RCA

RCA (Radio Corporation of America) was an electronics company which existed from 1919 to 1986. In 1969 and 1970, Jim Henson was tapped to create promotional films demonstrating some of RCA's innovative and ground-breaking new technologies. Additionally, RCA distributed releases of Muppet productions for its VideoDisc system (see below).
==RCA Demonstration Films==
===Select-a-Vision===
In the spring of 1969, Jim Henson was asked to take part in a market research project for Select-a-Vision. The product played CEDs (Capacitance Electronic Discs), developed by RCA, preceding the use of video tapes, laserdiscs, and DVDs. A 6-minute slide film for Select-a-Vision was created by Henson and Jerry Juhl to see if there would be consumer interest. Although the product was never manufactured, the name "Selectavision" was later used for similar RCA technology produced in the 1980s. 
Henson's Select-a-Vision demonstration was described in a curated Red Book blog entry:
===Stereo television===
In 1970, Henson created a video demonstrating the audio advantages to RCA's new stereo television model. Among the films Henson shot for the video were a stock car race, a dramatic piece of a woman making a telephone call, and various musical performances; including a folk duet (Randy and Yvonne Rankin) performing "Changes", an Afro rock group (Tad Truesdale’s group) performing "Adunde", Henson and Frank Oz performing "Mah Na Mah Na", and "The Windmills of Your Mind" performed by a jazz combo (comprising Sesame Street band members Joe Raposo on piano, Ed Shaughnessy on drums, Danny Epstein on vibraphone, Bobby Cranshaw on bass, and Toots Thielemans doubling on guitar and harmonica). The parts were edited together to create a 20-minute videotape showcasing the virtues of RCA's product.
File:Red Book Blog "RCA Stereo Demo"|"The Windmills of Your Mind" from Henson's RCA stereo television demonstration.
File:Jim's Red Book "RCA Car Race"|Stock car race footage from Henson's RCA stereo television demonstration.
==Titles on RCA VideoDisc==
A list of Muppet/Henson titled released on CED and distributed by RCA VideoDisc (SelectaVision):
RCAMuppMovieCED.jpg||link=The Muppet Movie (video)
RCATalesFromMuppetland1CED.jpg||link=The Tales from Muppetland
Gmclaserdisc.jpg||link=The Great Muppet Caper (video)
Tales-muppetland-vol2-1.jpg||link=The Tales from Muppetland
Fraggle Songs CED.jpg||link=Fraggle Songs
==Sources==
==See also==
*RCA Records
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Category:Home Video Companies