Avon

Avon Products, Inc., also simply known as Avon and originally known as California Perfume Company until the early 1930s, was an American-British multinational makeup and perfume supplier founded in 1886 and based in New York.

History

At times, the company had a licensing agreement with Disney to supply makeup products based on various Disney characters. During the mid and late 1980s, it had a deal with GoodTimes Home Video to co-distribute various releases on VHS, among them the 1985 ABC animated television special, "The Velveteen Rabbit," direct-to-video Muppets programs, and miscellaneous Hanna-Barbera cartoons. In 1988, the company formed Avon Video Enterprises, doing business as Avon Home Video, secured deals with various home video labels/distributors and a duplication contract with Technicolor Videocassette, Inc. (later known as Technicolor Video Services, Technicolor Video/CD/DVD Services and Technicolor Home Entertainment Services, Inc.).

Some copies of post-1988 video releases from various labels/distributors, sold through Avon, carry the regular video label/distributor's logo on the face label, particularly a couple of Random House Home Video releases sold through Avon, although most post-1988 Avon releases carry no logo on the face label whatsoever. The regular video label/distributor's logo is also retained on the packaging, but the regular label/distributor's stock number is replaced with Avon's own stock number, beginning with "F.S.C." and ending with a suffix number, similar to the bracket number on the back of post-1982 Disney video releases. While most tapes sold through Avon retain the regular label/distributor's UPC codes, some tapes have the UPC code whited out, such as some Universal Studios Home Video tapes sold through Avon. Many of the company's post-1988 video releases were duplicated in SP mode, though some are in either LP or EP/SLP mode, lack previews and otherwise reuse the print masters provided by the regular video label/distributor. By the early 1990s, Avon Video Enterprises was renamed Avon Home Entertainment.

Avon never had their video releases packaged in clamshells, nor did they sell titles rated any higher than PG-13.

In late 2005, Avon exited the video business.

