Celebrity Home Entertainment
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| Company type | Incentive |
|---|---|
| Industry | Home Video Entertainment |
| Founded | 1987 United States |
| Founder | Noel C. Bloom |
| Defunct | 2002 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Home video releases |
| Brands | Celebrity Video Just for Kids Home Video |
| Total assets | US$6.6million |
| Subsidiaries | Celebrity Duplicating Services, Inc. |
Celebrity Home Entertainment (also known as simply Celebrity Video), founded by Noel C. Bloom in 1987, was a home video distributor specializing in mostly obscure material from around the world, as well as B-grade action films and softcore adult fare. They also distributed some material that was very popular at the time of its original release, including BraveStarr, Filmation's Ghostbusters, COPS and the 1987 G.I. Joe movie. It was formed after he left International Video Entertainment, which was sold off to Carolco Pictures in 1986.[1] In 1987, the company offered the rights to the Video Gems catalog for Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, but the company had withdrawn the offer after a lawsuit last week.[2]
They were perhaps best known (such as they were) for their Just for Kids Home Video imprint. This imprint offered child-oriented and/or animated material broadcast on television in the United States as well as English-language versions of foreign programming and original acquisitions. Among their most notable offerings were Japanese anime, such as the RAI/TMS joint productions Sherlock Hound and Tottoi (The Secret of the Seal). European productions distributed on this label included the French animated series Clémentine, the BBC's Postman Pat, Jannik Hastrup's Samson & Sally, Vuk (The Little Fox), Bibifoc (Seabert), and the Dutch-produced The Bluffers. Some Russian productions had also found release through the company, including The Adventures of Buratino (released as The All New Adventures of Pinocchio) and Maria, Mirabela (released as The Magical Forest). Early titles in this imprint were introduced by Bloom's son Noel Bloom Jr., who would remind viewers to adjust the tracking, or tell them how to win a free video.
At launch, two other labels were established by Celebrity: Feature Creatures, devoted to sci-fi fare, and Let's Party, devoted to "upbeat, one-of-a-kind" titles.[3] At that time, some of former IVE and Media Home Entertainment employees have been defected to Celebrity.[4]
In addition to their animated offerings, the company licensed a share of Japanese tokusatsu productions (all dubbed by Sandy Frank), including five of the eight entries of Daiei's Gamera films from the Shōwa era.
However, most of these productions reflected the times, being edited to reflect U.S. broadcast standards. Further, some, though not all, TV series releases were edited into one or two compilation films (ex: the aforementioned Clémentine, plus Wee Wendy) (Tongari Boushi no Memoru). Some series were never even finished, and the videos themselves usually only contained selected episodes.
Celebrity Home Entertainment filed for bankruptcy protection in 1991, and it closed down completely in 2002.[5] All of their releases are now out of print (although some can still be bought new), while some has been reprinted by other companies; for example, The All New Adventures of Pinocchio was re-released on VHS and DVD by Warner Home Video and The Adventures of Scamper the Penguin is currently distributed by Feature Films for Families.
