Gold Key Media

Logo descriptions by Shadeed A. Kelly and Kris Starring Logo captures by Shadeed A. Kelly, Kris Starring, and Pygmalion X

Background: Gold Key Media was the barter division of Gold Key Entertainment that was established on January 10, 1980 to handle first-run syndicated series such as America's Top 10 until the series switched to All American Television.

1st Logo (1980-September 1981) GKM-AT10: 1980Gold Key Media (1980)GKM-AT10: 1981

Nickname: "The Bar"

Logo: On a blue screen, we see the words "DISTRIBUTED BY" on top with "GOLD KEY MEDIA" below pan from the left of the screen. A scarlet red bar wipes in from the left and highlights the "GOLD KEY MEDIA" text. Occasionally, the logo has the blue keyed out and plays superimposed.

Variants:

Starting in 1981, the logo would appear as an in-credit logo. Sometimes, the bar is in a solid gold color rather than scarlet red.

FX/SFX: Mostly made of chyron and video maker effects.

Music/Sounds: Music from any given soundtrack.

Availability: Extinct. The only known appearance of this logo is from the first season of America's Top 10 hosted by Casey Kasem, which has not been reran anywhere.

2nd Logo (October 1981-1982) Gold Key Media (1981)GKM-AT10: 1982

Nickname: "GKM"

Logo: Over a black background, the golden letters "GKM" appear and shine. Below, flashes of light bring forth the words "GOLD KEY MEDIA" letter-by-letter in a Century Gothic typeface. "Distributed By" fades in above everything else. The "GKM" logo shines once again before the logo fades out.

Trivia: Their slogan was "First-run sponsored programming".

Variants:

A shorter version of this logo appeared on America's Top 10 that starts right before "GOLD KEY MEDIA" flashes in. This version is also superimposed by keying the black background out. Same as the last logo, this logo would appear (awkwardly) in-credit. This would have the byline "A Division of the Vidtronics Company, Inc."

FX/SFX: Standard lighting effects of the early '80s, with the flashing and shining.

Music/Sounds: Music from any given soundtrack.

Availability: Extinct. It only appeared on season two of America's Top 10, as well as some other music related programs from Scotti Brothers-Syd Vinnedge Television. They also distributed Encore News and Portrait of a Legend.