History Creator / MediaHomeEntertainment

[[redirect:UsefulNotes/HomeVideoDistributors]]

'''Media Home Entertainment, Inc.''' was once a leading independent home video distributor in its time, as one of the earliest home video distributors. It was founded by Charles Band and his colleague Irwin Yablans and a few others in 1978. Band himself would leave the company in 1980 to establish his own home video label, Creator/WizardVideo. Until 1981, Media Home Entertainment was styled as "MEDA", named after Charles Band's wife Meda.

Throughout its history, Media Home Entertainment was a leader as one of the four "mini-majors" of the new home video boom of the early 1980s. They were known for distributing several B-movies, including ''Film/{{Halloween 1978}}'' (and other Creator/JohnCarpenter films), ''Film/TheTexasChainSawMassacre1974'', and ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968''. It also signed an agreement with Creator/NewLineCinema to distribute the original VHS releases of the first five ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'' films in the U.S. and Canada. Other companies Media Home Entertainment signed deals with included Creator/TheCannonGroup and, for a time, Creator/{{Troma}}.

In 1984, Media Home Entertainment was purchased by Gerald Ronson and his company, the British property developer Heron International. Media Home Entertainment was organized into a newly formed division, '''Heron Communications, Inc.''' After the acquisition, Media Home Entertainment had six sublabels. They were:

* '''Hi-Tops Video''' (childrens' videos, including handling the first VHS releases of the majority of the ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' specials and of ''Series/PeeWeesPlayhouse'' among a few videos such as ''WesternAnimation/LadyLovelyLocks'', ''Franchise/{{Barbie}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Madeline}}'', ''WesternAnimation/MyPetMonster'', ''Literature/{{Babar}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}'').
** The ''Peanuts'' specials were released with the '''Snoopy's Home Video Library''' label.
* '''Fox Hills Video''' (special interest videos)
* '''The Nostalgia Merchant''' (releases of very rare old films, including several made by Creator/RKOPictures)
* '''Cinematheque Collection''' (foreign language films)
* '''Condor Video''' (Spanish language dubs of films)
* '''Music Media''' (music videos)

Sadly, the good times didn't last as long. In the early 1990s, Media Home Entertainment began to be in the process of folding its operations after Gerald Ronson was involved in securities fraud, which he was convicted of in 1990. By 1994, Media Home Entertainment would fully cease to exist. Many of its last few releases were co-distributed by Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox (through it's Fox Video or CBS/Fox Video labels) or by Video Treasures. The rights to the majority of the Media Home Entertainment library is currently held by Anchor Bay Entertainment (successor to Video Treasures, and currently owned by the Creator/{{Starz}} premium cable network), with a few exceptions. Creator/{{Lionsgate}} bought the whole Creator/{{Starz}} premium cable network (including the Anchor Bay Entertainment library) a few years later, absorbing the Media Home Entertainment backlog into their infrastructure.

In addition, as of 2014, The Nostalgia Merchant still exists. It operates as a site selling [=DVDs=] of vintage films at http://www.nostalgiamerchant.biz/.

!!Library
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: Initial titles (1978)]]
In November 1978, Media released its launch slate of 25 titles, with adult titles, classic movies, and concerts making up the bulk of the initial selection. For obvious reasons, adult titles are not linked to.

