# television programs with title screens very 'of that time' **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 7, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778 "2016-06-07T22:40:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![oara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b77776/32.png) [@oara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oara)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/1 "2016-06-07T22:40:52Z")
I saw the intro to Misfits of Science, and when it shows the title, it’s like the perfect stereotype of the eighties – and I’m curious what some other examples might be for other times. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/2 "2016-06-07T22:47:03Z")
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and X-files opening scream 1990’s to me. Then again, those shows scream late 90’s anyway. [X-files opening is the definitive opening of the 90’s on its, own though.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbBX6aEzEz8) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/3 "2016-06-08T14:52:48Z")
The very [start](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzY7RntxY5c) of the _Mary Tyler Moore_ show is classic 1970. The font, the color palette, the multiplication of the name, etc. Followed by a generic soft-pop theme song over a montage. If I wanted to list 1950s sitcoms, I’d be here all day. Let’s see if I can stop at just one: [_Father Knows Best_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpWgxrAqOYI&list=PLeagipoZmyfnX72vC5n7LyhNyIhfioIl5). The stagy intro of the cast, the narrator, etc. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/4 "2016-06-08T15:29:19Z")
\*The Twilight Zone \*had several intros, all of which were typical of that era. Even more so, \*The Outer Limits. \* ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/5 "2016-06-08T15:38:29Z")
The Rockford Files is classic 70s TV credits. I’ve also been watching “Ghost Story,” an anthology series (Night Gallery knock-off, produced by William Castle) produced in 1972 or so, and it had identical credit styling. Kolchak: The Night Stalker also had the same 70s credit font and style. And just as often, all three I mentioned (and more, besides) had many of the same actors. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/6 "2016-06-08T15:45:24Z")
_Archer._ The titles/credits just scream…_sometime_ in the 20th (or maybe the 21st) century. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/7 "2016-06-08T15:45:55Z")
The L.A. Law opening is pretty classic to the 1980s: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DouX9Ubw-Xw/hqdefault.jpg "LA LAW Theme in STEREO") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DouX9Ubw-Xw) ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/8 "2016-06-08T16:11:02Z")
You don’t get more early 1990s than[Full House.](https://youtu.be/VstP2jqJcQM) ---
**Author:** ![jrbor76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9e8a1a/32.png) [@jrbor76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrbor76)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/9 "2016-06-11T21:52:39Z")
_Doctor Who_. Pick a Doctor, any Doctor. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/10 "2016-06-11T22:14:42Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The L.A. Law opening is pretty classic to the 1980s: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DouX9Ubw-Xw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DouX9Ubw-Xw) I will see your L.A. Law and raise you with [Miami Vice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEjXPY9jOx8). ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/11 "2016-06-12T05:42:37Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > The Rockford Files is classic 70s TV credits. _Rockford_ is classic 70s in that the opening credits were always preceded by teaser clips from the episode but the closing credits were always (I think) just shown over a still of Rockford and his dad. Most other 70s show’s ending credits were shown over multiple stills either from the episode or from the whole season. Comedies would often use rolling clips that ended on a freeze-frame for each ending credit. This was parodied on _Police Squad!_ in which instead of actually freezing the frame the actors would simply freeze positions in the middle of a big, moving gesture then the criminal would realize nobody was moving, un-cuff himself and escape. Any show from the 70s, 80s or early 90s that was shot on videotape rather than film will always have electronically-generated [Chyron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chyron_Corporation)title and end credits (with the ending credits almost always scrolling). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2016, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/12 "2016-06-12T09:42:23Z")
The transition from the 80s to the 90s had a lot of bright primary colours, zig-zag lines, confetti patterns, and grids. Here’s [Saved By The Bell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf6BL_Gg71c). I blame the Video Toaster. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/13 "2016-06-13T14:17:02Z")
_Dark Shadows_. You ain’t gonna get any more of its time than that. Title card, grainy shot of a mansion, voiceover. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/14 "2016-06-13T17:37:01Z")
_Dragnet_ - just the facts ma’am, no nonsense police action from the good old days. At the other end of police action, _The Andy Griffith Show_ and folks down-home style with strong family values. Although I wonder where his wife’s body is? down at the fishing hole? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/15 "2016-06-13T17:58:29Z")
A few years ago someone did [a 1995-style intro to Game of Thrones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fPgIIB67bw). ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/16 "2016-06-13T20:10:54Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > A few years ago someone did [a 1995-style intro to Game of Thrones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fPgIIB67bw). I love the internet. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/17 "2016-06-13T21:19:19Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > _Dragnet_ - just the facts ma’am, no nonsense police action from the good old days. Um, compare: Dragnet 1954, [title](https://youtu.be/-v2V4BlsHMs?t=18) credits. Dragnet 1967, [title](https://youtu.be/Jnhj7z_EdUs?t=57) credits. 13 years spanning an era of major change in American TV. Iconic of what time? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/18 "2016-06-14T03:00:23Z")
I find it jarring whenever I see a new/recent show with any title sequences _at all_. I found it super jarring that Preacher has one. It seems like title sequences nowadays – if they have any at all – just use the 5-second title card with the name of the show in white text on a black screen, ala Ray Donovan. (Billions, Girlfriend Experience, House of Lies, etc…) ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/19 "2016-06-14T04:14:08Z")
TBS has a fun retro commercial for 2 Broke Girls that maked it seem like an old cheers/Burrows/glen Caron tv show. I cut my finger open tonite anf I can’t type. aaaaaargh ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778/20 "2016-06-17T15:51:47Z")
[The Man from U.N.C.L.E.](http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=man+from+uncle+tv+show+images&view=detailv2&&id=3CA5599B69E76377171AD8AEC5304A9EF080A20D&selectedIndex=45&ccid=a0O5TGBK&simid=608004947376343262&thid=OIP.M6b43b94c604a936808c11ea39aaa0f34o0&ajaxhist=0)screams 1960s. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-programs-with-title-screens-very-of-that-time/756778.md?page=2)