New Orleans!" flashes in sync with the tune.

Technique: Live action and CGI.

Audio: A six-note trumpet fanfare.

Availability: Seen on programming from the period.

6th Logo (2009-)

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Visuals: There is a water background superimposed over black fences with a "w". A circle effect transitions into two bridges with a streched "y". Then we blur fade into the St. Louis Cathedral with a lens flare and an "e". We fade into a statue of Andrew Jackson riding a horse, with a transparent "s". Finally, a bright light from the bottom-right corner reveals, a superimposition of New Orleans related images. At the bottom-right corner, we see "wyes" beside the PBS logo with "new orleans" below, and to the left is a big transparent fleur de lis.

Technique: Live action and CGI.

Audio: A rhythmic tune.