* M-1001: ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1001, later reassigned the stock number M302--]\\
[--Note: A collection of Superman cartoons produced by Max Fleischer--]
* M-1002: ''Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Fantasy''\\
[--Note: R-rated version--]\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1002, later reassigned the stock number M501--]
* M-1004: ''Fantasy in Blue''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1004, later reassigned the stock number M503--]
* M-1005: ''Swinging Sorority Girls''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1005, later reassigned the stock number M513--]
* M-1006: ''Nine Ages of Nakedness''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1006, later reassigned the stock number M508--]
* M-1007: ''Film/TheGrooveTube''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1007, later reassigned the stock number M101--]
* M-1009: ''Sex and the Office Girl''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1009, later reassigned the stock number M510--]
* M-1010: ''Film/ReeferMadness''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1010, later reassigned the stock number M111--]\\
[--Note: Opening New Line Cinema logo retained--]
* M-1011: ''Slaves of Love''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1011, later reassigned the stock number M511--]
* M-1012: ''Fairy Tales''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1012, later reassigned the stock number M509--]
* M-1013: ''Flesh Gordon''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1013, later reassigned the stock number M502--]
* M-1014: ''Swinging Ski Girls''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1014, later reassigned the stock number M512--]
* M-1015: ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1015, later reassigned the stock number M113--]
* M-1016: ''Ribald Tales of Robin Hood''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1016, later reassigned the stock number M507--]\\
[--Note: Some pressings in the early '80s used Memorex tape stock, which at the time was used almost exclusively by Bell & Howell Video Systems; Media had its own duplication operations for much of its existence--]
* M-1017: ''Hey, There's Naked Bodies on My TV!''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1017, later reassigned the stock number M505--]
* M-1019: ''Film/MagicalMysteryTour''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1019, later reassigned the stock number M430--]\\
[--Note: Pulled from distribution in the spring of 1980 due to legal issues--]
* M-1020: ''The Beatles at Shea Stadium''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1020--]\\
[--Note: Released as "The Beatles Live at Shea Stadium"--]\\
[--Note: Pulled from distribution in the spring of 1980 due to legal issues--]
* M-1021: ''Music/TheBeatles Live in Tokyo''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1021--]\\
[--Note: Pulled from distribution in the spring of 1980 due to legal issues--]
* M-1023: ''[[Film/FlashGordonSerial Flash Gordon: Mars Attacks the World]]''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1023, later reassigned the stock number M119--]
* M-1024: ''[[Film/FlashGordonSerial Flash Gordon: Rocketship]]''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1024, later reassigned the stock number M118--]
* M-10??: ''The [[Music/TheRollingStones Stones]] in the Park''\\
[--Note: Released as "The Rolling Stones in Concert"--]\\
[--Note: One of the rarest Media releases of all time, having been pulled due to legal issues within a couple of months--]
* M-10??: ''Auditions''\\
[--Note: Later reassigned the stock number M504--]\\
[--Note: Presented in letterbox format at a 1.66:1 aspect ratio; this was one of the earliest fully letterboxed titles, along with Creator/MagneticVideo's release of ''Film/DontGiveUpTheShip'', which had been released the same year, and Creator/ThornEMIVideo's ''Film/SOSTitanic'', released a few years later--]\\
[--Note: Oddly, this and the Creator/WizardVideo release appear to have been in print simultaneously at one point--]
* M-10??: ''March of the Wooden Soldiers''\\
[--Note: A {{recut}} version of the Creator/LaurelAndHardy Christmas film ''Film/BabesInToyland''--]
* M-10??: ''Mustang''\\
[--Note: Later reassigned the stock number M517--]
* M-10??: ''Fantastic Animation Festival''\\
[--Note: Later reassigned the stock number M301--]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:(1978-1980)]]
* M101: ''The Groove Tube''
* M102: ''Film/TheChineseGodfather''
* M103: ''Film/JungleBook''
