Blair Entertainment (formerly Rhodes Productions) was a television production/distribution company founded by Jack E. Rhodes, operated from 1975 until 1992.

History

Rhodes Productions

Rhodes Productions was originally formed in 1970 by Jack E. Rhodes as a subsidiary of

Taft Broadcasting Company Taft Broadcasting Company (also known as Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated) was an American media conglomerate based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company was rooted in the family of William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United ...

in New York City, to distribute

Hanna-Barbera Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ; formerly known as H-B Enterprises, Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. and H-B Production Co.), simply and commonly known as Hanna-Barbera, was an American animation studio and production company, which was acti ...

cartoons. In 1971, Rhodes expanded by distributing the syndicated version of the game show ''

Hollywood Squares ''Hollywood Squares'' (originally ''The Hollywood Squares'', later stylized as ''H2: Hollywood Squares'') is an American game show in which two contestants compete in a game of tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The show originally aired as a ...

''. Also at the same time, the company's headquarters was moved from New York City to Los Angeles. In 1972, the company had hired Jack Pearson International as the company's international supplier of its products. In 1975, the original Rhodes Productions was renamed by Taft to Taft H-B Program Sales, and Jack E. Rhodes moved to

Filmways Filmways, Inc. (also known as Filmways Pictures and Filmways Television) was a television and film production company founded by American film executive Martin Ransohoff and Edwin Kasper in 1952. It is probably best remembered as the production c ...

to relaunch Rhodes Productions as Filmways' domestic distribution arm. Rhodes took the nighttime ''Hollywood Squares'' with them, and also launched the nighttime version of the game show ''

High Rollers ''High Rollers'' is an American television game show created by Merrill Heatter. Two contestants compete to answer trivia questions and gain control of an oversized set of dice, which they then roll to eliminate the numbers 1 through 9 from a ga ...

''. Under the Filmways regime, Rhodes Productions also launched a soap opera spoof for late night timeslots, ''

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman ''Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman'' is an American satirical soap opera broadcast on weeknights from January 1976 to July 1977. The syndicated series follows the eponymous Mary Hartman, a small-town Ohio housewife attempting to cope with various bi ...

'', produced by

Norman Lear Norman Milton Lear (July 27, 1922December 5, 2023) was an American screenwriter and producer who produced, wrote, created, or developed over 100 shows. Lear created and produced numerous popular 1970s sitcoms, including ''All in the Family'' (1 ...

and his T.A.T. Communications Company beginning in 1976. In 1977, Rhodes Productions debuted its breakout property ''

Second City Television ''Second City Television'', commonly shortened to ''SCTV'' and later known as ''SCTV Network'' and ''SCTV Channel'', is a Canadian television sketch comedy show about a fictional television station that ran intermittently between 1976 and 1984 ...

'' (''SCTV''), which originated in Canada. In 1978, Rhodes Productions split off from Filmways (which formed Filmways Enterprises to fill the void left by Rhodes), and began operating as an independent production company and syndicator. Rhodes opted to keep the distribution rights to ''Second City Television'' and ''Disco Break''. In 1980, Rhodes purchased the syndication rights to a short-lived, Canadian-originated revival of ''

Let's Make a Deal ''Let's Make a Deal'' (also known as ''LMAD'') is a television game show that originated in the United States in 1963 and has since been produced in many countries throughout the world. The program was created and produced by Stefan Hatos and Mo ...

''. This was followed up in 1981 with another Canadian game show, '' Pitfall''. Both ''Pitfall'' and the 1980 ''Let's Make a Deal'' were produced by Catalena Productions, which would fold amid financial and legal problems in 1981.

Blair Entertainment

John Blair & Company, through Blair Television, acquired Rhodes Productions in 1982, and initially placed into the Blair Video Enterprises unit, and a year later, renamed it to Blair Entertainment. Blair retained distribution rights to several shows, including ''

The Cisco Kid The Cisco Kid is a fictional character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in ''Everybody's Maga ...

'' and ''SCTV'', as well as a revival of ''

Divorce Court ''Divorce Court'' is an American court show that revolves around settling the disputes of couples going through divorces. The show has had four separate runs, all in first-run syndication. Since the debut of the original series in 1957, it is ...

''. In 1985, Blair Entertainment introduced the new game show '' Break the Bank'' in partnership with broadcasting groups

Storer Communications Storer Communications, known from 1927 to 1952 as the Fort Industry Company and from 1952 to 1983 as Storer Broadcasting, was an American media company that owned television and radio stations and cable television systems. Founded by George Butle ...

and

Hubbard Broadcasting Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. is an American television and radio broadcasting corporation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was founded by Stanley E. Hubbard. The corporation has broadcast outlets scattered across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri ...

. This was followed in 1986 by another game show property, '' Strike It Rich''.

Kline and Friends Kline may refer to: * Kline (surname) Places * Klinë, a.k.a. Klina, in Kosovo United States: * Kline, Colorado * Kline, Iowa, in Des Moines County, Iowa * Kline, Louisiana, in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana * Kline, Pennsylvania, in Clario ...

, the producers of both shows, also piloted a third series titled ''Sweethearts'' for Blair; this show never made it to air. ''Divorce Court'' was highly profitable, among other hit syndicated series in Blair's lineup. In 1990, Blair Entertainment, in collaboration with RHI Entertainment (now known as

Halcyon Studios Halcyon Studios, LLC, formerly known as Sonar Entertainment, RHI Entertainment, Hallmark Entertainment, Qintex Entertainment, HRI Group and Robert Halmi Inc., was an American entertainment company specializing in the production and distribution ...

) and advertising sales agent Action Media Group launched a new drama, ''

Dracula ''Dracula'' is an 1897 Gothic fiction, Gothic horror fiction, horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. The narrative is Epistolary novel, related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist and opens ...

'', as their entry into the syndicated action/adventure market; it only lasted one season. In 1991, Blair Entertainment debuted a new program in collaboration with GRB Entertainment and

All American Television All American Television (later known as All American Communications Television and formerly Scotti Brothers-Syd Vinnedge Television and Scotti Vinnedge Television) was a television syndication company active from 1981 to 1998. It was founded by ...

, ''Stuntmasters'', which would ultimately be their final new series. In 1992, Blair Entertainment shuttered their operations (which had generally been a sideline to Blair Television's primary market of representing television stations for advertising sales), in part because of the company being unable to find additional investors into their operation, and their program library was acquired shortly thereafter by All American.

List of syndicated programs

This is a list of television programs that were syndicated by Blair Entertainment: * ''

The Beachcombers ''The Beachcombers'' is a Canadian comedy drama television series that ran on CBC Television from October 1, 1972, to December 12, 1990. With over 350 episodes, it is one of the longest-running dramatic series ever made for Canadian English-langu ...

'' (1972) * '' Break the Bank'' (1985) * ''

'' (1950) * ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

'' (1952) * ''

'' (1984) * '' Dracula: The Series'' (1990) * ''

'' (1980) * ''Lollipop Dragon'' (1986) * '' Pitfall'' (1981) * '' The Rovers'' (1969) * '' SCTV'' (1976) * '' Strike It Rich'' (1986) * ''Stuntmasters'' (1991-1992, co-production with GRB Entertainment)

References

{{Reflist

External links

The company's production logo
on

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