The Lyons Group

Background
The Lyons Group was founded in 1988 by Richard C. Leach (father-in-law of Barney creator Sheryl Leach) as a division of his religious/educational publishing company DLM (Developmental Learning Materials). The company produced as well as handled distribution of Barney and the Backyard Gang, the predecessor to Barney and Friends. In 1994, Leach founded another company, Lyrick Studios; Lyons was renamed to Lyons Partnership and made an in-name-only unit of Lyrick. In 2001, Lyrick was bought by HIT Entertainment (however is under copyright holders, as Lyons Partnership).

(October 13, 1988-1992)


Nickname: "The Signature"

Logo: In a rectangular outline on a gray background, we see "THE" flashing on the top left, then "Lyons" writing itself in a blue script font, and finally, "GROUP" flashing on the bottom right.

Technique: The flashing and writing script.

Music/Sounds: A synthesized string and flute fanfare sounding like an Irish tune.

Music/Sounds Variant: On very early prints of The Backyard Show and Three Wishes, we hear the same toy piano rendition of "I Love You" from the Kids Edutainment Video logo, then Sandy Duncan singing, "Love you!".

Availability: Can be seen on tapes of Barney and the Backyard Gang, among others. The 1992 re-prints of those tapes (without any previews) also have this logo. Later Barney videos (as well as re-prints of the Backyard Gang videos) would contain the Barney Home Video logos.