ABC Films

Logo descriptions by Jason Jones and Shadeed A. Kelly Logo captures by Shadeed A. Kelly, Eric S., V of Doom, and Bob Fish Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly, Eric S., and V of Doom Video capture courtesy of Eric S.

Background: ABC Films (formerly under the name of "ABC Film Syndication, Inc.") was the production/distribution arm of the ABC Television Network for ABC off-network programs from 1953 to 1973, also establishing "ABC International" and "The Worldvision Corporation" as the international distribution brands for distributing the library overseas, until it was spun-off and reincorporated as "Worldvision Enterprises Inc.", because it was against the FCC regulations for a television network to distribute its programs under its own name. As of now, most of the ABC Films library is owned by ViacomCBS, through CBS Television Distribution and Spelling Television Inc. Many others has fallen in the public domain. The company never used anything until 1959.

1st Logo (1959-1973) ABC Films (1959)Joseph M. Schenck Enterprises/ABC Films (1959)Joseph M. Schenck Enterprises/ABC Films (Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, 1959-1960)Joseph M. Schenck Enterprises/ABC Films -Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond- (1960-1961)ABC Films In-Credit Text (1960s)

Logo: Originally in 1957, ABC Films didn't use a logo or in-screen text, but on 26 Men they used this info on the bottom of the end credits:

THIS IS BEEN AN ABC FILM PRESENTATION

But until 1959 on such shows like Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, they used a custom text:

A--- JOSEPH M. SCHENCK--- ENTERPRISES---

---ABC---FILMS ---PRESENTATION

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: Just the end title theme from any show.

Availability: Seen on Let's Make A Deal (1971-1973) when reran on Buzzr (followed by the FremantleMedia North America logo), as well on public domain video releases of One Step Beyond.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1966-1973) ABC Films (1970)ABC Films (1970, B)ABC Films (1970, C)ABC Films (1966)

Logo: On a blue background, the text "Distributed by" in a brush script font is drawn on the screen. The text "ABC FILMS" in an Elephant-style font fades into view. The then-current ABC circle logo later appears to the left of the "ABC FILMS" at the end.

Variants:

Depending on the film print quality, the logo is on a dark background. The words "ABC FILMS" are brown, instead of white. There is also a sepia-toned variant.

FX/SFX: The drawn text, and the fading company name.

Music/Sounds: A xylophone/string composition with a string stinger at the end (taken from the stock music track "The Big Creep" by Paul Gerard, from the Conroy music library).

Availability: Ultra rare, as it originally appeared on most ABC network programs that were in syndication at the time.

Not even Let's Make a Deal (1971-1973 syndicated version) had this logo in their credit scroll. It was seen at the end of some TV movies from the era, as well on older prints of cartoon shows of the era, such as King Kong, The Smokey Bear Show, Hot Wheels, and Beany & Cecil, among others. It's also seen intact on DVD releases of Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp by Image Entertainment.

Editor's Note: None.