THX Theatre Alignment Program

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

This was THX's division created in 1983 to ensure quality playback in theaters (specifically ones not THX-certified).



1st Logo (May 19-October 13, 1995)



Visuals: Scrolling in the credits are these words:

Quality assurance services for the release of [movie title]
were provided by the THX Theatre Alignment Program.
If you experience any conditions that detracted from the
theatrical presentation of this film, please call

Below, the THX logo, with Lucasfilm byline, appears next to the TAP logo, which is "TAP", with gaps in the letters, enclosed in a circle saying "T H E A T R E A L I G N M E N T P R O G R A M". Both are encased in boxes (a white box for the THX logo, with the logo cut out of the box and the Lucasfilm byline in a separate white rectangle, and a white outlined box for the TAP logo). Under the THX/TAP logos is this:

1-800-PHONE-THX.

Variant: On Nine Months, it includes "or visit http://www.thx.com on the World Wide Web."

Technique: Scrolling effects.

Audio: The closing theme of the movie.

Availability: It debuted on Die Hard with a Vengeance and was also seen on Nine Months and Strange Days. It appeared on Casper (text notification only) and Waterworld among other TAP titles, but later, non-theatrical prints cut it out. It might've appeared on at least theatrical prints of Apollo 13 as well, but it's also removed on most prints.

2nd Logo (February 9-November 22, 1996)



Visuals: Same as the first logo, except the THX logo is colored white and enclosed in a white outlined box, and the text omits "for the release of [movie title]". Under the THX/TAP logo is this:

1-800-PHONE-THX
or leave your comments at
http://www.thx.com

The logo either scrolls or is still, depending on the film.

Technique: A still graphic. Scrolling effects on Broken Arrow and Jingle All the Way.

Audio: Either the closing theme of the movie or silence.

Availability: It debuted on Broken Arrow, and also appeared on Independence Day, Jingle All the Way, and Chain Reaction. The early/non-HD print of ID4 on TBS/TNT didn't have it as the credits were recreated, but all other prints preserve it, including the current TBS/TNT print with 20th Television's recreated credits.

3rd Logo (November 1, 1996-February 21, 1997)



Visuals: During the closing credits, this text appears:

If you experienced any condition that detracted from
the theatrical presentation of this film, please call
1-800-PHONE-THX
or visit https://www.thx.com
Quality assurance services were provided
by the THX Theatre Alignment Program.

Under the text is the THX/TAP logos from before. Again, depending on the film, the logo either scrolls or is still.

Variant: On Daylight, the THX/TAP logos are omitted.

Technique: A still graphic or scrolling effects.

Audio: Either the closing theme of the movie or silence.

Availability: It debuted on Romeo + Juliet, and also appeared on the Special Edition versions of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, One Fine Day, and Daylight.

4th Logo (March 7, 1997-June 21, 2002)



Visuals: Same as the '96-'97 version, except that the font and THX/TAP logos are different. The TAP logo now consists of the letters "TAP", with the "A" mostly being cut-out. Below the logo is the following words:

THEATRE
ALIGNMENT
PROGRAM

The URL is also shortened to "www.thx.com", and the notice is rearranged:

If you experienced any condition
that detracted from the theatrical
presentation of this film, please call
1-800-PHONE-THX
or visit
www.thx.com
Quality assurance services
were provided by the
THX Theatre Alignment Program.

Once again, depending on the film, the logo either scrolls or is still.

Variants:

  • The home video version of the Special Edition version of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi omits the text "THX THEATRE ALIGNMENT PROGRAM" and only shows the logo under the text "QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED BY THE".
  • Titanic and Anastasia have the 1995 TAP logo instead of the 1997 one.
  • On Minority Report, only the THX and TAP logos are present, and they are moved to the center of the screen. This is cut out on most releases; it is only known to appear on the screener VHS and select international home media releases.

Technique: A still graphic or scrolling effects.

Audio: Either the closing theme of the movie or silence.

Availability: It debuted on the Special Edition version of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, and also appeared on Titanic (excluding post-2012 theatrical and in-home releases), Speed 2: Cruise Control, Anastasia, The Thin Red Line, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Pearl Harbor (excluding the director's cut), and Minority Report. DreamWorks films such as A.I.: Artificial Intelligence and Shrek used this on theatrical prints, but it would be cut out on home media releases and TV airings.

5th Logo (early 2000s)

Visuals: On a black background is the TAP logo from before, but in silver and shining. Underneath is the text "THEATRE ALIGNMENT PROGRAM", stacked on each other and spaced out.

Variant: The TAP logo is still and above it is the text "THEATRE ALIGNMENT PROGRAM." Underneath "TAP" is the text "At the Lab", "In the Theatres", or "Digital Cinema". This appears on TAP promotional featurettes.

Technique: Appears to be CGI.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on promotional shorts about the Theatre Alignment Program.

6th Logo (May 16, 2002)



Visuals: Same as the 97-01 version, except that the THX/TAP logos are replaced by a single, shiny CGI TAP logo, with "THEATRE ALIGNMENT PROGRAM" below.

Technique: Scrolling effects.

Audio: None.

Availability: Only seen on Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. It might've appeared on Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, at least theatrically, but all available prints omit it.

7th Logo (December 2009)



Visuals: During the credits of a broadcast-exclusive Fox movie, the THX (with Lucasfilm byline) and TAP logos are seen. In the next shot is the text: "Quality assurance services were provided by the THX Theatre Alignment Program. If you experience any conditions that detracted from the theatrical presentation of this film, please call 1-800-PHONE-THX or leave your comments at http://www.thx.com"

Technique: A still graphic.

Audio: The closing theme of the movie.

Availability: Only seen on a syndicated print of Jingle All the Way on The CW69.

8th Logo (June 2012)



Visuals: Same as the '95 logo, except with a different font and an updated THX/TAP logo (still with Lucasfilm byline).

Technique: A still graphic.

Audio: The closing theme of the movie.

Availability: Only seen on 20th Television's 2012 prints of Die Hard with a Vengeance on Peachtree TV, Esquire Network and WGN America (now NewsNation).