Questions about Star Trek VHS Prints

[ClassicTVMan81]

For those of you who followed Star Trek (TOS) on TV and syndication during the mid-1980s, how long ago did they use the 1984 remastered prints that ended with this Paramount TV logo after Desilu?

I'm also asking you this: is it true that the print of the episode "The Trouble with Tribbles," as is represented in the Tribble Gift Set (released in 1998, the cover art has Tribbles on it), was still the 1984-era print (see logo above) or if it was of the 1996-era print? If it's the latter, it would use this Paramount logo at the end instead:

Thank you

 

[Dalen Quaice]

For those of you who followed Star Trek (TOS) on TV and syndication during the mid-1980s, how long ago did they use the 1984 remastered prints that ended with this Paramount TV logo after Desilu?

I'm also asking you this: is it true that the print of the episode "The Trouble with Tribbles," as is represented in the Tribble Gift Set (released in 1998, the cover art has Tribbles on it), was still the 1984-era print (see logo above) or if it was of the 1996-era print? If it's the latter, it would use this Paramount logo at the end instead:

Thank you

Yes, Tribbles on VHS was still the 1984-era-print (actually I think those transfers were done in 1983 to 1" Type C video on a Rank Mk III telecine). However, the Paramount logo was edited and replaced with a later Paramount logo. The next remastered versions (completed on the Spirit telecine to DigiBeta videotape) were done by the Sci-Fi Channel for the Special Edition airings, starting in 1998. They were released only on the 2 episode DVDs and the later box sets of all three seasons. When Trek aired on Sci Fi, all syndication elsewhere was suspended. Later these same remastered copies did air on TV Land although they were edited slightly and missing a few minutes. Sometime in the 90's, before the Sci Fi remastering, the logos were updated on the syndicated versions, but the transfers remained the 84-era-prints.

The "Next Episode preview trailers" have never been transfered since the 80's era... the Sci Fi channel did not remaster those nor did CBS remaster in HD.

 

[TServo2049]

So does that mean that the 1990s "blue box" releases just recycled the 1980s masters?

I know that at least one VHS release of "The Immunity Syndrome" had the first Paramount TV logo, the one that had the Desilu theme music. But I also remember that the 1980s VHS of "A Piece of the Action" replaced it with the Paramount logo from season 3, the one that zooms in onto the Paramount emblem.

I just assumed that all the "black box"/"transporter room" tapes of the late season 2 episodes had the wrong logo at the end, but if those were the only video masters until 1998, then at the very least, "The Immunity Syndrome" had the right logo. (For the 1998 remasters, for reasons I cannot fathom, ALL of Season 2 ended with Desilu, even the episodes that said "A Paramount Production." I believe that this decision carried over to TOS-R and the concurrent HD remasters of the original versions.)

Do you have the original "black box" release of "The Immunity Syndrome"? Can you check to see which logo is at the end?

 

[Dalen Quaice]

So does that mean that the 1990s "blue box" releases just recycled the 1980s masters?

I know that at least one VHS release of "The Immunity Syndrome" had the first Paramount TV logo, the one that had the Desilu theme music. But I also remember that the 1980s VHS of "A Piece of the Action" replaced it with the Paramount logo from season 3, the one that zooms in onto the Paramount emblem.

I just assumed that all the "black box"/"transporter room" tapes of the late season 2 episodes had the wrong logo at the end, but if those were the only video masters until 1998, then at the very least, "The Immunity Syndrome" had the right logo. (For the 1998 remasters, for reasons I cannot fathom, ALL of Season 2 ended with Desilu, even the episodes that said "A Paramount Production." I believe that this decision carried over to TOS-R and the concurrent HD remasters of the original versions.)

Do you have the original "black box" release of "The Immunity Syndrome"? Can you check to see which logo is at the end?

Yes, the blue box releases on VHS were just repackaged 80's transfers with different Paramount logos.

I'm not sure if I still have the Immunity Syndrome - I did at one time but I sold a bunch of Trek tapes that were collecting dust... give me some time to check.

Edit: Funnily, Immunity Syndrome was the first Trek tape I pulled out! I'll check for you later tonight.

 

[ClassicTVMan81]

So does that mean that the 1990s "blue box" releases just recycled the 1980s masters?

I know that at least one VHS release of "The Immunity Syndrome" had the first Paramount TV logo, the one that had the Desilu theme music. But I also remember that the 1980s VHS of "A Piece of the Action" replaced it with the Paramount logo from season 3, the one that zooms in onto the Paramount emblem.

I just assumed that all the "black box"/"transporter room" tapes of the late season 2 episodes had the wrong logo at the end, but if those were the only video masters until 1998, then at the very least, "The Immunity Syndrome" had the right logo. (For the 1998 remasters, for reasons I cannot fathom, ALL of Season 2 ended with Desilu, even the episodes that said "A Paramount Production." I believe that this decision carried over to TOS-R and the concurrent HD remasters of the original versions.)

