GoodTimes Entertainment
Encyclopedia
GoodTimes Entertainment, Ltd. was a home video
company that originated in 1984 under the name of GoodTimes Home Video. Though it produced its own titles, the company was well-known due to its distribution of media from third parties and classics. The founders for the company were Kenneth Cayre, Joseph Cayre, and Stanley Cayre (often referred to and credited simply as the "Cayre Brothers") of Salsoul Records
. Its headquarters were in Midtown Manhattan
, New York City
. The company had a distribution facility in Jersey City, New Jersey
and a duplication facility in Bayonne, New Jersey
.They folded into GT Media in 2007, releasing only two products: The GT Express and the 2007 DVD release of The Retrievers
.
titles. Though the company also produced and distributed many low-priced fitness
videos, its most recognized line of products were the series of low-budget traditionally animated film
s from companies such as Jetlag Productions
, Golden Films
, and Blye Migicovsky Productions, as well a selection of the now-public domain
works of Burbank Films Australia
.
Walt Disney Pictures
sued GoodTimes Entertainment because of the close similarity between GoodTimes and Disney's animated films. As a result of that lawsuit, GoodTimes was required to prints its name atop its VHS
covers, but was still allowed to produce animated films.
Expanding from home video
distribution, GoodTimes Entertainment founded its spin-off, GT Interactive as a way to distribute video games.
At different times, GoodTimes contracted with Columbia Pictures
and Universal Studios
to release inexpensive tapes of many of their films for retail sale.
In addition, GoodTimes released several compilations assembled from public domain films, movie trailers, old television programs and newsreels. Most of these were credited to Film Shows, Inc.
In 2005, GoodTimes Entertainment filed for bankruptcy
and its asset
s were then sold to Gaiam
.
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
company that originated in 1984 under the name of GoodTimes Home Video. Though it produced its own titles, the company was well-known due to its distribution of media from third parties and classics. The founders for the company were Kenneth Cayre, Joseph Cayre, and Stanley Cayre (often referred to and credited simply as the "Cayre Brothers") of Salsoul Records
Salsoul Records
This article is about the record label. For SalSoul the Puerto Rican Salsa radio station see Cadena Salsoul.Salsoul Records was a New York City based record label founded by brothers Joseph Cayre, Kenneth Cayre, and Stanley Cayre . Salsoul released about 300 disco 12-inch singles, and a string of...
. Its headquarters were in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The company had a distribution facility in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
and a duplication facility in Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
.They folded into GT Media in 2007, releasing only two products: The GT Express and the 2007 DVD release of The Retrievers
The Retrievers
The Retrievers is a 2001 television film starring Robert Hays, Mel Harris, Alan Rachins, Alana Austin, Taylor Emerson, Betty White and Robert Wagner. It was directed by Paul Schneider and written by Larry Ketron.-Plot:...
.
History
GoodTimes Entertainment began with the distribution of copies of public domainPublic domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
titles. Though the company also produced and distributed many low-priced fitness
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
videos, its most recognized line of products were the series of low-budget traditionally animated film
Traditional animation
Traditional animation, is an animation technique where each frame is drawn by hand...
s from companies such as Jetlag Productions
Jetlag Productions
Jetlag Productions was an American-Japanese animation studio that, just like the similar studio Golden Films, has created a number of animated films based on different, popular children's stories, while at the same time creating a few original productions...
, Golden Films
Golden Films
Golden Films is an American production studio founded in 1992 by Diane Eskenazi. The studio produces direct to video animated features. Many of its animated titles tell the same stories as popular Disney films.- Distribution :...
, and Blye Migicovsky Productions, as well a selection of the now-public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
works of Burbank Films Australia
Burbank Films Australia
Burbank Films Australia was an Australian animation-production company that in a span of eight years produced over thirty different animated films...
.
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
sued GoodTimes Entertainment because of the close similarity between GoodTimes and Disney's animated films. As a result of that lawsuit, GoodTimes was required to prints its name atop its VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
covers, but was still allowed to produce animated films.
Expanding from home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
distribution, GoodTimes Entertainment founded its spin-off, GT Interactive as a way to distribute video games.
At different times, GoodTimes contracted with Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
and Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
to release inexpensive tapes of many of their films for retail sale.
In addition, GoodTimes released several compilations assembled from public domain films, movie trailers, old television programs and newsreels. Most of these were credited to Film Shows, Inc.
In 2005, GoodTimes Entertainment filed for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
and its asset
Asset
In financial accounting, assets are economic resources. Anything tangible or intangible that is capable of being owned or controlled to produce value and that is held to have positive economic value is considered an asset...
s were then sold to Gaiam
Gaiam
Gaiam is a "lifestyle company" that sells products catered toward healthy and sustainable living.Gaiam is probably best known for fitness media, such as its award-winning yoga routine videos taught by well-known instructors such as Rodney Yee....
.
See also
- Jetlag ProductionsJetlag ProductionsJetlag Productions was an American-Japanese animation studio that, just like the similar studio Golden Films, has created a number of animated films based on different, popular children's stories, while at the same time creating a few original productions...
- Golden FilmsGolden FilmsGolden Films is an American production studio founded in 1992 by Diane Eskenazi. The studio produces direct to video animated features. Many of its animated titles tell the same stories as popular Disney films.- Distribution :...
External links
- GoodTimes Entertainment, Ltd. (Archive)
- Company history at FundingUniverse