Logo descriptions by Jason Jones and Shadeed A. Kelly
Logo captures by Eric S., V of Doom, Shadeed A. Kelly, Bob Fish, and bmasters9
Editions by V of Doom, Shadeed A. Kelly and Bob Fish


Background: Aaron Spelling opened his first TV production company named Thomas/Spelling Productions in 1967 as a joint venture with Danny Thomas to produce sucessful TV shows, dissolving this in 1973; then, he opened a new TV production company named Spelling-Goldberg Productions in 1972 as a joint venture with Leonard Goldberg, dissolving this in 1996; and finally he founded his own production company named Aaron Spelling Productions in 1969 to continue producing shows and TV movies, renaming after as Spelling Entertainment Group in 1988 and finally as Spelling Television in 1992. After, this company merged to Blockbuster Entertainment in 1994, but Spelling took back all control of this company in 1995, until it merged with Viacom (later renamed CBS Corp. in 2006) in 1999, but Spelling continued producing shows until his death on June 23, 2006, at the age of 83, with the dissolution of his company by CBS Corp. On April 4, 2007 it was announced that 7th Heaven's series finale on May 13, 2007 would be dedicated to Aaron Spelling. Every single episode from Season 11, read these words at the beginning of the closing credits: "In memory of Aaron Spelling". Actually, all Spelling library is owned mainly by CBS Corp. and distributed on TV by CBS Television Distribution; however; the rights to many Spelling-Goldberg Productions shows are held and distributed by Sony Pictures Television, which also co-produced a fraction of the library (as Columbia Pictures Television). Currently, the company still survives as an in-name-only unit of CBS Television Studios (formerly CBS Paramount Television), a division of CBS Corporation.


Aaron Spelling Productions

(1969-1989)

Logo: Aaron Spelling Productions never had a logo. In the ending credits of shows like Dynasty and Hotel, and generally on TV movies, the text in the series type font would appear superimposed at the end:


Variant: On shows like The Love Boat and others, the company name was in a serif typeface with swashes (decorative touches to letters that were popular in the 70s):


FX/SFX: Seen on closing sequences with cut screens.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Uncommon, currently seen on Dynasty on SoapNet.

Scare Factor: None.
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Spelling Entertainment (Spelling Television, Inc.)

1st Logo
(1989-1992)

Nickname: "Abstract S"

Logo: Just a black (sometimes blue) screen with "SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC." in white, and a stylized "S" that somewhat resembles the "S From Hell" Screen Gems logo. This S, however, has three lines going upward, three lines going down, and a rectangular structure behind it. "SPELLING" has the largest typeface, and the additional byline is progressively smaller, and appear below the Spelling name.

FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: None really, except for the zoom-in effect seen on 2nd season episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210.

Music/Sounds: Once again, the ending theme would usually play over.

Availability: Uncommon, still seen on the first two seasons of Beverly Hills, 90210 on SoapNet and DVD.

Scare Factor: None.



2nd Logo
(1992- )

Logo: Against a blue background, two lines (one with streaks; the other with a filmstrip) roll out parallel to one another, then they connect with an arch at the right side, resembling the shape of a magnet. The word "SPELLING" slides in from that direction, with the word "Television", "Television, Inc." or "Daytime Television" inside the lower line. The "S" in Spelling is a bit larger than the rest of the logo, which shines in with "pings".

Note: Was referred to as "Spelling Television Inc." starting in 1999.

Bylines: Under it would read one of the following (as they appeared on screen):

• 1994-1995: A UNIT OF BLOCKBUSTER ENTERTAINMENT (accompanied by the Blockbuster Video logo, a blue and yellow ticket stub)
• 1995-1999: a subsidiary of SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
• 1999-2006: A PARAMOUNT/VIACOM COMPANY (from 1999-2000, it was in a plain Helvetica font; in 2000, the font was changed to that of Viacom's Wigga-Wigga logo)
• 2006-: A CBS COMPANY (appears in a laser inscription effect right under the Spelling logo; the text is in Futura)

Variants:

• Was referred to as "Spelling Daytime Television" on Sunset Beach from 1997-1999.
• From 1992-1994, there was no byline.

FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: The sliding in of the "SPELLING" name. The animation is a bit simple, but worked well to maintain with the changing bylines.

Music/Sounds: A 3-note synthesized tune is used. Otherwise, it uses the finishing of the ending theme from any show, or it is silent (as it was when ABC Family reran 7th Heaven)

Availability: Common. It can be seen on reruns of Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place on SoapNet, 7th Heaven on Hallmark Channel and WGN America, Charmed on TNT, and Summerland on The N, among others. The "Daytime Television" variant is long gone, as Sunset Beach (the only show it was on) has not seen the light of day in nearly a decade; if you have tapes of that show, check them for this one. The 2006 variant is currently seen on DVD releases of Beverly Hills 90210, and appeared on the final season of 7th Heaven.

Scare Factor: Low, it's should be OK with most.
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Thomas/Spelling Productions

1st Logo
(1967-1969)

Nickname: "Thomas/Spelling Emblem"

Logo: On a navy blue background, there is an emblem that features a red shield outlined in yellow with yellow curled ribboning and an outlined eagle on top of the emblem with the words: "Thomas/Spelling" with a diagonal ribbon line separating the names inside the shiled and a yellow arched banner with an arched word "PRODUCTIONS" in red.

FX/SFX: On Rango, the zooming-in effect. None for The Guns of Will Sonnett.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Extinct; it was seen on Rango and The Guns of Will Sonnett.

Scare Factor: Low.



2nd Logo
(1967-1973)

Logo: In the ending credits of shows like The Mod Squad, the text in the series type font would appear superimposed at the end:


but on Rango, a custom disclaimer appears superimposed at the end:


... and on The Guns of Will Sonnett, this is the custom disclaimer:


FX/SFX: Seen on closing sequences with cut screens.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Seen intact on Rango, The Guns of Will Sonnett and The Mod Squad.

Scare Factor: None.
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Spelling/Goldberg Productions

(1972-1996)

Logo: It would just say:


or


Variant: Some shows were co-produced by Columbia Pictures Television. It would read:


Then, it would cut to the then current CPT logo afterward.