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Golden Book Videowas a line of children/family animated and live-action videos marketed byWestern Publishing,which began during the holiday season of 1985. They featured characters and stories from Western's print publications, such asLittle Golden Books,and were originally released onVHSvideo cassette for under $10.[1]
 | |
| Industry | Home video |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Fate | Absorbed into Golden Books Family Entertainment |
| Successor | Golden Books Family Entertainment Universal Pictures Home Entertainment |
Area served | Worldwide |
The videos made use oflimited animationtechniques to add motion to original illustrations from Western's print books; Western called this approach "bringing storybooks to life".[2]As production was carried-out by multiple companies (usually Studio Consultants Inc., Universal Recording Corp. and Animagination Inc., among others), contents of the videos varied. Typically, they featured a full voice cast, with background music sourced fromproduction musiclibraries (theAPM Musiclibrary, in most cases), although original songs were recorded for some videos, occasionally with sing-along lyrics appearing on-screen. The video adaptions often carried original material that was not present in the original books. Some of their video releases were mastered withDolby Stereo.
Starting in 1986, Golden also began releasing Golden Book Music Videos, which usually contained similar limited animation set to new illustrations and a full-length story, incorporating a combination of classic children's songs and new original songs. Golden Book Video also started the Golden Step-Ahead Video series, featuring educational videos dealing with subjects such as simple reading/letter phonics, basic mathematics, what going to school is like, etc.
In 1987, Golden Book Video started straying away from book adaptations and began releasing general entertainment (i.e. cartoon episodes, TV specials, etc.) under their then-new "Golden Vision" banner, along with some newly created content (usually live-action). By 1990, the Golden Vision banner was dropped and all new products, including general entertainment productions, were released under the regular Golden Book Video branding.
Also, starting in 1989, many of the earlier "storybook adaptation" videos were reissued under the "Golden Book Video Classics" banner, which often would have the same famous golden spine on the sides of the box similar toLittle Golden Books.Beginning in 1991, Golden Book Video also began releasing several older CBS after-school special cartoons produced byBosustow Entertainmentunder this banner.
In 1991, Golden Book Video purchased and absorbedHi-Tops VideofromHeron Communications,and began releasing new titles formerly distributed by Hi-Tops, such as theBaby Songsseries and theMadelinespecials.
By 1996, Golden Book Video was absorbed into its parent company's Golden Books Family Entertainment division, and from 1998,Sony Wonderthen distributed VHS and DVD tapes of Western Publishing properties.
Random HouseandClassic Media(nowDreamWorks Classics) bought out Golden Books Family Entertainment in 2001.
VHS Releases
editMain series
edit- 3 Favorite Golden Stories(1985)
- 3 Best-Loved Golden Stories(1985)
- 3 Richard Scarry Animal Nursery Tales(1985)
- 3 Golden Amye Rosenberg Stories(1985)
- 3 Mercer Mayer Stories(1985)
- 3 Golden Jungle Animal Tales(1985)
- 3 Hugga Bunch Stories(1985)
- 3 Masters of the Universe Stories(1985)
- 3 She-Ra: Princess of Power Stories(1985)
- 3 Sesame Street Stories(1985)
- 4 Masters of the Universe Stories(1985)
- 5 Sesame Street Stories(1985)
- 3 Fairy Tale Classics(1986)
- 3 Golden Bible Stories(1986)
- 3 Tales From the Care Bears(1986)
- 3 Golden Richard Scarry Tales(1986)
- Learn About Living Stories(1986)
- Pound Puppies Adventures(1986)
- Merry Mother Goose(1986)
- 3 Hans Christian Andersen Stories(1986)
- Pound Puppies Stories(1986)
- 3 My Pet Monster Tales(1986)
- 3 Favorite Fairy Tales(1986)
- Pound Puppies Tales(1987)
Golden Book Music Video
edit- Sing, Giggle, and Grin(1986)
- See, Sing, and Play(1986)
- A Child's First Nursery Songs(1986)
- Sing, Stretch, & Shape Up(1987)
- Songs from Mother Goose(1987)
Golden Step-Ahead Video
edit- Get Ready to Read(1986)
- Get Ready for School(1986)
- Know the Alphabet(1986)
- Get Ready for Math(1986)
- The Rainy Day Numbers Show(1987)
- Journey Through the Jungle of Words(1987)
References
edit- ^Two Companies Introduce Video Titles for Under $10,Billboard Magazine, Jan. 26, 1985
- ^Low Video Prices,Billboard Magazine, Jan. 26, 1985