Hi-Tops Video

Hi-Tops Video was a children's home video sublabel of Media Home Entertainment (a division of Heron Communications), active from 1986[1] until 1991. Some of its releases include some Charlie Brown specials, Madeline and primarily some of the original Baby Songs video releases beginning in 1987.

Hi-Tops Video
IndustryHome video
Founded1986 (1986)
Defunct1991 (1991)
FateLabel and its upcoming titles absorbed into Golden Book Video
ParentMedia Home Entertainment (Heron Communications)

History

The company was initially ran by Heron president Stephen Diener, with two executives hired from Family Home Entertainment, Wendy Moss, who served as sales/marketing vice president and programming/production vice president Nancy Steingard.[2]

On July 30, 1986, Hi-Tops Video hired more International Video Entertainment executives to join the studio, which included David Donaldson, who was administrative director of the studio, Robin Gherletter, who was creative director of the studio, Pamela Wah-Smith, who was the programming and administrations and coordinator, and Amy Miller, who was the sales and marketing coordinator of the studio, and Moss said that Hi-Tops would not attempting to raid IVE and FHE, but rather is able to offer these workers good career moves at a time when they're looking for a change.[3]

On August 27, 1986, Hi-Tops Video inked an agreement with Worlds of Wonder to release animated programs based on WOW's teddy bear Teddy Ruxpin, and the deal would cover episodes of a planned animated syndicated cartoon, made-for-video animated educational titles that would star Ruxpin, and other characters that would not be introduced yet by the toy manufacturer.[4]

In 1987, Hi-Tops inked a partnership with MTS Entertainment, the television syndicator to handle distribution rights to the two Barbie specials, produced by DIC Entertainment, as well as the first 26 episodes of the show Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, with the anticipation that Hi-Tops would release the first Captain Power video shortly after the first television premiere, which was priced in the $14-24.95 range, and which also included was a full-length Captain Power feature.[5]

Outside of the United States and Canada, Hi-Tops Video releases were distributed by other companies, examples being VPD (Video Program Distributors) in the United Kingdom and Family Home Entertainment in Australia (not related to the Lionsgate-owned company of the same name). (However, in Canada, some Hi-Tops Video releases were distributed by Astral Video, a now-defunct subsidiary of the present-day Astral Media.)

In 1990, Video Treasures assumed distribution of Hi-Tops Video titles. In July 1991, Western Publishing acquired Hi-Tops Video from Heron Communications. Golden Book Video obtained rights to 60 yet to be released Hi-Tops Video titles, while previous titles would continue to be distributed by Video Treasures.[6] Lightyear Entertainment moved its Stories to Remember series to BMG Video as a result of the sale.[7]

Products

Snoopy's Home Video Library

Hi-Tops Video was the original distributor of the first VHS releases of the majority of the Peanuts television specials. These specials were distributed as part of a series, Snoopy's Home Video Library.

Some other Peanuts specials, such as A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973), were not distributed by Hi-Tops Video, instead being distributed by Kartes Video Communications (a division of the E. W. Scripps Company), as well as some early VHS releases of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show. Some of the specials released in the Snoopy's Home Video Library series were earlier released by Media Home Entertainment on tapes with two or three specials appearing. The video (and DVD) distribution rights of all the Peanuts specials were later given to Paramount Home Entertainment from 1994 to 2007, then Warner Home Video from 2008 onwards.

Other shows and products

Some other original video series, such as Little Schoolhouse, were produced for Hi-Tops Video. The Hi-Tops Video releases of The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin were designed to be compatible with the Teddy Ruxpin doll.

References
  1. "Billboard". 30 August 1986.
  2. "Heron Establishes Kidvid Label; Moss, Steingard Aboard". Variety. 1986-07-09. p. 31.
  3. "Heron Adds Execs; All Join from IVE". Variety. 1986-07-30. p. 66.
  4. "Talking Teddy Bear Ties Deal Between Hi-Tops, Toymaker". Variety. 1986-08-27. p. 31.
  5. Melanson, James (1987-05-13). "Hi-Tops Woos Barbie To Homevid; Lands Rights To 'Power' TV Skein". Variety. p. 85.
  6. https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-08-03.pdf (page 51)
  7. https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-02-22.pdf (page CAV-14)
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