* M104: ''Film/ABoyAndHisDog''
* M105: ''Film/{{Tunnelvision}}''
* M106: ''Film/HorrorExpress''
* M107: ''Film/RebelRousers''
* M108: ''Film/AttackOfTheKillerTomatoes''
* M109: ''Film/TheClowns''
* M110: ''Andy Warhol's Heat''
* M111: ''Reefer Madness''
* M112: ''Film/CocaineFiends''
* M113: ''Night of the Living Dead''
* M114: ''Film/{{Psychomania}}''
* M115: ''Film/TheDayOfTheTriffids''
* M117: ''Film/ThingsToCome''
* M118: ''Flash Gordon: Rocketship''
* M119: ''Flash Gordon: Mars Attacks the World''
* M120: ''Film/TheLadyVanishes''
* M121: ''Film/TheManWhoKnewTooMuch''
* M122: ''Film/MeetJohnDoe''
* M123: ''Film/{{The Scarlet Pimpernel|1934}}''
* M125: ''Film/TheFlyingDeuces''
* M126: ''Film/MyManGodfrey''
* M127: ''Film/TheThirdMan''
* M128: ''Film/TillTheCloudsRollBy''
* M129: ''Film/TheMostDangerousGame''
* M130: ''Film/{{Blackenstein}}''
* M131: ''Film/{{Halloween|1978}}''
* M132: ''Film/AssaultOnPrecinct13''
* M133: ''Film/CocaineCowboys''
* M301: ''Fantastic Animation Festival''
* M302: ''Superman''
* M303: ''WesternAnimation/GulliversTravels''
* M304: ''WesternAnimation/AnimalFarm''
* M305: ''Cartoon Classics of the '30s''
* M306: ''Shame of the Jungle''
* M307: ''Electric Light Voyage''
* M308: ''Little Lulu''
--> From Ziv International
* M309: ''Angel''
--> From Ziv International
* M310: ''Captain Future''
--> From Ziv International
* M312: ''Fables of the Green Forest''
--> From Ziv International
* M401: ''20 Years of Rock and Roll Vol. 1''
* M402: ''Music/{{Yes}}songs''
* M405: ''Farewell Concert of Music/{{Cream}}''
* M412: ''Music/RodStewart and Faces in Concert''
* M413: ''Music/JimiHendrix Concert''
* M414: ''In the Studio''
* M415: ''Music/EdgarWinters Live''
* M416: ''Music/BloodSweatAndTears Live''
* M418: ''Music/StevieWonder Live''
* M419: ''Music/SealsAndCrofts Live with Martin Mull''
* M420: ''Popcorn''
* M421: ''A Tribute to Music/BillieHoliday''
* M422: ''20 Years of Rock and Roll Vol. 2''
* M424: ''A Flower Out of Place''
* M425: ''Rock Stars '69 Studio Sessions''
* M426: ''Preview Tape 1980''
* M428: ''Music/AliceCooper and Friends''
* M429: ''Music/JamesBrown Live in Concert''
* M430: ''Magical Mystery Tour''
* M501: ''Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Fantasy''
* M502: ''Flesh Gordon''
* M503: ''Fantasy in Blue''
* M504: ''Auditions''
* M505: ''Hey, There's Naked Bodies on My TV!''
* M506: ''The First Nudie Musical''
* M507: ''Ribald Tales of Robin Hood''
* M508: ''The Nine Ages of Nakedness''
* M509: ''Fairy Tales''
* M510: ''Sex and the Office Girl''
* M511: ''Slaves of Love''
* M512: ''Swinging Ski Girls''
* M513: ''Swinging Sorority Girls''
* M514: ''Fyre''
* M515: ''Nocturna, Granddaughter of Dracula''
* M516: ''Dracula Sucks''
* M517: ''Mustang''
* M1??: ''Film/TheLittleShopOfHorrors''
* M1??: ''March of the Wooden Soldiers''
* M1??: ''Film/TerrorByNight''
* M1??: ''Film/WhatsUpTigerLily''
* M3??: ''WesternAnimation/ThePoint''
* M4??: ''Around the Beatles''
* M4??: ''The Beatles Live at Shea Stadium''
* M4??: ''The Beatles Live in Tokyo''
* M4??: ''Cheech and Chong Perform''
* M4??: ''Cheech and Chong Perform Again?!''
* M4??: ''The Great American Disco Concert''
* M4??: ''John Lennon Live in New York City''
* M4??: ''Musical Sounds of Media''
* M4??: ''The Stones in the Park''
* M4??: ''Volunteer Jam''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:(1981)]]
''Currently empty''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:(1982)]]
* M317: ''Anime/AladdinAndTheWonderfulLamp'' (1982)
--> Dubbed in English by Creator/FrontierEnterprises.
* M318: ''Anime/SwanLake'' (1981)
--> Dubbed in English by Creator/FrontierEnterprises.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:(1983)]]
''Currently empty''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:(1984)]]
* M326: ''You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown'' (1979)/''Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown'' (1980)
--> Released under the Snoopy's Home Video Library label.
* M328: ''It's Magic, Charlie Brown'' (1981)/''Charlie Brown's All Stars'' (1966)
--> Released under the Snoopy's Home Video Library label.
* M???:''A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving'' (1965)/''You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown'' (1972)
--> Released under the Snoopy's Home Video Library label.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:(1985)]]
* M335: ''It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown'' (1984)/''She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown'' (1980)
--> Released under the Snoopy's Home Video Library label.
[[/folder]]

