Broadway Video

Compiled by Matthew Mayfield Logo captures by Eric S., Livin', and EnormousRat

Background: Broadway Video is a media and production/distribution company founded in 1979 by Lorne Michaels. It is responsible for post-production work of Saturday Night Live. Besides SNL, Broadway Video has also produced 30 Rock (2006-2013), among other films and shows. Broadway Video also held the rights to much of the pre-1974 Rankin-Bass library from 1988 to 1996 before they sold the rights to Golden Books Family Entertainment (now owned by NBCUniversal via DreamWorks Animation/Classic Media).

1st Logo (1982- ) Broadway Video (1982)Broadway Video PresentsBroadway Video (1988)Broadway Video

Nicknames: "City V-Disc", "Spinning City", "The SNL Logo", "The City V"

Logo: Against a black background, a scene of a nighttime city (colored as if green lights are shining on it) against a blue sky that reflects against a dark sea zooms back, revealing a gold ring decorated with the words "BROADWAY VIDEO" in silver. It spins once, and as the logo stops, a red "V"-shaped bolt of lightning crosses it. The bolt's left side is as high as the top of the screen, while the right stops in the circle.

Variants:

There is a rare variant in which a white line comes in from the left and writes "presents" below in script. Around the early 2000s, the logo was redone. The animation is comparably smoother than the original (as it was edited on video, not film). There is a variant where the chryoned-in words "in association with" appeared below the logo after it finished. This is seen on The Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes All-Star 50th Anniversary. On Man Seeking Woman and the TV special Superman 50th Anniversary, copyright information appears below. On Brother Nature, the logo fades into the movie's opening shot.

FX/SFX: The zoom-out, the circle, and the lightning bolt. Actually pretty nice animation for the time.

Music/Sounds:

Silent, or the end theme of the show. On the 1982 RCA Selectavision CED release of Saturday Night Live, Volume 2: Steve Martin/Richard Pryor, this accompanied by a quick bongo theme at the end of each side.

Availability: Common. This logo has appeared on Saturday Night Live episodes since November 1985 on NBC, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and later episodes of 30 Rock. Can also be seen on various DVD releases of The Kids in the Hall, and on original printings of the CBS TV special Frosty Returns and other Rankin-Bass specials on VHS from Family Home Entertainment. This logo began appearing on SNL home video releases in 1982, and was also applied to Comedy Central reruns of SNL seasons 6-10 (which had no logo at the end of their original network broadcasts), and select reruns of shows from 1975-1985 on NBC. The logo can now be found at the end of each SNL episode from 1975-1980 on DVD, followed by the SNL Studios and NBC Enterprises logo, as well as Man Seeking Woman.

Editor's Note: This logo has held up remarkably well over the past 30+ years it has been used on SNL.

2nd Logo (October 11, 2006-May 14, 2009)

Nicknames: "City V-Disc II", "The City V II"Broadway Video (2006)

Logo: On a black background, there is a black ring (lighter than the background) with "BROADWAY VIDEO" surrounding it. Inside it is a stylized city skyline in white over a dark blue background. On top of everything is a translucent "V" in light blue. This logo is the current print logo for Broadway Video.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Rare. Seen on 30 Rock episodes from the era. However it is preserved on DVDs.

Editor's Note: This is a memorable logo for those who grew up watching 30 Rock on NBC.