WETA

Video captures courtesy of MacBookPro1990, Skyoneer2007, Tellyfarnsworth, and File Preserver

Background: WETA is a PBS affiliate located in Washington D.C.

1st Logo (1976-1982)

Nickname: "The American Colors"

Logo: On a black background, several "pieces" of the WETA logo in the next logo appear, in sync with the music (the WETA (1976-1982) italic "W" and non-italic "T" are colored white, the "E" is made of three lines and colored red, and the trapezoidal "A" is blue with a white star in the center). When the logo is complete, "WASHINGTON D.C." appears below.

FX/SFX: The "pieces" forming the logo.

Music/Sounds: A patriotic fife/drum sounder that is synced to the animation.

Availability: Should be on old tapes of Washington Week in Review, but other than that, extinct on TV.

Scare Factor: Low. The music might scare some.

2nd Logo (1982-1988)

WETA ID (1982)

Nickname: "The Comet"

Logo: Over a blue-black gradient background, a comet passes by, leaving a stylized "WETA" with a star in the "A" and "WASHINGTON D.C." below. The logo shines and the background gets brighter.

Variant: A local ID had the number 26 next to "WETA".

FX/SFX: The comet, the shining effects.

Music/Sounds: A synthesized "swish" sound, followed by a 6-note synth-orchestra fanfare.

Availability: Pretty much gone outside of tape trading. Appeared on Washington Week in Review.

Scare Factor: Low. The music may catch some off-guard.

3rd Logo

(1988-1996)

WETA - CLG Wiki

Nickname: "The Ribbons"

Logo: We see three colorful ribbons. The text "WETA" zooms out over a black background with ribbons and squares colored blue, gold, purple, and pink, with blue stars in them (looking a little bit like the background in King World's "Spotlights" logo). "WETA" settles itself in front of a pink-colored ribbon, and "WASHINGTON, D.C." fades in below.

FX/SFX: The ribbons.

Music/Sounds: A 5-note synthesized violin sounder, which sounds similar to the 2nd logo's fanfare.

Availability: Very rare. This logo has appeared on many Ken Burns documentaries such as The Civil War. You'll probably find this on tapes of Washington Week in Review as well.

Scare Factor: None.

4th Logo (1992-1996)

Nickname: "Starry Triangle"

Logo: On a white marble background, three blue stars form a triangle, with red stripes next to it. Below the symbol is a gold "WETA" in the same font as logo 3, with "WASHINGTON, D.C." below it. Two lines shine, one going across at the top, and the other going down on the left.

FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: The lines shining.

Music/Sounds: A violin stinger culminating into an orchestral note.

Availability: Some episodes of Washington Week in Review have this logo in place of the 1988 one.

Scare Factor: Low

4th Logo

(1996-1997)

Nickname: "The W"

Logo: Over a purple-tinted video of the exterior of the White House, a white "W" draws itself on the top center of the screen. The letters "W", "E", "T" and "A" appear one by one below, and grow as they do. A white square appears via aWETA - CLG Wiki strange "wipe" effect over the "W" logo, turning it black. Simultaneously, the text "WASHINGTON, D.C." appears below.

FX/SFX: The 2D effects.

Music/Sounds: 4 orchestral hits playing against a percussion beat in the background the whole time. When the square draws itself, an elevator-like "ding" is heard.

Availability: More common than its predecessors, but still pretty rare. Appeared on Ken Burns' The West and Washington Week in Review. The former program preserves this on DVD.

Scare Factor: Minimal.

5th Logo

(1997-2007)

WETA - CLG Wiki Nickname: "The Ribbons II"

Logo: Over a shady cobalt blue background, the text "WETA", in yellow, spreads out. It is at an angle and turns to face the screen. After that happens, two red ribbons draw themselves around the text. When the animation finishes, "WASHINGTON DC" appears below.

FX/SFX: The ribbons.

Music/Sounds: A relaxing 4-note wind sounder. When used as a local ID, it used a piece of new age music. A female announcer says "You're watching WETA Washington, D.C., Maryland & Virginia."

Availability: Common. Appears on Washington Week in Review and Globe Trekker/Pilot Guides episodes from 1997-2008. However, the show's title has been shortened to Washington Week in recent years. It also appears on many Ken Burns documentaries such as Jazz and The War.

Scare Factor: None.

6th Logo

(2007- )

WETA (2008- )

Nickname: "The Ribbons III"

Logo: On a stylized white/silver background with bright lights, we see the WETA logo appear in the same manner as before, but with "WETA" in black, and only the left ribbon drawing in. "WASHINGTON D.C." is shown below, spreading apart.

FX/SFX: The background, the logo appearing, and "Washington D.C." spreading apart.

Music/Sounds: A short piano jingle.

Availability: Currently in use. Found on PBS NewsHour, Washington Week and newer Ken Burns documentaries.

Scare Factor: None.