List of Customers

• MGM/UA Home Video (1991-1997)
  • Fries Home Video (1989-1992)
  • M.C.E.G. Virgin Home Entertainment (1989-1990)
    • Forum Home Video (1988-1989)
    • M.C.E.G. Home Video (1989-1990)
    • Virgin Vision (1988-1989)
  • Orion Home Video (1990-1997)
  • Cannon Video (1988-1994)
    • Hemdale Home Video (1991-1995)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1985-2005)
  • Kids Klassics (1985-1996)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2001-2003)
  • Prism Entertainment (1988-1996)
  • Trimark Home Video (1988-2001)
  • Avalanche Home Entertainment (1998-2001)
  • Studio Home Entertainment (2000-2001)
  • Sterling Home Entertainment (1998-2001)
  • Artisan Entertainment (1991-2000)
    • Family Home Entertainment (1991-2000)
    • Vestron Video (1991-1993)
    • Hallmark Home Entertainment (1997-1998)
      • Cabin Fever Entertainment (1989-1998)
  • Anchor Bay Entertainment (1995-1998)
    • Video Treasures (1990-1998)
      • Media Home Entertainment (1990-1993)
      • Burbank Video (1991-1995)
        • American Video (1988-1991)
      • Strand Home Video (1990-1994)
    • Starmaker Entertainment (1990-1998)
      • R&G Video (1990-1998)
• Warner Home Video (1994-2004)
  • New Line Home Entertainment (1991-2004)
    • Nelson Entertainment (1988-1991)
  • Turner Home Entertainment (1992-1997)
    • Hanna-Barbera Home Video (1989-1992)
  • HBO Home Video (1988-2004)
  • WarnerVision Entertainment (1990-1997)
  • Lorimar Home Video (1989)
• Warner Reprise Video (1988-2004)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1991-2004)
  • PolyGram Video/USA Home Entertainment (1991-1999)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1992-2004)
  • FUNimation Entertainment (1996-2004)
  • Sony Video Software (1988-1991)
• Sony Music Entertainment (1997-2004)
  • Sony Wonder (1997-2004)
    • Random House Home Video (1989-2004)
• BMG Video (1988-2004)
• Golden Books Family Entertainment (1991-2000)
• ClassicMedia (2000-2003)
• Wood Knapp Video (1989-1992)
• Alpha Video Distributors (1994-1996)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (1988-2004)
  • Republic Pictures Home Video (1991-1999)
    • Worldvision Home Video (1986-1995)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1989-2004)
• Celebrity Home Entertainment (1989-1998)
• Saban Home Entertainment (1993-1996)
• York Entertainment (1992-2004)
• Dualstar Video (1993-1998)
• Academy Entertainment (1988-1994)
• PM Entertainment Group (1990-2001)
• Spartan Home Entertainment (2000-2003)
• Full Moon Releasing (1995-2002)
• First Look Home Entertainment (2000-2004)
• Capital Cities/ABC Video Publishing (1993-1996)
  • ABC Video
  • Summa Video
  • ESPN Home Video (1988-1996)
• Rhino Home Video (1991-2004)
• Public Media/Janus Films (1988-2004)
• Image Entertainment (1998-2004)
• Kultur (1988-2004)
• Kino on Video (1989-2004)
• WinStar Home Entertainment (1997-2001)
  • Fox Lorber Home Video (1990-2001)
• BWE Video (1996-2000)
• New Yorker Video (1989-2004)
• National Geographic Video (1988-2004)
• AnimEigo (1991-2004)
• Water Bearer Films (1988-2004)
• Media Blasters (1997-2004)
• Central Park Media (1991-2004)
• WWE Home Video (1997-2004)
  • Coliseum Video (1988-1997)
• Major League Baseball Home Video (1991-1996)
• A&E Home Video (1993-2002)
• Goldhil Video (1995-2001)
• New Concorde (1991-2004)
• A-PIX Entertainment (1993-2002)
• Showtime Entertainment (1995-2004)
• ADV Films (1993-2004)
• Monterey Home Video (1991-2004)
• VCI Home Video (1988-2004)
• PBS Home Video (1989-2004)
• Public Arts (1989-1994)
• Acorn Video (1993-2004)
• World Wide Pictures Home Video (1988-2004)
• World Artists Home Video (1992-1996)
• MPI Home Video (1988-2004)
• The Vista Group (1988-1994)
• PPI Entertainment (1988-2004)
• New Video (1992-2004)
• J2 Communications (1988-1991)
• Screen Media Films (2002-2004)
• Trinity Home Entertainment (2002)
• Big Idea Productions (1993-2004)
• Word Entertainment (1991-1999)
  • Everland Entertainment (1992-1999)
• BCI Eclipse (1991-2004)
  • Simitar Entertainment (1989-2000)
• View-Master Video (1988-1995)
• Feld Entertainment (2003-2004)
• Bridgestone Multimedia Group (1988-2004)
• WGBH Boston Video (1993-2004)
• HiT Entertainment (2001-2004)
  • Lyrick Studios (1989-2001)
• DEJ Productions (1998-2004)
• Trans World Entertainment (1988-1989)
• KingWorld Direct (1992-1998)
• Cloud Ten Pictures (2000-2004)
• SouthGate Entertainment (1989-1991)
• SGE Home Video (1989-1991)
• Imperial Entertainment (1988-1996)
• Xenon Entertainment Group (1989-2004)
• Fisher-Price (1988-1993)
• KVC Home Video (1989-1993)
• Barr Entertainment (1993-1995)
• Unicorn Video (1989-1990)
• Learning Corporation of America (1989-1990)
• Magnum Entertainment (1988-1992)
• Complete Entertainment (1988-1991)
• AIP Home Video (1989-1996)
• Best Film & Video Corporation (1988-2001)
• Axon Video (1989-1992)
• Edde Entertainment (1989-1998)
• Connoisseur Video Collection (1988-1994)
• Warren Miller Entertainment (1988-1994)
• New Star Video (1988-1990)
• Platinum Productions (1988-1991)
• Panorama International (1988-1996)
• Price/Stern/Sloan (1990)
• Studio Entertainment (1988-1991)
• Raedon Home Video (1988-1990)
• Arena Home Video (1990-1997)
• Al Taylor Company (1990)
• Wonderworld Cartoons (1990)
• Direct Video (1989-1990)
• First Run Features Home Video (1989-1998)
• Summit Media (1988-1992)
• Milestone Film & Video (1992-1995)
• Pioneer Entertainment (1993-2003)
• Geneon Entertainment USA (2003-2004)
• Feature Films for Families (1991-2004)
• Sinister Cinema (1989-2002)
• Wavelength Video (1992-1994)
• Something Weird Video (1991-2004)
• Leo Films Home Video (1991-1995)
• JTC, Inc. (1991-1994)
• Video Outlaw (1992-1994)
• Shanachie (1992-1999)
• Facets Video (1991-1994)
• Easyriders Home Video (1992-1994)
• Triboro Entertainment Group (1991-1997)
• Miramar Productions (1993)
• White Star Entertainment (1991-1998)
• YES! Entertainment (1990-1996)
• Coral Video (1992-1995)
• Award Films International (1991-1996)
• Tesla Memorial Society (1992-1995)
• Stardance Entertainment (1994-1996)
• Arrow Video (1993-1997)
• LMH Productions (1994-1995)
• Pyewackett Productions (1993-1995)
• Superior Promotions (1994)
• Parade Video (1989-2005)
• MTI Home Video (1989-2005)
• Boulevard Films (1994-2001)
• The Penland Company (1992-1997)
• Atlas Entertainment Corporation (1989-1992)
• Palm Pictures (1999-2005)
• Kidmark, Inc. (1988-1992)
• Voyager Entertainment (1992-2000)
• NBR Enterprises (1990-2004)
• Command Home Video (1988)
• Trylon Video (1989-1990)
• MVP Home Entertainment (1995-1999)
• Koch Vision (1999-2004)
• Eaton Entertainment (1997-2002)
• West Hills Studios (1989-1993)
• T.T.V. Video (1988-1992)
• LawrenceVision 3D (1992-1993)
• Classic Family Entertainment (1988-1990)
• Mark IV Pictures (1988-1991)
• Shine Home Entertainment (1991)
• Media West Home Video (1988-2005)

Trivia

• Some copies of some tapes, mostly those from Warner Home Video, such as Scooby-Doo (2002), Tom & Jerry: The Movie and Two Weeks Notice that were sold through Avon reuse video masters that preserve previews. This was also the case with the 1991 release of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from Family Home Entertainment and The Magic School Bus Inside the Haunted House from WarnerVision Entertainment.
• Earlier Avon tapes, such as some copies of the 36th volume of Star Blazers from Kidmark, Inc. (not to be confused with the children's sub-division of Vidmark Entertainment) and The Clan of the Care Bears from Fries Home Video, were known to end with a black screen test pattern with a 400hz tone, as was common with many tapes duplicated at Technicolor in California prior to May 1989.
• Some later Avon tapes duplicated in SP mode at Technicolor in Livonia, Michigan using either industrial duplicators and/or Otari TMD systems, may have started and ended with DTMF tones, although it has yet to be confirmed.

Locations

• New York City, New York