Minneapolis / St Paul, Minnesota



1st (known) Logo
(1982-1990)
Nickname: "Tubular Letters", "Water Rectangle"

Logo: On a light gray background, we see "KTCA", in a tubular font very similar to KQED's logo from around that time, along with "MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL", both colored golden orange, flying away from the viewer from the bottom. About the same time, a rectangle containing water inside (possibly to represent the image of a lake) also flies in, but towards the viewer. They both rotate into a tilted position (plus the rectangle appears to flip for a bit), and when they join together, we fade out, though the water in the rectangle still creates little waves.

FX: All the animation in the logo.

Music: A downward synthesized glockenspiel tune, then five synth-glockenspiel notes, then one last note held at the end.

Availability: Seen on "Grant Wood's America", and more notably seen on 80's episodes of "Newton's Apple".

Scare Factor: Minimal; the music might startle you a little.

2nd Logo
(1990-2000)
Nickname: "Blue Waves"

Logo: On a blue background that looks like undersea junk (though it's intended to resemble a forest), we see "KTCA", in a blue Aero Extended font, over "SAINT PAUL" and "MINNEAPOLIS", both stacked under "KTCA", and in a smaller white font. Waves come in from the left side of the screen, and when they leave, the screen fades out.

Variant: There is a variant where the logo simply fades in, plus "Presentation" appears on the bottom.

FX: The waves rippling.

Music: A fantasy-oriented keyboard theme composed by Ralph Schuckett. On the variant, we hear a synth-bass note being held, as well as a "BONG!" sound. It was also composed by Ralph Schuckett.

Availability: Can be seen on 90s episodes of "Newton's Apple", as well as "Once Upon a Tree" when reran on select PBS stations.

Scare Factor: None for the full version, and low for the variant.