View-Master Video

Background
Although View-Master is now owned by Fisher-Price (then owned by Tyco), most Kidsongs shows were co-produced by Warner Bros. Records (now Warner Music Vision) and Together Again Productions, Inc.

(1985-1995)
View-Master VideoView-Master Video (Tyco variant)

Nickname: "View-Master Filmreel" "A Leader In Children's Entertainment"

Logo: On a maroon-colored background, with a grid on the base, we see a 2-D filmreel (which is the View-Master reel) turned sideways, panning out, with a silver "View-Master" in 3-D on it. Then, it pans toward us, and when it's almost finished, the picture fades to the same background, but with the white "View-Master" with the black faux-3-D extrusion, and "Video" in script under it. The "V" in "Video" is extended.

FX/SFX: The animation in the logo.

Music/Sounds: An upbeat pop melody.A male announcer (Dinny McGuire) says: "View-Master Video, a leader in children's entertainment, and Warner Bros. Records, a pioneer in the music video industry, present a Together Again Video production of Kidsongs."

Variants: Tyco: On View-Master Video releases of Captain Kangaroo,the logo animation is the same, but includes a Tyco logo and a trademark notice below the View of View-Master. The narration is also different, with a female voice saying "Tyco View-Master, a leader in children's entertainment, presents a video episode of that all-time favorite children's TV show, Captain Kangaroo." The music is cut off at the end. On some Kidsongs tapes, this logo comes after the Warner Bros. Records logo, so the narration was changed to "Warner Bros. Records, a pioneer in the music video industry, and View-Master Video, a leader in children's entertainment, present a Together Again Video production of Kidsongs."

Availability: Kidsongs variant: Common. Seen on all Kidsongs VHS releases and some later DVD releases that haven't been plastered over. Tyco variant: Rare. Only seen on the six 1992 VHS releases of Captain Kangaroo.

Editor's Note: None.