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JANUARY 30 VHS HISTORY LEASON : THORN EMI/THORN EMI HBO/HBO CANNON/HBO VIDEO
Thorn EMI has the distinction of being the second oldest video company in the United States (Magnetic Video, which would eventually evolve into CBS/Fox Video, is the first), beginning operations in 1977 and, after going through several name changes, still surviving today. The Thorn EMI name lasted from 1977 to 1983, when it joined forces with cable giant HBO to form (what else?) Thorn EMI HBO Video. That name lasted until 1985, when Cannon Films bought the Thorn EMI film library and joined forces with HBO to form HBO Cannon Video. As Cannon was having financial trouble, it's partnership with HBO lasted two years and in 1987 the label was changed to HBO Video, which is still thriving today. In the beginning Thorn EMI released a lot of 70's and early 80's horror films, including THE PREY, GIRLS NITE OUT, ZOLTAN, HOUND OF DRACULA, Earl Owensby's WOLFMAN and A DAY OF JUDGMENT, DAWN OF THE MUMMY, THE DEADLY INTRUDER and the video premieres of Sam Raimi's THE EVIL DEAD and James Cameron's THE TERMINATOR. Under the other various names the company took, they released the excellent NIGHT WARNING, XTRO, SPASMS, WARRIOR OF THE LOST WORLD, ENCOUNTER AT RAVEN'S GATE, ACT OF VENGEANCE (aka RAPE SQUAD), THE BURNING (the edited R-rated cut) and many others. Today, HBO Video releases include many of the cable giant's successful series and cable films, including THE SOPRANOS, DEADWOOD, SEX IN THE CITY, THE WIRE and others too numerous to mention. { text from critcononline.com }
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