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Academy Entertainment

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Academy Entertainment
FormerlyAcademy Home Entertainment (1984-1987)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryHome video
FoundedNovember 20, 1984; 41 years ago (1984-11-20)
FounderRoger Reese
Defunct1994; 32 years ago (1994)
HeadquartersBeverly Hills, California,
United States

Academy Entertainment is a home video distributor that was founded in 1984 by Roger Reese as a unit of Artec, Inc. to distribute home video titles. It was based in Beverly Hills, California. The company went defunct in 1994.

History

[edit]

The company was originally founded in 1984 as Academy Home Entertainment by Roger Reese to distribute videocassettes as a subsidiary of Artec, Inc., with Artec taking majority control of the company. It had two offices in Beverly Hills, California, and Artec's plant in Shelburne, Vermont.[1]

In 1985, Artec took over a 50% stake in the company, and started making pre-recorded home video releases. The company had intended to release low-budget movies on videocassette.[2] The company then signed a deal with Trans-Atlantic Enterprises to release its titles on videocassette after its showings at the American Film Market.[3] In late 1985, Jim Fisher was named executive vice president of Academy Home Entertainment.[4]

In early 1986, the company signed a Canadian home video deal with Monte Video Distributing, Ltd. to issue home video releases in Canada.[5] In mid-1986, the company purchased rights to titles from Crown International Pictures, which were released on home video.[6] In 1986, Robert Baruc was named president of the company, replacing Roger Reese.[7] Around the same time, Academy bought the home video distribution rights to the Troma film Play Dead.[8] In August 1986, the company introduced a new home video line, Infovid, designed for instructional videos.[9]

In 1987, the company signed a deal with Shapiro Entertainment through which Academy released its titles on videocassette.[10] The company shortened its name to Academy Entertainment in 1987 to reflect the expansion, and released its title Concrete Angels, with The Beatles-related merchandise, on home video.[11] In late 1987, the company released the Ralph Bakshi title Coonskin on home video for the first time, under the title Streetfight.[12]

In early 1988, the company reduced prices on 58 titles.[13] In 1988, the company hit its biggest title, Blue Movies, which was released on March 16, 1988.[14] In August 1988, the company signed a deal with Steven Paul's company Paul Home Vision, to release its titles on home video.[15] In September 1988, the company offered two prepack releases of its upcoming titles for November, Sexpot and Take Two.[16] In late 1988, the company entered the laserdisc business.[17]

In 1989, the company expanded into making theatrical films with a distribution deal with Skouras Pictures, with Dealers the first film financed by the video company.[18] In 1990, the company sold home video rights of The Amityville Curse and Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes to rival home video distributor Vidmark Entertainment.[19] Also in 1990, Robert Baruc was named president of the company's theatrical division of the company, Academy Pictures, which was designed to sell films for movie theaters.[20]

In 1992, the company was expanded further, to include a telemarketing arm.[21]

In 1994, foreign film distributor Communications & Entertainment Corp signed a deal to purchase Academy Entertainment from Artec Corporation, and later shut down its business.[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Business Notes". The Burlington Free Press. November 20, 1984. p. 31.
  2. ↑ Seideman, Tony (January 19, 1985). "Distrib, Manufacturer Team: Artec Buys 50% Share in Academy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 28. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  3. ↑ Seideman, Tony (April 27, 1985). "newsline" (PDF). Billboard. p. 22. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Executive Turntable" (PDF). Billboard. December 7, 1985. p. 8. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  5. ↑ Seideman, Tony (February 8, 1986). "Newsline" (PDF). Billboard. p. 50. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  6. ↑ Seideman, Tony (May 31, 1986). "Newsline" (PDF). Billboard. p. 71. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Business People". The Burlington Free Press. May 15, 1986. p. 38.
  8. ↑ "Talking News". The Burlington Free Press. July 13, 1986. p. 51.
  9. ↑ "Taling News". The Burlington Free Press. August 10, 1986. p. 57.
  10. ↑ McCullaugh, Jim (June 6, 1987). "Newsline" (PDF). Billboard. p. 93. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Concrete Angels (print ad)" (PDF). Billboard. August 22, 1987. p. 99. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  12. ↑ Troy, Colleen (November 14, 1987). "Bakshi's 'Coonskin' Released Under New Title" (PDF). Billboard. p. 84. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  13. ↑ Stewart, Al (January 16, 1988). "Newsline" (PDF). Billboard. p. 48. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  14. ↑ Stewart, Al (January 30, 1988). "Newsline..." (PDF). Billboard. p. 50. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Convention Capsules" (PDF). Billboard. August 20, 1988. p. 62. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  16. ↑ Stewart, Al (September 3, 1988). "Newsline" (PDF). Billboard. p. 54. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  17. ↑ Stewart, Al (October 22, 1988). "Newsline" (PDF). Billboard. p. 54. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  18. ↑ McCullaugh, Jim (October 21, 1989). "Backlot Beat" (PDF). Billboard. p. 89. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Video Firms Themselves Deal In..." (PDF). Billboard. May 12, 1990. p. 54. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Video People" (PDF). Billboard. May 19, 1990. p. 96. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  21. ↑ Ayscough, Suzan (1992-12-16). "Academy restructures, adds telemarketing arm". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  22. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Eileen (June 11, 1994). "Foreign Distrib Closes Deal on Academy Entertainment" (PDF). Billboard. p. 3. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
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