The Congress Video Group

The Congress Video Group, originally founded as Memory Lane Video, was a VHS distributor located in South Plainfield, New Jersey. The outfit also distributed budget re-issues of the HBO Video catalog.

1st Logo (1985-1987)

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Visuals: On a red/blue gradient background with a transparent Congress Video logo pattern overlaid, 3 C's swirl in from the center and rest on the left side of the screen, with the outer layers in blue and the middle section in red. The "C" flashes white as sparkles draw out a "V" in the same color set up, with a line extended off to the right, forming the Congress Video logo. The text "THE CONGRESS VIDEO GROUP", in a 3D white font, stretches in the bottom right.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A triumphant orchestral fanfare, which is "Nautical Suite" by Johnny Pearson.

Availability: Seen on 1980s VHS releases of old public domain films such as Africa Screams, The Jungle Book, Under California Stars, The Flying Deuces, Dementia 13, Gorath, and The Mad Bomber.

2nd Logo (1985-1993?)

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Visuals: On a space background, a cluster of stars shoots forward at slowed speeds while shifting to the right. A stack of 4 "CV" logos, redesigned from the previous logo without the right line and now colored a metallic silver with an gold outline, fly up from the bottom of the screen and tilt towards the screen. The other 3 logos in the stack have altered color outlines, being teal, purple, and pink. As the copies disappear over the top "CV", the text "Congress VIDEO" zooms in from below in the same colors, with "Congress" in a slightly futuristic font. The "CV" then shines with a line of white light, causing the copies behind it to disappear, and tilts closer to the screen before cutting to black.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: An upbeat synth fanfare.

Availability: Seen on 1980s VHS releases such as Little Shop Of Horrors, Evil Dead, and Fantastic Planet.