Media distributed by Celebrity Home Entertainment
[edit]Just for Kids Home Video
[edit]| Year | Title | Country of origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Battle for Moon Station Dallos | Japan | Licensed from Peregrine Film Distribution |
| Gamera | Japan | Licensed from King Features Entertainment Also released under Celebrity's Feature Creatures | |
| Gamera vs. Barugon | Japan | ||
| Gamera vs. Gaos | Japan | ||
| Gamera vs. Zigra | Japan | ||
| G.I. Joe: The Movie | United States | ||
| Here We Go | United States | Narrated by Lynn Redgrave | |
| Here We Go Again! | United States | Narrated by Lynn Redgrave | |
| Locke the Superpower | Japan | Licensed from Peregrine Film Distribution | |
| Space Firebird | Japan | Licensed from Peregrine Film Distribution | |
| 1987–1990 1992; 1996 |
Seabert | France | |
| 1987 | Space Warriors: Battle for Earth Station S/1 | Japan | |
| Techno Police | Japan | Licensed from Peregrine Film Distribution | |
| 1988–1992 | The Bluffers | Netherlands | |
| 1988 1990–1992 |
BraveStarr | United States | |
| 1988 | Defenders of the Vortex | Japan | Licensed from Peregrine Film Distribution |
| Revenge of the Ninja Warrior | Japan | Licensed from Peregrine Film Distribution | |
| The Elm-Chanted Forest | Croatia | ||
| Gallavants | United States | ||
| Gamera vs. Guiron | Japan | Licensed from King Features Entertainment | |
| 1988–1990 1992 |
Macron 1 | Japan | |
| 1988 | Clash of the Bionoids | Japan | Licensed from Peregrine Film Distribution |
| Oliver Twist | Ireland | Run time: 60 minutes | |
| The Phantom of the Opera | Ireland | Run time: 60 minutes | |
| 1989 | Ben-Hur | Ireland | Run time: 60 minutes |
| Clémentine | France | ||
| David and the Magic Pearl | Poland | Licensed from International Film Entertainment | |
| Charles Dickens' Ghost Stories From the Pickwick Papers | Ireland | Run time: 60 minutes | |
| The Heroic Adventures of John the Fearless | Belgium | ||
| The Human Race Club | United States | Based on the series by Joy Berry | |
| 1989–1990 | Janosch | Germany | Licensed from WDR |
| 1989 | A Journey Through Fairyland | Japan | |
| 1989–1990 | Lazer Tag Academy | United States | |
| 1989 | Les Misérables | Ireland | Run time: 60 minutes |
| Little Memole | Japan | Released as Wee Wendy | |
| 1989–1990 1992 |
Ovide and the Gang | Canada | |
| 1989 | Quark the Dragon Slayer | Denmark | |
| 1989–1990 | Star Street: The Adventures of the Star Kids | Netherlands | |
| 1990 | The Adventures of Candy Claus | Australia | Run time: 30 minutes |
| The Adventures of Lolo the Penguin | Russia | Released as The Adventures of Scamper the Penguin | |
| Arcadia of My Youth | Japan | Released as Vengeance of the Space Pirate | |
| Asterix in Britain | France | Licensed from Gaumont | |
| Asterix Versus Caesar | France | Licensed from Gaumont | |
| Back to the Forest | Japan | ||
| Beverly Hills Teens | United States | Licensed from DIC Video | |
| Bobobobs | Spain/Canada | ||
| 1990; 1992 | Bumpety Boo | Japan | Licensed from Saban Entertainment |
| 1990 | COPS | United States/Canada | Licensed from DIC Video |
| Foofur | United States | ||
| 1990–1992 | Filmation's Ghostbusters | United States | |
| 1990 | Magical Princess Minky Momo: La Ronde in my Dream | Japan | Released as Gigi and the Fountain of Youth |
| Katy and the Katerpillar Kids | Mexico | ||
| The Legend of Manxmouse | Japan | ||
| Lollipop Dragon | United States | ||
| Maxie's World | United States | Licensed from DIC Video | |
| 1990–1992 | Noozles | Japan | Licensed from Saban Entertainment |
| 1990–1991 | Rude Dog and the Dweebs | United States | |
| 1990 | Samson & Sally | Denmark | Licensed from Nordisk Film |
| Serendipity the Pink Dragon | Japan | ||
| Sherlock Hound | Japan | ||
| The Story of 15 Boys | Japan | ||
| Stowaways on the Ark | Germany | ||
| The Three Musketeers (1977) | United Kingdom | Licensed from Amazing Movies Run time: 85 minutes | |
| Tickle Tune Typhoon | United States | Run time: 50 minutes | |
| Wowser | Japan | Licensed from Saban Entertainment | |
| 1991–1992 | Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown | United States | |
| 1991 | Dreaming of Paradise | Denmark | |
| 1991–1992 | Kissyfur | United States | Licensed from NBC |
| 1991–1992 | It's Punky Brewster | United States | Licensed from NBC |
| 1991–1992 | Ox Tales | Japan | Licensed from Saban Entertainment |
