ABC Films

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum



Background

ABC Films (formerly "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 Paramount Global, through CBS Media Ventures and Spelling Television Inc. Many others have fallen in the public domain. The company did not use an on-screen logo until 1959.

Logo (1966-1973)


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

Variant: A sepia-toned variant exists.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: 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: 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. Also seen intact on Image Entertainment DVD releases of Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp.