GT Media

Background : GoodTimes Entertainment was a bargain bin home video company founded in 1984. It distributed TV shows, movies (both classic and contemporary) and lifestyle programs. The Kids Klassics division was formed to distribute children's programming. It also distributed budget priced releases from the Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures and Orion Pictures catalogs, among others. In 2005, the company was acquired by Gaiam and was renamed to GT Media, before folding into the main Gaiam umbrella in 2007. Although the name came back in 2011 for animated direct-to-video productions.

 Note : This is not to be confused with Goodtimes Enterprises. Not to mention that early GoodTimes releases from 1984-85 did not have an onscreen logo; it generally cut straight to the film. It did have a print logo, which served as the basis for our first logo.

=GoodTimes Home Video=

1st Logo
(1985-1987)

Nickname : "GoodTimes Rainbow"

Logo : On a black-purple gradient background, we see a blank outline of a white rainbow. A parabolic rainbow then wipes in to replace a circular blank outline. The words "GOODTIMES", appear in yellow and in arched words appear above the rainbow. Under the rainbow is the word "HOME VIDEO", in stacked form, also in yellow and under this is the pink word "PRESENTS" with a drop shadow.

Variant : On the closing variant, the copyright year replaces "PRESENTS".

FX/SFX : The rainbow and text appearing.

Music/Sounds : A 80s-style 7-note synth theme ending with a long synth pad, but on 29 Minute Workout this carries over to the video's theme.

Availability : Seen on some releases like Dream Cars of the 50s and 60s, 29 Minute Workout and World War II documentaries on VHS. Don't except to see this on VHS of any public domain movie or TV show, because this went straight to the film.

2nd Logo
(1987-1990)

Nickname : "GoodTimes Rainbow II"

Logo : On a shady light blue background, we see a rainbow, wiping in left-to-right. As it finishes appearing, "GOODTIMES", colored amber and in the same style as before, appear above the rainbow. Under the rainbow are "HOME VIDEO" and under that in bronze "PRESENTS", in a Helvetica font. For the closing variant, "PRESENTS" is not shown.

Trivia : Some versions of the song "Future Love" by Kristinia DeBarge feature a synth wind chime-like pad note at the beginning that's sampled from the penultimate half of this logo theme.

Variants :
 * A black & white version exists on B&W films.
 * On reprints of MCA Home Video releases distributed by GoodTimes, the 1983 MCA Home Video logo would play as normal with a freeze frame at the end and "UNDER LICENSE TO" appearing underneath, followed by the GoodTimes logo.

FX/SFX : Same as the previous logo.

Music/Sounds : A crystallized sparkling sound followed by a synth percussion tune.

Availability : Uncommon. Seen on tapes from the period, some of which were co-released by MCA Home Video. It can be found on some compilation videos that were later reissued, namely Three Stooges and Abbott and Costello material. It still appeared on their tapes until 1990, even though most releases had the 3rd logo in print form on the packaging beginning in 1986.

3rd Logo
(1990-2000)

Nicknames : "Goodtimes Filmreel", "Goodtimes Filmstrip"

Logo : On a starry sky background, we see a filmreel, flying downward. Then it shifts to the pink film inside it, which becomes flat. It then zooms-out, and the film reads "H O M E V I D E O". Then "GOODTIMES", colored raspberry pink, appears over the filmreel.

Variants :
 * On Platinum Series releases starting in 1993, a silver rectangle with the words "PLATINUM SERIES" appeared under the filmreel that read "HOME VIDEO" and shines.
 * Starting in 1996, the URL text "www.goodtimes.com" (an URL that presently leads to the Gaiam website) appeared at the bottom of the logo.
 * A still version of the logo appears at the end of some tapes, such as Halloween II.
 * The closing version of the Platinum Series variant had the rectangle shine.
 * One Platinum Series variant had a much cheaper star field at the beginning, which fades into a shot of the Three Stooges. It animates for one second, and returns to being frozen. The URL was seen for two seconds before fading out, and the animation for the rectangle was only shining.
 * On MCA/Universal Home Video reprints distributed by GoodTimes, the MCA/Universal logo would play as normal, but the logo fades out when the wrapped around words 'UNDER LICENSE TO" appears in its place and straightens itself out on the star field, the 1990 GoodTimes logo would follow.