| 1991 | Train Mice | Germany | Licensed from WDR Run time: 40 minutes |
| 1991 | The Great Cheese Conspiracy | Czech | Licensed from WDR |
| 1992; 1995 | The Adventures of Tom Sawyer | Japan | Released as The All New Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Tom and Huck |
| 1993 | The All New Adventures of Pinocchio | Russia | 1984 English dub; licensed from Kidpix |
| 1993 | The Snow Queen | Russia | 1985 English dub; licensed from Kidpix |
| 1993 | Swans | Russia | 1985 English dub; licensed from Kidpix |
| 1994 | Captain of the Forest | Hungary | |
| 1994; 1996 | For Better or For Worse | Canada | |
| 1994 | The Little Fox | Hungary | |
| 1994 | Maria, Mirabela | Romania | Released as The Magical Forest; Run time: 70 minutes |
| 1994 | The Secret of the Seal | Japan | |
| 1994 | The Tin Soldier | Canada | Narrated by Sally Struthers |
| 1995 | The Adventures of Matt the Gooseboy | Hungary | |
| 1995 | The Ketchup Vampires | Germany | Compilation movie narrated by Cassandra Peterson Run time: 90 minutes |
| 1996 | The BFG | United Kingdom | |
| 1996 | Favorite Cartoon Classics | United States | |
| 1996; 2000 | Happy Ness: Secret of the Loch | United States | |
| 1996; 2000 | The Ketchup Vampires II | Germany | Compilation movie narrated by Cassandra Peterson |
| 1997; 2001 | Gulliver's Travels | United States | |
| 1998 | Animaland | United Kingdom | See David Hand |
| 1998; 2000 | Jellybean Jungle | United States | Retitled as Jungle Jamboree |
| 1998; 2000 | The Toothbrush Family | Australia | |
| 1999 | The Poddington Peas | United Kingdom | |
| 1999–2000 | Postman Pat | United Kingdom | Licensed from HIT Entertainment |
| 2000 | Animal Antics | United Kingdom | |
| 2000 | Ketchup: Cats Who Cook | Australia/Japan |
Celebrity Video
[edit]| Year | Title | Country of origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Hollywood Cop | United States | |
| 1988 | Animals of Africa | United States | Licensed from Harmony Gold USA |
| 1988 | After Darkness | United States | |
| 1988 | Evil Laugh | United States | |
| 1988 | Fatal Pulse | United States | |
| 1988 | The Inside Man | United States | |
| 1988 | Order of the Black Eagle | United States | |
| 1988 | Terminal Entry | United States | |
| 1997; 2002 | E.Y.E.S. of Mars | Japan | Run time: 80 minutes |
| 1998 | Attack of the Super Monsters | Japan | |
| 1998 | Collecting Beanies for Fun and Profit | United States | |
| 1998 | Pandas: A Giant Stirs | United States | |
| 1998 | Return of the Dinosaurs | Japan |
Let's Party Home Video
[edit]| Year | Title | Country of origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Chippendales: Tall, Dark & Handsome |
Celebrity's Feature Creatures
[edit]| Year | Title | Country of origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Mighty Jack | Japan | Licensed from King Features Entertainment |
| 1988 | Time of the Apes | Japan |
Other companies founded by Noel C. Bloom
[edit]- Artisan Entertainment - Founded in 1981 as Family Home Entertainment; changed its name to International Video Entertainment (IVE), then changed again to LIVE Entertainment Co., and in 1998 to Artisan. Operating as a subsidiary of Lionsgate as of 2003.
- Caballero Home Video
- Monterey Home Video
References
[edit]- ^ Stewart, Al (May 9, 1987). "Newsline" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ "Celebrity Withdraws Video Gems Offer". Variety. June 24, 1987. p. 53.
- ^ McCormick, Moira (June 6, 1987). "Celebrity Launches 3 Labels" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ McCormick, Moira (June 6, 1987). "Celebrity Home Video" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ "IN RE: CELEBRITY HOME ENTERTAINMENT, Nos. 98-55282, 98-55285., April 21, 2000 - US 9th Circuit | FindLaw". FindLaw. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
External links
[edit]- A list of every title that the company ever released; also includes non-"Just For Kids" titles (from the Internet Archive)
- Reviews of a number of "Just For Kids" anime titles (last updated in October 2010)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- Home video companies of the United States
- Entertainment companies based in California
- Entertainment companies established in 1987
- Mass media companies disestablished in 2002
- Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1991
- 1987 establishments in California
- 2002 disestablishments in California
- Defunct companies based in California