Do you have the original "black box" release of "The Immunity Syndrome"? Can you check to see which logo is at the end?

Yes, the blue box releases on VHS were just repackaged 80's transfers with different Paramount logos.

I'm not sure if I still have the Immunity Syndrome - I did at one time but I sold a bunch of Trek tapes that were collecting dust... give me some time to check.

Edit: Funnily, Immunity Syndrome was the first Trek tape I pulled out! I'll check for you later tonight.

Which Paramount logo was at the end on the 1993 VHS tapes (the Desilu-produced episodes)?

~Ben

 

[Dalen Quaice]

Which Paramount logo was at the end on the 1993 VHS tapes (the Desilu-produced episodes)?

~Ben

I have one of the blue box 1993 VHS tapes available to me... I'll look to be certain. It is a variant of the Apogee created logo that started use in 1987.

One thing I noticed. The Black box transporter tapes are not closed captioned for the hearing impaired. The Blue Box 1993 issue is.

 

[Dalen Quaice]

The logo on The Black Box Transporter VHS tape of Immunity Syndrome is the Paramount logo that zooms in from 1969. Sorry.

However, the date does say 1968. It seems identical to the 1969 version except that the date is different.

 

[ClassicTVMan81]

The logo on The Black Box Transporter VHS tape of Immunity Syndrome is the Paramount logo that zooms in from 1969. Sorry.

The same one that appears at the end of The Brady Bunch, right? If you mean the one with the red background at the beginning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRHYQPG40-M

~Ben

 

[Dalen Quaice]

No, the Brady Bunch logo never appeared on Star Trek. It is the same as the logo on the third season, although the date is 1968. It is yellow/orange background with Paramount in Blue and then zooms into the Paramount logo in white with a blue background.

Same as this one, but the date is 1968 for certain on the Immunity Syndrome. It was blurry, but I finally read it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9dD6rPXNFo

 

[Dalen Quaice]

A really strange combination on my Blue Box 1993 of a 1966 1st season Ep -- it has a Desilu logo with NO copyright, then a 1968 Paramount logo that is very beaten up and has lots of scratches on it, and then the 1987 Paramount logo! LOL

BTW, no trailers for next episode on the Blue Box edition.

Now I wonder about the Columbia House Collectors Edition with two episodes on each tape. Does anyone have copies? I may have to get some just to see WTF they have done with the logos at the end! LOL

It may well be that not all the VHS tapes of the same issue are the same. It could depend on the duplicator.

 

[ClassicTVMan81]

A really strange combination on my Blue Box 1993 of a 1966 1st season Ep -- it has a Desilu logo with NO copyright, then a 1968 Paramount logo that is very beaten up and has lots of scratches on it, and then the 1987 Paramount logo! LOL

BTW, no trailers for next episode on the Blue Box edition.

Now I wonder about the Columbia House Collectors Edition with two episodes on each tape. Does anyone have copies? I may have to get some just to see WTF they have done with the logos at the end! LOL

It may well be that not all the VHS tapes of the same issue are the same. It could depend on the duplicator.

When you mention the 1987 Paramount CGI TV logo (per the 1993 VHS issues), I'd like to think it's the 1989 variation with the gold Paramount Communications byline or the 1990 variation with the white version of the 1989 byline. And it would probably have the 1987 music that was an adaptation of the old "Paramount on Parade" fanfare also used for the 1988 Paramount Home Video jingle.

~Ben

 

[Dalen Quaice]

A really strange combination on my Blue Box 1993 of a 1966 1st season Ep -- it has a Desilu logo with NO copyright, then a 1968 Paramount logo that is very beaten up and has lots of scratches on it, and then the 1987 Paramount logo! LOL

BTW, no trailers for next episode on the Blue Box edition.

Now I wonder about the Columbia House Collectors Edition with two episodes on each tape. Does anyone have copies? I may have to get some just to see WTF they have done with the logos at the end! LOL

It may well be that not all the VHS tapes of the same issue are the same. It could depend on the duplicator.

When you mention the 1987 Paramount CGI TV logo (per the 1993 VHS issues), I'd like to think it's the 1989 variation with the gold Paramount Communications byline or the 1990 variation with the white version of the 1989 byline. And it would probably have the 1987 music that was an adaptation of the old "Paramount on Parade" fanfare also used for the 1988 Paramount Home Video jingle.

~Ben

My mind is spinning with the Paramount logo now...

This one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOzqGMIclRA

 

[Dalen Quaice]

I guess this is the 1968 version with the Desilu music? I haven't found it yet on any of my Star Trek copies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGr7sJuNnx4

 

[NickintheATL]

Actually, no, it should be this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOVjHpwsPq0

 

[ClassicTVMan81]

Actually, no, it should be this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOVjHpwsPq0

While the music is correct, however the music is slightly different on the Desilu logo. This loud version first showed up on season 2 of Mission: Impossible and season 1 of Mannix, and the last season of The Lucy Show.

