# "RKO pictures" title on early Disney movies, and why is present in new DVD’s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rko-pictures-title-on-early-disney-movies-and-why-is-present-in-new-dvd-s/163030 "2003-03-21T05:04:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rko-pictures-title-on-early-disney-movies-and-why-is-present-in-new-dvd-s/163030/1 "2003-03-21T05:04:26Z")
RKO Pictures essentially ceased to be around the 50’s by being bought by Desilu. However, it is still around: Dina Merril and Ted Harley own now what is left of RKO. Now to the Disney question: Early Disney movies, like _Snow White_ or _Dumbo_, were released with the RKO logo at the beginning of the movies, since Disney still had no distribution system. AFAICR RKO originally distributed _Snow White_, but it eventually ended up a Disney title only; however, in new releases (I have to take care of my relative’s kids sometimes) the RKO original title appears! Now why Disney, that is so defensive of their trademarks, not removing (or now adding?) the RKO logo? I have to ask too: What is the deal now with RKO pictures? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rko-pictures-title-on-early-disney-movies-and-why-is-present-in-new-dvd-s/163030/2 "2003-03-21T06:15:45Z")
DVD’s come with lots of extras these days. Thus the beginning and ending RKO credits. Just a way to sell the product. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rko-pictures-title-on-early-disney-movies-and-why-is-present-in-new-dvd-s/163030/3 "2003-03-21T07:07:14Z")
The same RKO as seen in [url=http://www.sweet-transvestites.com/Carte/pictures/rko.jpg]Rocky Horror[/uirl]? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rko-pictures-title-on-early-disney-movies-and-why-is-present-in-new-dvd-s/163030/4 "2003-03-21T07:21:53Z")
Yes, just substract Dr. Frank-N-Furter! Here is the site for the new RKO: [http://www.rko.com/](http://www.rko.com/) Still, I see very little info on recent projects. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rko-pictures-title-on-early-disney-movies-and-why-is-present-in-new-dvd-s/163030/5 "2003-03-21T20:50:05Z")
A list of all of the animated films ever [released in the United States](http://www.cartoonresearch.com/feature.html) lists all films through _Peter Pan_ as being released by “RKO-Disney.” I can also find reference to the RKO “thunderbolt” logo (“Distributed by RKO RADIO PICTURES”) appearing on Disney films until 1953 (Sometimes later replaced with a “Buena Vista Distribution” logo), and I have also seen the words “Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures Inc.” on the title and end cards of Disney cartoons (the titles which begin with the familiar “sunbeam” picture of the star character’s smiling face). Obviously, the RKO-Disney partnership lasted longer than you originally thought.