FX/SFX : CGI.

Music/Sounds : Starts with some "tinkles" and a whoosh as the film reel shifts downward, followed by a bombastic synth orchestral fanfare with a choir mixed in. On the "PLATINUM SERIES" variation, an additional whoosh is heard as the rectangle shines. On some releases, the logo is silent. The closing version of the Platinum Series variant just had three whoosh sounds in-sync with the rectangle shining.

Music/Sounds Variant : There is a strange version of the Platinum Series variant where the sound effects are absent; this was used on the 1991 Platinum Series tape of March of the Wooden Soldiers (colorized).

Availability : Common. Seen on releases of the period. This was used in tandem with the next logo for its last 3 years. Some 1990 releases had used the previous logo, such as The Three Stooges Collection Volume 1, but some copies of the tape had this one instead.

=GoodTimes Entertainment=

1st Logo
(1997-2005)

Nicknames : "Zooming GoodTimes", "Skytimes"

Logo : We start seeing a blue cloud background with clouds moving. The text "GOODTIMES ENTERTAINMENT" in baby blue, zooms-out as the cloud background becomes ochre. After it zooms out, the logo shines once.

Variants :
 * There exists a filmed and a videotaped variant.
 * There is a variant with the same URL as on the previous logo. This variant is filmed. Seen at the end of Rudolph & the Island of Misfit Toys.
 * A variant with "FEATURE PRESENTATION" fading underneath exists. This variant is videotaped. This plasters the filmed version of the logo on the 2003 DVD reissue of Rudolph & the Island of Misfit Toys.
 * A shorter variant where "NOW IN PRODUCTION" fading underneath is known to exist. This variant is videotaped. Seen on the trailer for the proposed '99 version of In Search of Santa on the '98 VHS kf Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie.
 * A trailer variant is known to exist.
 * A shorter version exists on trailers and promos.

FX/SFX : The clouds and logo moving and shining.

Music/Sounds : None.

Availability : Seen on GoodTimes releases of the period.

2nd Logo
(2011)

Logo : TBD.

FX/SFX : Simple movements.

Music/Sounds : None.

Availability : Seen on the 2011 Gaiam DVD release of Tappy Toes, after its home entertainment logo.

Editor's Note : None.

=GoodTimes DVD= (1998-2005)

Nickname : "Watertimes"

Logo : On a black background, we see black water, and we see "GOODTIMES ENTERTAINMENT" (as seen in the 4th logo). It then dives into the water, and bright blue, lighting-like electricity is seen. The words emerge from the water with a cloud of steam and the standard DVD symbol appears under the GoodTimes logo:

Variant : On later releases, the URL is added.

FX/SFX : CGI.

Music/Sounds : A brief synth note and a deep whir as the logo dives, followed by a synth tune with heavy percussion, ending with a MIDI-like cymbal crash and 3 synth horn notes.

Availability : Seen on GoodTimes DVD releases of the time such as The Nutcracker Prince, Car Wash, Earthquake, Born in East L.A., Problem Child, Jaws: The Revenge, Judgement Night, and Bustin' Loose.

=GT Media= (2006-2007)

Nickname : "Skytimes II"

Logo : On a time-lapse cloud background, a lens flare draws a yellow crescent. "GT MEDIA" fades in underneath it as the sky goes from sunset to day. As the logo slowly zooms in, "A GAIAM COMPANY" fades in underneath.

FX/SFX : Live action environment/2D effects.

Music/Sounds : A calm synth theme.

Availability : Extremely rare, as this incarnation of GoodTimes Entertainment was very short-lived. It appeared at the end of an infomercial for the GT Express 101 and on DVD releases of The Christmas Blessing and The Retrievers. It also appears on the reissue of The Velveteen Rabbit (2003).