Star Trek always used the softer version of the Desilu theme that was not quite as loud as the 1967 version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwcfn7Q5E8U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_xTYz3Z9ao

~Ben

 

[NickintheATL]

I'm sorry, but how do we know that? I think we've just all gotten accustomed to it being possibly wrong on reruns and home video. I would be sure to say that the music changes from year to year, even on an ID like that.

And here is something that makes this a home video phenomenon. On the 2nd season Mission: Impossible DVDs, the 5.1 track has the 1966 recording of the fanfare on episodes from the second half of the season. But if you switch to the 2.0 mono track, the revised recording that I linked to is there. So I'm more inclined to think that the second recording was used on all Desilu/Paramount shows in the 1967-1968 season.

 

[ClassicTVMan81]

I'm sorry, but how do we know that? I think we've just all gotten accustomed to it being possibly wrong on reruns and home video. I would be sure to say that the music changes from year to year, even on an ID like that.

And here is something that makes this a home video phenomenon. On the 2nd season Mission: Impossible DVDs, the 5.1 track has the 1966 recording of the fanfare on episodes from the second half of the season. But if you switch to the 2.0 mono track, the revised recording that I linked to is there. So I'm more inclined to think that the second recording was used on all Desilu/Paramount shows in the 1967-1968 season.

I wonder how it would have sounded on the 16mm prints (before VHS was commonplace)?

~Ben

 

[Dalen Quaice]

As luck has it, I have around dozen episodes in my 16mm collection.

Unfortunately, the Paramount and/or Desilu logo is cut from all of my 2nd season episodes if I recall correctly. However, I will pay attention to these the next time I get a chance to screen my films. I MAY have it, because I'm almost 100% certain I've seen Nicholas's version of the 1968 logo with the Desilu music before. I have not found it on any of the official Paramount tapes yet. It could be on the first 5 Volume set released in 1980 called "Television Classics" -- as these were earlier film transfers than the 83-84 transfer.

I also have a number of 16mm "film chain recordings" on video tape from the very early 80's right before the switch to distribution on video. Often times, the end credits were cut early on these as I recall.

As a matter of historical fact: The sale of Desilu to Paramount was official on July 28, 1967 -- all 1967 episodes, starting with "Mirror, Mirror" should have a Copyright (c) MCMLXVII by Paramount Pictures and Norway Corporation underneath. Norway was, of course, Gene Roddenberry's production company and is always present on the correct logos AFTER 1966. The 1966 Desilu logo had no copyright originally-- which actually caused all episodes prior to "Mirror, Mirror" to go into public domain until they were reclaimed by Paramount in 1978 when the Copyright Act of 1976 went into effect. Hince, the 1978 copyright was added to earlier episodes.

All 3rd season episodes for certain should have the zoom in style Paramount Television logo with the orange/yellow background -- this logo should not be on any other season other than the 3rd -- the music was recorded by Wilbur Hatch after the 2nd season had aired. Therefore, it couldn't have been on any 2nd season episode.

All 1968 episodes of the 2nd season should have the Paramount logo with the Desilu music -- that should be (latest to earliest): Assignment: Earth, Bread and Circuses, The Ultimate Computer, The Omega Glory, By Any Other Name, Patterns of Force, Return to Tomorrow, A Private Little War, The Immunity Syndrome, A Piece of the Action, and The Gamesters of Triskelion.

All 1967 episodes AFTER the sale of Desilu should have the Desilu logo with the Paramount and Norway byline as mentioned above: The Trouble with Tribbles, Wolf in the Fold, Obsession, The Deadly Years, Friday's Child, Journey to Babel, Metamorphosis, I, Mudd, Catspaw, The Doomsday Machine, The Apple, and Mirror Mirror.

The 1966 Desilu logo with no copyright should be on: The Changeling, Who Mourns for Adonais?, and The Amok Time.

 

[Dalen Quaice]

I have found some of the 2 episode Columbia House Collector's Edition VHS tapes to review. These are marked Columbia House Video on the spine and say (c) 1991 on the back of the tapes. There are apparently two other issues from Columbia House: CBS Video and RE-TV.

I have 3 tapes: The Galileo Seven + Court Martial from Season 1, Bread & Circuses + The Doomsday Machine from Season 2, and Elaan of Troyius + Spectre Of The Gun from Season 3.

Of interest is that Bread and Circuses is (c) 1968. That's right, it should have the Paramount logo with the Desilu music!

 

[Dalen Quaice]

Regarding the Galileo Seven in the Collector's Edition - no episode trailers, the transfer is the same as on the black box transporter issue tapes otherwise. The logo at the end is the 1966 Desilu with the 1978 Paramount copyright followed by the 1982 Paramount TV logo.