Just for Kids Home Video Tracking Control Bumpers

1st Bumper (1985-1989)
Bumper: In a room with wooden walls, and what appears to be a video processing machine on the left, we see Noel C. Bloom Jr. (the son of Noel C. Bloom, who founded Celebrity Home Entertainment as well as Family Home Entertainment and its subsidiaries) sitting in a black chair, wearing a Celebrity's Just for Kids shirt, white shorts, and a purple/blue watch on his right arm. He talks to us, and after a little bit we cut to a close-up of his upper body; if you watch closely, you can see his eyes moving from left to right repeatedly, so he's likely reading off a cue card. After he talks some more, the picture cuts to a shot of an older VCR that has features like a tracking control knob, superimposed on a pink background, and a hand comes in and turns the knob to the left a little. We cut back to Noel, and then later on to the VCR footage, which shows the hand moving the knob back to its normal position. Then, we cut back to Noel, and after a little bit another upper-body shot of him, and then for the remainder of the bumper the normal full-body shot of him.

Technique: Live-action and some chroma-key effects.

Music/Sounds: A synthpop instrumental is heard in the background as Noel says to us: "Hi, I'm Noel Bloom Jr., and I'd like to welcome you to another great Just for Kids home video. There are a few things I want to tell you before the program begins. First, this tape is recorded in what we call the LP speed. That means nothing to you except, if you're not seeing me clearly, and this tape is rolling or looks staticky, slowly adjust the tracking control on your VCR--like this--until the picture clears up. If you can't find the tracking button, or you have trouble adjusting it, ask your folks for some help. When you're done with the tape, return the tracking to the center position, so your parents can watch their tapes later. I also want to remind you to look in the video box, if you haven't already, for a coupon that tells you how to get a free Just for Kids tape. That's right, free! It's a full-length show not available in stores. So show the coupon to your parents, and get a free tape you and your friends can enjoy over and over again. Be sure to stay tuned at the end of the tape, after the credits, because I'll be back to show you some terrific sneak previews of other Just for Kids tapes that are in your video store. See you then!"

Music/Sounds Trivia: The music in this bumper is taken from another Celebrity video release, specifically, Texas Showdown: The Battling Beauties (which was a part of their Let's Party series. In other words, yes, they used music from a softcore porn video on kids' tapes!)

Availability: Very rare. Seen only on some early Just for Kids sell-thru releases.

2nd Bumper (1989-2001)
Bumper: In a different room with tons of posters of Just for Kids video releases on the walls and a rack full of more posters (or tapes), we see Noel Bloom Jr. again. He is sitting at a table with some Just for Kids tapes lined up at the left, and a small CRT TV on the right. He talks to us for a little bit, this time not reading off a cue card. Then, the picture cuts to a shot of an older VCR that has a tracking knob at the bottom, among other features, with the yellow text "Tracking" (quotations included) superimposed at the bottom of the screen. A hand (presumably Noel's) comes in and turns the knob. We then cut to a close-up of Noel's face, who talks to us a little more, and then smiles, and we fade out.

Variant: Tapes that don't end with the Just for Kids free video promo cut out the part where Noel talks about the offer, so it jumps from him saying "...they'll help you" to "See you soon and enjoy the show!"

Technique: Live-action footage, and some superimposed text.

Music/Sounds: Just Noel saying the following. "Hi, I'm Noel, you're gonna love this Just for Kids video. If you're having a little trouble with the picture on the TV now, maybe you just need to adjust the tracking on your VCR. That's the little switch or button just at the bottom of your tape player. If you need help, just call your mom or dad or big brother or big sister, they'll help you, and be sure you stay tuned after the show, because I'm gonna tell you how you can get a free video! See you soon and enjoy the show!"

Availability: Uncommon. Seen on most Just for Kids sell-thru releases from the time.