SFM Holiday Network
Encyclopedia
The SFM Holiday Network was a syndicated movie broadcast package from SFM Entertainment
which aired on holiday weekends (such as the 4th of July
, Christmas
, etc.) from 1978
until 1991
.
, Fox Movie Channel
, and American Movie Classics), with its interstitials on how the movie was made and its stars.
The Network actually had its roots in a 1971
syndicated package prepared by MGM
, called the MGM Family Network, which offered to television stations a monthly program of family features from the studio library. When it was cancelled after only one year, SFM Entertainment decided to acquire a similar package from MGM, as well as other major studios, to prepare a monthly package of films built around holiday themes (hence the package title), though sometimes unrelated to the holidays themselves.
before their telecast.
version of Jungle Book
, the animated Journey Back to Oz
(the extended TV version with Bill Cosby
's live-action segments), and How Green Was My Valley
.
hosted the show (his company was a main sponsor of the Holiday Network), in special segments that predated Robert Osborne
's introductions for Turner Classic Movies.
, the syndicated package disappeared from the air.
's "Heavy Action
", which was also used as the instrumental theme for Monday Night Football
.
SFM Entertainment
SFM Entertainment is an American television syndicator, established in 1968. The name comes from the initials of the company's founders: Walter Staab, Robert Frank, and Stanley Moger.The company was known for the closing logo with no voiceover...
which aired on holiday weekends (such as the 4th of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
, Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, etc.) from 1978
1978 in television
The year 1978 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1978.For the American TV schedule, see: 1978-79 American network television schedule.-Events:...
until 1991
1991 in television
For the American TV schedule, see: 1991-92 United States network television schedule.The year 1991 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1991.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
.
Origins
The Holiday Network is considered by some to be the predecessor to today's classic movie channels (such as Turner Classic MoviesTurner Classic Movies
Turner Classic Movies is a movie-oriented cable television channel, owned by the Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary of Time Warner, featuring commercial-free classic movies, mostly from the Turner Entertainment and MGM, United Artists, RKO and Warner Bros. film libraries...
, Fox Movie Channel
Fox Movie Channel
The Fox Movie Channel is a channel which shows movies uncut and commercial-free.-Overview:Movie content consists mainly of selections from 20th Century Fox's library of releases through the 1990s and movies produced exclusively for television. Widescreen versions are shown whenever available....
, and American Movie Classics), with its interstitials on how the movie was made and its stars.
The Network actually had its roots in a 1971
1971 in television
The year 1971 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1971.For the American TV schedule, see: 1971-72 American network television schedule.-Events:...
syndicated package prepared by MGM
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
, called the MGM Family Network, which offered to television stations a monthly program of family features from the studio library. When it was cancelled after only one year, SFM Entertainment decided to acquire a similar package from MGM, as well as other major studios, to prepare a monthly package of films built around holiday themes (hence the package title), though sometimes unrelated to the holidays themselves.
Movie selection process
Unlike 16MM film chain prints of movies stations used at the time, the films were prepared on videotape and transferred directly from 35mm prints for maximum broadcast network quality. In the network's later years, the monthly selections had to be approved and recommended by the National Education AssociationNational Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
before their telecast.
Notable features
Some of SFM Holiday Network's most popular features were the 19421942 in film
The year 1942 in film involved some significant events, in particular the release of a film consistently rated as one of the greatest of all time, Casablanca.-Events:...
version of Jungle Book
Jungle Book (1942 film)
Jungle Book is a 1942 American color action-adventure film based on the Rudyard Kipling book, The Jungle Book. The film was directed by Zoltán Korda based on a screenplay adaptation by Laurence Stallings. The cinematography was by Lee Garmes and W. Howard Greene and music by Miklós Rózsa...
, the animated Journey Back to Oz
Journey Back to Oz
Journey Back To Oz is a 1974 animated film and the official sequel to the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz. It is loosely based on L. Frank Baum's second Oz novel, The Marvelous Land of Oz, although Baum received no screen credit. However, the Wizard was nowhere to be found, at least in the...
(the extended TV version with Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
's live-action segments), and How Green Was My Valley
How Green Was My Valley (film)
How Green Was My Valley is a 1941 drama film directed by John Ford. The film, based on the 1939 Richard Llewellyn novel, was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and written by Philip Dunne. The film stars Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Anna Lee, Donald Crisp, and Roddy McDowall...
.
Hosts and sponsors
In its final years, popcorn magnate Orville RedenbacherOrville Redenbacher
Orville Clarence Redenbacher was an American businessman most often associated with the brand of popcorn that bears his name.-Early life:...
hosted the show (his company was a main sponsor of the Holiday Network), in special segments that predated Robert Osborne
Robert Osborne
Robert Jolin Osborne is an American actor and film historian best known as the primary host for Turner Classic Movies, and previously a host of The Movie Channel.-Life and career:...
's introductions for Turner Classic Movies.
Demise
With the rise of pay-cable, fewer and fewer stations were airing the Holiday Network, and by 19911991 in television
For the American TV schedule, see: 1991-92 United States network television schedule.The year 1991 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1991.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
, the syndicated package disappeared from the air.
Theme music
The theme song used for many of the SFM Holiday Network broadcasts, including the commercial "bumpers", was Johnny PearsonJohnny Pearson
John Valmore Pearson known as Johnny Pearson, was a British composer, orchestra leader and pianist...
's "Heavy Action
Heavy Action
"Heavy Action" is a piece of music composed by Johnny Pearson. It is best known in the UK as the theme for Superstars, and in North America as the theme music for ABC and ESPN's Monday Night Football.-Superstars:...
", which was also used as the instrumental theme for Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
.