Background: Vestron Video was formed from the assets of the original Time-Life Video in 1981 to release special interest videos as well as independent films, B-movies, and TV movies. In 1991, Vestron, Inc. was acquired by LIVE Entertainment (later known as "Artisan Entertainment"), and it was folded into LIVE the following year. Today, the Vestron library is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment via their acquisition of Artisan.
1st Logo
(January-September 1982)
Nickname: "Big V"
Logo: Over a blue background, a still version of the Vestron Video "Big V" is seen.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: None.
Music/Sounds Variants:
- On the 1982 Laserdisc of Tribute, this logo plasters the Time-Life Video logo but keeps its music intact.
- At the end of the 1982 VHS of Joe, the film's closing theme ("Where Are You Going" by Jerry Butler) continues over the logo.
Availability: Ultra rare. Seen on Vestron releases of the era, like The Changeling, Rodan, Good Guys Wear Black, The Last Chase, Bolero, The Silent Partner, The Greatest Adventure, The Cannonball Run, Nothing Personal, Go Tell the Spartans, Godzilla, King of the Monsters and Fort Apache the Bronx (including its 1988 reissue). The 1982 release of Benji doesn't use a logo.
2nd Logo
(November 1982-Early 1986)
Nickname: "Big V II"
Logo: The screen fills with white stripes which are cut on the sides (downwards) and in the middle (upwards) by blue laser-like lights. The stripes now form a "V" shape against a red background. The "V" flashes blue, then backs up where it is "shadowed" by a lighter "V" appearing next to it. Four red lights shine in all but the lower right corner of the original "V," and the lower right of the "shadow." Above the letter, the blue light spells out "VESTRON" in white letters, and that shrinks to fit the word "VIDEO" which appears next to it.
Variants:
- On the 1983 VHS releases of They Call Me Bruce? and The Earthling, and the 1983 Laserdisc of The Incubus [where it cuts to black], the logo goes on for another eight seconds after the music stops.
- Supposedly, on some early Vestron releases, the words are not spelled out by the light and the logo fades out earlier than usual. This was spotted on the 1984 Canadian VHS of Mr. Mom.
- Closing: Same as the regular variant, except when finished, a copyright stamp zooms in below. In some cases, the variant is put at the beginning of tapes.
FX/SFX: Computer Graphics.
Music/Sounds: Synthesized tones you may have heard on many '80s TV news programs, accompanied by laser zaps and more synthesized notes. For the closing variant, it used only the synthesized theme.
Music/Sounds Trivia: The music, composed by Jim Flamberg, is also heard in the titles on How to Beat Home Video Games.
Music/Sounds Variants:
- Some Australian releases carry a different synthesized theme, "Videospots 4" by Harry Forbes, from the Parry Music Library, with added sound effects.
- There is a silent version.
Availability: Rare. Seen on Vestron video releases of the time. This includes Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Lord of the Rings, Harry and Son, Trancers, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Ghoulies, Interface, Lifeforce, Burial Ground, Curtains, The House by the Cemetery, The House on Sorority Row, Mutant, Class of 1984, Spaceship, Yellowbeard, How to Beat Home Video Games, Smurfs and the Magic Flute, An American Werewolf in London, For the Love of Benji, Class, and early National Geographic VHS releases. Also seen on Showtime Networks airings of The Company of Wolves. The first VHS release of Mr. Mom has this logo, but reprints leave it out entirely. On some early tapes that have the Vestron "Red V-Ball" on the box and tape sticker, this may appear. The closing variant and silent version are both ultra rare. This makes very strange appearances on the Lionsgate DVD of Irreconcilable Differences and the Full Moon/Echo Bridge releases of Trancers, since transfers for both films used inferior video masters. In the UK, this is seen on tapes such as Return of the Living Dead and My Little Pony: The Movie, despite both having the 3rd print logo on the box.
Editor's Note: The animation screams early Eighties computer animation, the forming of "VESTRON VIDEO" looks really cheap, and the lights on the "V" look like red Christmas lights. The audio quality isn't the best, either. Nevertheless, this logo is very popular worldwide and is a favorite of many, not to mention a source of nostalgia.
3rd Logo
(Mid-to-Late 1986-1992)
Nicknames: "The Red Circle-V", "Red V-Ball"
Logo: On a black background, a small red sphere zooms into view. Zooming towards the red sphere are several silver lines, forming a silver "V/Triangle" on the sphere. The sphere settles near the top of the screen. Zooming in below it are the words "VESTRON VIDEO" in a futuristic font.
Variant: On the 2021 Ultra-HD Blu-ray release of Dirty Dancing, the logo was enhanced, but was distorted with VHS/Beta artifacts in its first three seconds.
FX/SFX: CGI.
Music/Sounds: A chord followed by a few notes of piano and then finally a French horn-type sounder.
Music/Sounds Variants:
- Some later releases used another synth fanfare that did not fit in at all.
- Sometimes, it is silent.
- The 1992 demo VHS of Over Her Dead Body has Don LaFontaine saying "Vestron Video rings in the new year with four new releases and a special catalog promotion." over the logo.
Availability: Uncommon. Can be seen on tapes from this era, such as SpaceCamp, From Beyond, Class of 1999, Waxwork, 976-EVIL 2: The Astral Factor, Dolls, Over Her Dead Body, Age Isn't Everything, Ghost Warrior, Fear (1990), To Live and Die in L.A. (early prints have the previous logo), Valet Girls, Parents, C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud, Ghoulies II and III, Nova Video Library tapes, Naked Obsession, Dead Aim, Dirty Dancing, and National Geographic VHS releases of the era. This makes surprise re-appearances on the 2003 Artisan DVD of Bride of Re-Animator, the Lionsgate DVDs of Personal Services, Ironweed, and Slaughter High, the end of a FEARnet airing of The Gate, and an Encore Suspense airing of The Bedroom Window. On the 2000 Artisan Special Edition DVD of Dirty Dancing, this strangely plasters the film's Vestron Pictures logo. 1991-92 releases used this logo and the Live Home Video FBI warning.
4th Logo
(July 26, 2016- )
Nicknames: "Big V III"
Logo: The logo starts off with the same effects as the second logo. However, the screen then zooms out, revealing the lines on a circular table in the teal-lit factory. Machines then carve out a V. They then place the text "VESTRON", now in an Arial Black font, which shrinks to make way for the word "VIDEO". The logo flashes. Once the fanfare is over, the logo quickly fades out and cuts back to the logo, gets static-shocked and cuts to black.
Trivia: This was designed by Michael Felsher of Red Shirt Pictures (who worked on special features for many of Vestron's releases) and graphic designer Jess Bryden. Upon creating this logo, Felsher commented: "Several years ago I discussed what it would be like to update the Vestron logo with a good friend of mine, Jess Bryden, a gifted graphic designer and filmmaker. When Vestron Video was greenlit, I approached Jess officially about updating the logo. The results were everything I could've hope for and more. References the past, but brings it into the future."
FX/SFX: CGI.
Music/Sounds: A futuristic rearrangement of the 2nd logo's music, ending with what sounds like a mixture of the light switch flick sound and a loud slam, when the logo gets static-shocked.
Availability: Current. It debuted online and is used on Lionsgate's Vestron Video Collector's Series Blu-rays, beginning with Blood Diner and Chopping Mall.
Editor's Note: The suddenness of the machinery may get to some, but it's an overall awesome re-imagining of a classic home video logo.
Other
- For other related logos and images see: Vestron Video/Other