Lyrick Studios

former business enterprise

Lyrick Studios, Inc. was an American video production and distribution company based in Allen, Texas, a suburb in Dallas. They were known for producing and distributing shows like Barney and Wishbone, as well as videos and albums from two music artists, Joe Scruggs and The Wiggles. They also had book rights to Humongous Entertainment characters like Putt-Putt, Freddi Fish, and Pajama Sam. They paired with Big Idea for mass market distribution of prints and reprints of VeggieTales home videos, as well as rights to VeggieTales plush toys. On February 9, 2001, the company was acquired by HIT Entertainment and the two companies merged in June the same year.

History

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Before Lyrick Studios (1988-93)

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In 1988, The Lyons Group was formed as a division of DLM, Inc., an educational company owned by Richard C. Leach.[1] Lyons began producing and distributing a direct-to-video pilot series titled Barney & the Backyard Gang, which was created by Leach's daughter-in-law, Sheryl Leach. Three years after the home video series debuted, Barney caught the attention of executives at PBS, and the concept was then changed for television as Barney & Friends. The show started broadcasting on the organization's flagship television service on April 6, 1992.[2]

The Acquisitions and Expansion Era (1994-2000)

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Lyrick Studios was formed in 1997, and became a division of a new company under the name Lyons Partnership. The company logo made its debut on Tuesday, March 11, 1997.

The company made the series Wishbone for PBS in 1995. This series was produced by Big Feats! Entertainment, another division of the company, and was primarily filmed on a studio backlot in Allen, Texas.

In the late 1990s, Lyrick got the distribution (selling) rights for VeggieTales and The Wiggles. They also had book and video game distribution rights for some Humongous Entertainment video game characters, such as Putt-Putt, Freddi Fish, and Pajama Sam.[3]

The HIT Entertainment Acquisition Era and Aftermath (2001)

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According to Phil Vischer, he chose the company to release the videos since Lyrick Studios' founder and former chairman Richard C. Leach was a committed Christian, and the company let the religious tones on the shows remain intact, unlike other distributors Big Idea had asked beforehand. The company was acquired by HiT Entertainment on February 9, 2001, shortly before Richard C. Leach died.

Distribution

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Programs

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Television

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Name First release date Final release date Network Notes
Wishbone April 29, 1997 December 7, 1997 PBS Big Feats! Entertainment
Originally aired from October 9, 1995 to December 7, 1997.
Barney & Friends May 6, 1997 August 31, 2001 Flagship franchise
Originally aired from April 6, 1992 to August 31, 2001.
Barney & the Backyard Gang September 16, 1997 July 18, 2000 VHS[a] Direct-to-video pilot series to Barney & Friends
Originally released from August 29, 1988 to August 1, 1991.
Tall Tales & Legends June 16, 1998 August 4, 1998 Originally aired from September 25, 1985 to August 4, 1998.
Groundling Marsh June 23, 1998 September 8, 1998 Disney Channel (1998) Originally aired from June 27, 1994 to November 28, 1997.
The Wiggles October 12, 1999 (music)
August 1, 2000 (video)[b]
August 31, 2001 Fox Family
(1999-2000)
VHS
(2000-01)
US home video distributions

Direct-to-Video

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Name First release date Last release date Notes
Joe Scruggs March 11, 1997 He was previously guest starred in the second season of Barney & Friends.
Two specials were originally released only on VHS from 1989 to 1992.
Co-distributed by Shadow Play.
Religious Series
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Name First release date Last release date Notes
The Faithful Revolution: Vatican II 1997 Sole non-children's video release by Lyrick Studios.
Francesco's Friendly World July 1, 1997 September 16, 1997
VeggieTales December 16, 1997 (promotional release only)
March 31, 1998
March 27, 2001 Mass-market distribution[c]

Movies

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Theatrical

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Name Year Notes
Barney's Great Adventure 1998 PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Universal Pictures

Television

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Name Release date Notes
Wishbone's Dog Days of the West March 13, 1998 Big Feats! Entertainment
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme June 16, 1998 The television movie was originally aired on Disney Channel in May 19, 1990.


Public Service Announcements
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Name Release date Notes
Kids for Character April 23, 1996 Includes scenes from The Puzzle Place, Barney & Friends, The Magic School Bus, Lamb Chop's Play-Along, Gullah Gullah Island, and Babar
Kids for Character: Choices Count October 14, 1997 Includes scenes from Bananas in Pyjamas, The Big Comfy Couch, and Wishbone
  1. Reissued with Waiting for Santa and Barney in Concert.
  2. The #1 preschool band collaborated Barney the purple dinosaur's national stage show tour "Barney’s Musical Castle" in America and Canada from January 19, 2000 to February 25, 2001.
  3. Originally distributed in Christian bookstores.

References

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  1. Browne, Ray Broadus; Browne, Pat (2001). The Guide to United States Popular Culture. Popular Press. ISBN 978-0-87972-821-2.
  2. Genzlinger, Neil (2017-04-07). "The Blame for 'Barney'? I'm a Little Guilty". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  3. Tanner, Lisa (Sep 5, 1999). "Lyrick Studios expanding". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved 2022-11-24.