Video Treasures

Video Treasures was a home video distributor founded in March 1985 by George Port. Initially, the company distributed public domain titles, including cartoon compilations. In 1986, the label introduced a video line of WWII-era titles, called the World of Conflict. In the spring of 1987, the company started licensing agreements with many motion picture and television companies and home video distributors, such as Vestron Video, Media Home Entertainment, Color Systems Technology, Active Home Video, Orion Pictures Corporation, The Samuel Goldwyn Company, Virgin Vision, Trans World Entertainment, Hal Roach Studios, Saban International, United Home Video, etc.

From the start of the label to 1989, its releases were sold through Video Cassette Sales, a division of the now-defunct Handleman Company. In early 1989, Handleman Company acquired full ownership of Video Treasures for $10 million.

In April 1991, Video Treasures became the distributor for Burbank Video in the US. In early 1992, Video Treasures acquired MNTex Entertainment.

Media Home Entertainment ceased operations in 1993. During the time, the label's final set of titles on videotape were being distributed by The CBS/Fox Company, while LaserDisc releases were distributed by Image Entertainment. In the meantime, its library was sold to Video Treasures.

In May 1995, both Starmaker Entertainment and Video Treasures were merged to form Anchor Bay Entertainment. The name, "Anchor Bay" originated from a school district based in Michigan, where their parent company, Handleman Company was also based in. Both labels remained in use until the summer of 1998.

Spring 1987
This month of 1987 was when the company started licensing agreements with various companies.

Under the Burbank Video label

 * Burbank Video

Under the Media Home Entertainment label

 * Media Home Entertainment

Locations

 * Jericho, New York (1985-1986) (moved to Hauppauge)
 * Hauppauge, New York (1986-1990) (moved to Batavia)
 * Batavia, Ohio (1990-1992) (ultimately consolidated into Handleman's Troy operations)
 * Ajax, Ontario (1989-1998) [Canadian operations through HGV Video Productions]
 * Troy, Michigan (1992-1998)