Logo compilations by Jason Jones
Logo Pictures by Eric S. and V of Doom
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, and mr3urious


Avco Broadcasting Corporation

Background: Avco Broadcasting Corporation was the broadcasting division of the Aviation Corporation, which was formerly known as the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation until 1945 (Crosley was an early operator of radio stations and a radio manufacturer). From 1945 up until 1968, the broadcasting division continued to operate under the Crosley name, even though the manufacturing division was already renamed Avco.

(1962-1969)

Nicknames: "Avco Slate", "The Empennage"

Logo: Against a black background, a thick maroon line with a small white right triangle slides in from the left. The triangle stretches into a much larger right triangle with a maroon box to the right, which shrinks into a rectangle, forming an empennage (the tail of an aircraft). The letters "AVCO" (in black) appear two-by-two inside the triangle. The words


in white, fade in below, along with some very small copyright text at the bottom left (it's too small for me to read).

Byline: Starting in 1998, the byline "(C) (year) HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC." would appear throughout the logo. This would appear on programs produced by WLWT-5 (NBC) in Cinncinatti, OH, which is now owned by Hearst-Argyle Television.

FX/Cheesy Factor: All the Scanimate effects used in this logo. The Hearst-Argyle byline is cheaply chyroned in, too.

Music: The end theme of the show fixed with a horn's majestic fanfare. In some cases, it's a jazzy tune with some female singers singing "Avco... BROADCASTIIING!". Some electronic beeps are also heard in between.

Availability: Extinct, being seen originally on The Paul Dixon Show during the 1960s.

Scare Factor: Low.
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Avco Embassy Television

Background: Avco Embassy Television was founded in 1968 by Avco Embassy Films Corp. By 1976, the company was sold to Multimedia, Inc.

(1969-1976)

Nickname: "AE Slate"

Logo: Same as the Avco Embassy Films logo, this time with the phrase "TELEVISION PRESENTATION" replacing the word "FILM".

FX: Same as the Avco Embassy Films logo.

Music: None. It's silent, same as the Avco Embassy Films logo.

Availability: Extinct. However, it was seen on The Phil Donahue Show from the 1970-1976 seasons.

Scare Factor: Low.
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Multimedia Entertainment

Background: In 1976, Avco Embassy Films Corp. sold their television division to Multimedia, Inc. and was thus renamed to Multimedia Entertainment. This company merged to Gannett in 1995 and finally to MCA (later reincorporated as Universal Studios) in 1996, closing definitively in 1997. This extinct company never used a proper logo (possibly) until 1984.

1st Logo
(1984-1992)

Nicknames: "Metallic Circle M", "M of Doom"

Logo: On a blue background, we see many triangular wedges make up a circle. The name "Multimedia Entertainment" appears within. Then the logo zooms out to the right center of the screen. A lowercase "m" replaces the company name, looking like a Tylenol pill. Then about a dozen "Multimedia"'s emerge from top and bottom beside the logo to make one whole 'Multimedia'. Then the words "MULTIMEDIA Entertainment" appear above and below the company name to state, "A Division of MULTIMEDIA Inc.".

FX/Cheesy Factor: Early 3-D animation.

Music: A synthesized humming noise followed by a pindrop-like synth sound and a 6-note synth tune ending with a pindrop-like synth sound.

Availability: Extinct, last seen on 1980s episodes of Donahue, Sally Jesse Rapahel and other programs.

Scare Factor: Medium to high; the humming noise is scary as well as the music, not to mention the design.



2nd Logo
(1992-February 1997)

Nickname: "CGI Metallic Circle M"

Logo: Against a dark blue background, we see a rippling pattern. The "M" logo from before falls into the ripple, then flies out to the top center of a navy blue BG. The text "MULTIMEDIA ENTERTAINMENT" flies out, with "MULTIMEDIA" coming in from the right and "ENTERTAINMENT" coming in from the left. "A Division of Multimedia, Inc." (in the Times font) appears below. All the objects seem to have a "blurring" effect as they move.

Later Variant: When Gannett sold this company to MCA (now NBC Universal) in 1996, the byline "A Universal Company" was seen below the logo, being used from 1996-1997.

FX: The CGI.

Music: Same as 1st logo, but less noisy.

Availability: Extinct; might be seen on VCR-taped episodes of Donahue, Sally Jesse Raphael, and Jerry Springer from the era. This logo was replaced with the 1996 bylineless Universal Television logo.

Scare Factor: Low to medium; an improvement over the previous logo, being less scary than its predecessor.