WABE

Background

WABE is the secondary PBS station for Atlanta, Georgia, and the only non-member of Georgia Public Broadcasting in the state. It started in 1958 as WETV (not to be confused with low-power station in Tennessee as WETV-LP), then changed its call letters to WPBA in 1984, and WABE in January 2022.

WETV

Contents   Logo (May 1, 1979-1984)

WPBA

Contents 1st Logo (1984-1987) 2nd Logo (1987-1990) 3rd ID (1990-1994) 4th ID (1994-2000)

WETV

Logo (May 1, 1979-1984)

• 

Visuals: Fading into a black void is the text "WETV" in Microgramma, shown as a metallic model over a distorted, reflective surface as a dim light illuminates the entire thing. The screen starts off blurred, but slowly comes into focus. As it finishes focusing, the text "ATLANTA" appears below in the same font, waving constantly.

Technique: Live action for the tin-foil "WETA", and video feedback effects for the "ATLANTA" text.

Audio: A soft, dreamy piano ditty while four warble synth tones play throughout the logo.

Availability: Seen only on New German Cinema: Werner Herzog so far.

WPBA

1st Logo (1984-1987)

Visuals: On a black background is a thin 3D "30" facing the right of the screen. Above it is "WPBA" and below it is "Atlanta", both in a white serif font. Bordering the top and bottom are two pairs of lines.

Technique: A still computer graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on A Southern Voice.

2nd Logo (1987-1990)

• 

Visuals: Fading into a live action shot of cars driving all over a highway in downtown Atlanta, "FROM ATLANTA WPBA", colored blood red with a drop shadow, appears via a weird "flame" effect on the bottom of the screen.

Technique: Live action with 2D animation for the text.

Audio: A high-pitched two-note keyboard tune, then an ascending synthesized "gurgling" sound. This is actually the end of the short music piece Shortie No. 19 by Don Voegeli.

Availability: Seen on the very few PBS programs produced by WPBA from that time. This could've been on old reruns of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood during the 80s and 90s. This was spotted on Cinema Showcase, among others.

3rd ID (1990-1994)

• 

Visuals: Panning over a shot of downtown Atlanta, two sets of white lines come in from the top and bottom of the screen, zooming in before merging in the center. It reveals the stacked text "from WPBA Atlanta" in the 1984 PBS corporate font, colored white with a black drop-shadow.

Technique: CGI and live action.

Audio: A short harpsichord tune with a held-out synth note at the beginning.

Availability: It could be seen on later episodes of Cinema Showcase, The Making Of Modern Atlanta, and Postcards from the Edge.

4th ID (1994-2000)

• 

Visuals: On a purple background, several panels rotate slowly around as several shots from different programs fly across the screen. As the screens start to head towards the screen, a large "30" swings in, with the font in Copperplate Gothic, followed by "PBA" zooming out letter-by-letter. As it happens, a "W" emerges from the right side of the circle and slides in. The screens then take over, forming a dark turquoise background with several lines in different colors wiping in scrolling to the right. "ATLANTA PUBLIC TELEVISION" then swings into place below the logo, all in a thinner version of the font in white while the logo shines. Several lines continue to scroll past.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A descending piano tune at first, followed by a tune made of synthesized "doo" sounds. The tune plays again, this time with a trumpet MIDI, then one final time in a much grander tone. A synth flute/piano/trumpet theme then plays after a bit.

Availability: Seen only as a local ID.