* M308: ''Little Lulu'' [Ziv]
* M309: ''Angel'' [Ziv/Toei]
* M312: ''Fables of the Green Forest'' [Ziv]

''Currently empty''

* M335: "It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown'' (1984)/''She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown'' (1980)

* M123: ''Film/TheScarletPimpernel''

* M131: ''Film/{{Halloween}}''

* M103: ''Film/TheJungleBook''

* M103: ''Film/TheJungleBook1942''

''Currently empty''

[--Note: Original stock number M-1004--]

[--Note: Original stock number M-1016--]\\

[--Note: Original stock number M-1023--]

* ''[[Film/FlashGordonSerial Flash Gordon: Rocketship]]''\\

* M-1024: ''The [[Music/TheRollingStones Stones]] in the Park''\\

[[folder:1978 (Initial titles)]]

[[folder:1978-1980]]

[[folder:1981]]

[[folder:1982]]

[[folder:1983]]

[[folder:Initial titles]]

* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}''\\

* ''Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Fantasy''\\

* ''Fantasy in Blue''\\

* ''Swinging Sorority Girls''\\

* ''Nine Ages of Nakedness''\\

* ''Film/TheGrooveTube''\\

* ''Sex and the Office Girl''\\

* ''Film/ReeferMadness''\\

* ''Slaves of Love''\\

* ''Fairy Tales''\\

* ''Flesh Gordon''\\

* ''Swinging Ski Girls''\\

* ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968''\\

* ''Ribald Tales of Robin Hood''\\

* ''Hey, There's Naked Bodies on My TV!''\\

* ''Film/MagicalMysteryTour''\\

* ''The Beatles at Shea Stadium''\\

* ''Music/TheBeatles Live in Tokyo''\\

* ''[[Film/FlashGordonSerial Flash Gordon: Mars Attacks the World]]''\\

* ''The [[Music/TheRollingStones Stones]] in the Park''\\

* ''Auditions''\\

* ''March of the Wooden Soldiers''\\

* ''Mustang''\\

* ''Fantastic Animation Festival''\\

[--Note: Later reassigned the stock number M501--]
* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1001, later reassigned the stock number M302--]\\
[--Note: A collection of Superman cartoons produced by Max Fleischer--]
* ''[[Film/FlashGordonSerial Flash Gordon: Mars Attacks the World]]''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1023--]
* ''Fairy Tales''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1012, later reassigned the stock number M509--]
* ''Ribald Tales of Robin Hood''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1016--]\\
[--Note: Some pressings in the early '80s used Memorex tape stock, which at the time was used almost exclusively by Bell & Howell Video Systems; Media had its own duplication operations for much of its existence--]
* ''Music/TheBeatles Live in Tokyo''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1021--]\\
[--Note: Pulled from distribution in the spring of 1980 due to legal issues--]
* ''Swinging Ski Girls''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1014, later reassigned the stock number M512--]

* ''Slaves of Love''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1011, later reassigned the stock number M511--]

* ''Sex and the Office Girl''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1009, later reassigned the stock number M510--]
* ''The [[Music/TheRollingStones Stones]] in the Park''\\
[--Note: Released as "The Rolling Stones in Concert"--]\\
[--Note: One of the rarest Media releases of all time, having been pulled due to legal issues within a couple of months--]

* ''Nine Ages of Nakedness''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1006, later reassigned the stock number M508--]
* ''Fantasy in Blue''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1004--]

* ''Hey, There's Naked Bodies on My TV!''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1017, later reassigned the stock number M505--]

* ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1015, later reassigned the stock number M113--]
* ''Film/TheGrooveTube''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1007, later reassigned the stock number M101--]

* ''[[Film/FlashGordonSerial Flash Gordon: Rocketship]]''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1024, later reassigned the stock number M118--]
* ''Film/MagicalMysteryTour''\\
[--Note: Original stock number M-1019, later reassigned the stock number M430--]\\
[--Note: Pulled from distribution in the spring of 1980 due to legal issues--]

[--Note: Later reassigned the stock number M118--]

In 1984, Media Home Entertainment was purchased by Gerald Ronson and his company, the British property developer Heron International. Media Home Entertainment was organized into a newly formed division, '''Heron Communications, Inc.''' After the acquisition, Media Home Entertainment had five sublabels. They were:

* '''The Cinematheque Collection''' (foreign language films)

[--Note: Later reassigned the stock number M508--]

[--Note: Later reassigned the stock number M502--]

[--Note: Later reassigned the stock number M111--]\\

[--Note: Later reassigned the stock number M509--]

[--Note: Later reassigned the stock number M510--]