Aaron Spelling Production Companies
Compiled by Jason Jones
Aaron Spelling
Productions
(1969-1989)
Logo: Aaron Spelling Productions never had a logo. In the
ending credits of shows like "Dynasty" and
"Hotel," the text in the series type font would appear
superimposed at the end:
AN
AARON SPELLING
PRODUCTION
Copyright © MCMLXXXI Aaron Spelling Productions, Inc.
All rights reserved.
But on shows like "The Love Boat," it would probably
have some optional custom type font variation of the company name
onscreen.
FX: Seen on closing sequences with cut screens.
Music: The ending credit's theme would usually play over.
Availbility: Common, still seen on any pre-90s show
produced by Spelling, such as "The Love Boat" and
"Dynasty"
Scare Factor: None
Spelling-Goldberg
Productions
(1972-1996)
Logo: The same thing went with S-G, which was also managed
by producer Leonard Goldberg. It would just say:
A
SPELLING-GOLDBERG
PRODUCTION
Copyright © MCMLXXVI Spelling-Goldberg Productions, Inc.
All rights reserved.
But on shows co-produced by Columbia Pictures Television, it
would read:
SPELLING-GOLDBERG
PRODUCTIONS
In Association With
Then, they would cut to the then current CPT logo afterward.
FX: The cut screens again
Music: Again, the ending theme would usually play over.
Availbility: Uncommon, still seen on reruns of
"Charlie's Angels" and "Starsky and Hutch,"
among others.
Scare Factor: None
Spelling
Entertainment
1st Logo
(1989-1992)
Logo: Just a black screen with "SPELLING
ENTERTAINMENT, INC." in white, and a stylized "S"
that somewhat resembles the "S From Hell" Screen Gems
logo. This S, however, has three lines going upward, three lines
going down, and a rectangular structure behind it.
"SPELLING" has the largest typeface, and the additional
byline is progressively smaller, and appear below the Spelling
name.
FX/Cheesy Factor: None really, except for the zoom-in
effect seen on 2nd season episodes of "Beverly Hills,
90210"
Music: Once again, the ending theme would usually play
over.
Availbility: Uncommon, still seen on reruns of
"90210" from the era.
Scare Factor: None
2nd Logo
(1992-)
Logo: Against a blue background, two lines (one with
streaks; the other with sprocket holes) would roll together; they
would connect with an arch at the right side, resembling the
shape of a magnet. The word "SPELLING" would then slide
from that direction, with the word "Television" inside
the lower line. The S in Spelling is a bit larger than the rest
of the logo, which shines in with "pings."
Under it would read one of the following (as they appeared on
screen):
A UNIT OF BLOCKBUSTER ENTERTAINMENT (1993-1995)
A SUBSIDIARY of
SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC. (1995-1999)
A PARAMOUNT/VIACOM COMPANY (1999-present)
The Blockbuster byline was accompanied by the Blockbuster Video
logo, a blue and yellow ticket stub. The Paramount/Viacom byline
is currently featured in the VIACOM "Wigga-Wigga"
typeface. It was in plain Arial font in 1999. Also, the current
byline appears in a laser inscription effect right under the
Spelling logo.
FX/Cheesy Factor: The sliding in of the
"SPELLING" name. The animation is a bit simple, but has
worked well to maintain with the changing bylines.
Music: If you'd been reading these, you'd know by now.
Availability: Pretty easy to find, in current use on
"7th Heaven" on the WB Network, can be seen on reruns
of "90210" and "Melrose Place" from this era,
among others.
Scare Factor: Low, most themes playing over this logo are
pretty lush, and the colors work, so it should be OK with most.
Thomas/Spelling
Productions
(1967-1973)
Logo: Thomas/Spelling Productions (maintained with Danny
Thomas) had an actual logo... but we do not have any information
on that right now. In the meantime, here's the in-credit
description. In the ending credits of shows like "The Mod
Squad," the text in the series type font would appear
superimposed at the end:
This has been
A
THOMAS/SPELLING
PRODUCTION
FX: Seen on closing sequences with cut screens
Music: None
Availability: Rare, the actual logo was seen in the
closing credits of "The Guns of Will Sonnett", while
the on-screen version was seen on "The Mod Squad"
Scare Factor: None