Radar Man Video

Background
Radar Man Video was spun off from Decade Video in 1983, originally as Decade Special Products. The reason for the spinoff was that while Decade Video was ostensibly a public-domain film distributor, these efforts were overshadowed by other videos they released, such as the popular "How To Use Computers" series and concert films from artists on Yellowjacket Records (another Decade holding). The new company was renamed Radar Man Video in 1988. In 1996, Decade shifted their focus from entertainment to fast food and musical instruments. As a result, Decade Video was dissolved entirely, Yellowjacket Records had its assets sold to Warner Music Group, and Radar Man was spun off as an independent company.

1st Logo (1983-1988)
Nicknames: "Decade in Space," "Chyron Decade"

Logo: On a starfield background, we see the word "DECADE" in the corporate font Decade used at the time zooming in before stopping. A green rectangle appears to expand outward beneath it, onto which "Special Products" is chyroned in purple.

FX/SFX: The starfield background, the "DECADE" zooming in, the "Special Products" appearing below.

Music: A synthesized rock theme. On early releases, the logo is silent.

Variant: On the American print of "Kate Bush: The Tour of Life," the logo appears already formed, with a voiceover saying "By special arrangement with EMI America, Decade Special Products is pleased to present Kate Bush: The Tour of Life.

Availability: The silent version is extremely rare, and can be found on "How to Use the Commodore 64" and the American print of "Yellow Magic Orchestra: From Tokyo to Tokio." The version with the rock theme is slightly more common, and can reliably be found on tapes with the Decade Special Products logo on the spine. The final tape to use this logo was "How to Use the Macintosh: 2nd Edition," even though this tape was also the first to have the Radar Man logo on the spine in place of the DSP logo.

Editor's Note: TBA

1st Logo (1988-1993)
Nicknames: "Marble Radar Man"

Logo: On a pink marble background, we see a red rectangle form. The words "RADAR MAN" appear in a white, sans-serif font. Beneath the rectangle, the word "VIDEO" in italics scrolls in from the left, and a byline reading "A Decade Company" fades in below.

Variants: A closing variant exists, where the logo is already formed, and "shines" for a few seconds before fading to black. This variant may or may not have a copyright notice, depending on the tape.

FX/SFX: TBA

Music: A heavy rock theme with a string section in the background. The closing variant features a continued version of the opening theme with the addition of a synth choir, ending with an echoing power chord.

Availability: Can reliably be found on tapes with the "rectangle" Radar Man logo on the cover (excluding "How to Use the Macintosh: 2nd Edition"). Check those eBay listings!

Editor's Note: TBA

2nd Logo (1993-2001)
Nicknames: "Radar Man in the Sky," "Radar Man Swoosh"

Logo: TBA

Variants: Beginning in 1996, the "A Decade Company" byline was removed.

Music: TBA

Availability: TBA

Editor's Note: TBA