Simitar Entertainment
{{Short description|American media company}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Simitar|Symitar (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Simitar Entertainment
| logo =
| type = Media company
| fate = Bankruptcy
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1985}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.simitar.com/company.htm |title=Company Page |date=July 15, 1997 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970715015543/http://www.simitar.com/company.htm |archive-date=15 July 1997 |url-status=dead}}
| founder = Mickey Elfenbein,
Philip Kives
| defunct = {{End date and age|2000|5|12}}
| successor = Encore Software (Sereno Ventures, LLC)
| location_city = 5555 Pioneer Creek Drive, Maple Plain, Minnesota
| key_people = Mickey Elfenbein (Chairman),
Ed Goetz (President),
Mark Elfenbein (Vice President),
Greg Glass (Director of Sales)
| industry = Media
| revenue = $40,000,000 (1999)
| assets = $19,570,059 1
| subsid = Pickwick Records
| footnotes = 1 At time of bankruptcy in 2000
}}
Simitar Entertainment, Inc. was an American media company that sold music, videos, DVDs, and computer software. The company specialized in compilation albums, special interest video, and urban media. Simitar also distributed its own label.
History
In 1985, Mickey Elfenbein, former president and CEO of K-Tel International, and Philip Kives (K-tel founder), after K-Tel just went to bankruptcy in October 1984, started Simitar Entertainment. The first film released by Simitar was the children's film Shinbone Alley, which was retailed at $39.95, and a soundtrack album would be marketed through television commercials.{{Cite magazine|last=Weinger|first=Harry|date=1985-04-27|title=K-Tel Veterans Head B-Movie Company|page=28|magazine=Billboard|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1985/1985-04-27-Billboard-Page-0028.pdf|access-date=2021-12-24}} Simitar bought Pickwick Records. Simitar was a long-time leader in budget VHS throughout the 80s and early 90s.
In 1986, Simitar Entertainment had reached a deal with the United States Hot Rod Association to bring and promote its home video title Monster Madness.{{Cite magazine|last=McCormick|first=Moira|date=1986-05-03|title=Hot Rodders Aid In Simitar Drive|page=55|magazine=Billboard|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1986/1986-05-03-Billboard-Page-0055.pdf|access-date=2021-12-24}} By 1987, Minnesota-based Wedding Information Services had inked an agreement with Simitar Entertainment, whereas Simitar would release several titles on videocassette to mass merchandise and their video stores.{{Cite magazine|date=1987-04-04|title=Bridal Tape Is Marketed Through More Channels|page=49|magazine=Billboard|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-04-04-Billboard-Page-0049.pdf|access-date=2021-12-24}} Reach Entertainment produced sports home video programs for Simitar.
In 1991, Simitar scored a hit with the title Desert Shield, a documentary on the Gulf War.{{Cite magazine|last=Paige|first=Earl|date=1991-02-09|title=Simitar Clears Path Into Budget Video Spotlight|page=65|magazine=Billboard|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1991/1991-02-09-Billboard-Page-0065.pdf|access-date=2021-12-24}}{{Cite web|last=Lovell|first=Glenn|date=1998-05-18|title=Godzilla on DVD bus|url=https://variety.com/1998/scene/vpage/godzilla-on-dvd-bus-1117470952/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Variety|language=en-US}} On February 25, 1997, Simitar Entertainment had distributed the six-part documentary series Hollywood Starlets, produced by Promotions Plus in cooperation with Orphen Enterprises, which primarily focused on B-movie actresses.{{Cite web|author=|date=1997-02-26|title=SHORT TAKES|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/short-takes-304-1117435587/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Variety|language=en-US}} By April, 1997 Simitar was the first independent in the U.S. with DVD releases. On May 18, 1998, Simitar licensed the rights to 14 Jackie Chan movies, and several Godzilla movies to bring it onto DVD release, under license from United Productions of America, then-U.S. holder of the franchise. In 1999, Simitar's revenues rose from $5 million to $40 million in just three years.
On March 9, 1999, Titan Sports, Inc.—the parent company of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF)– and its music licensee, The Cherry River Music Co., sued Simitar Entertainment for copyright infringement relating to WWF The Music, Vol. 3 and won. Subsequently, in 2000, Simitar folded due to problems in the music division; the company's total assets were $19,570,059, with debts of $25,556,878. Simitar auctioned off its assets later that year, including its film library, which sold to Brentwood Communications, Inc. (BCI) for $215,000. Ed Goetz and Greg Glass went to BCI to start a DVD division.{{cite web | url=http://www.navarre.com/bci.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205183537/http://www.navarre.com/bci.aspx | archive-date=2006-12-05 | title=Welcome to Navarre Corporation }} In October/November 2003, BCI was purchased by Navarre Corporation. Naverre's assets have since been sold to Speed Commerce in 2012,{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2012/10/01/navarre-agrees-pay-50-million-speedfc/|title=Navarre agrees to pay $50 million for SpeedFC|date=October 2012}} then to WYNIT Distribution in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://direporter.com/industry-news/wynit-acquires-navarre-speed-commerce-s-retail-distribution-unit|title=WYNIT Distribution Acquires Navarre, Speed Commerce's Retail Distribution Unit|date=July 15, 2014}} Following the bankruptcy of WYNIT in 2017,{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/money/business/2017/09/14/wynit-files-ch-11-bankruptcy-owes-least-106-million/666030001/|title = WYNIT files Ch. 11 bankruptcy, owes at least $106 million}} Sereno Holdings acquired most of the company assets and relaunched Navarre Distribution as "Encore Software",{{Cite web|url=https://trademarks.justia.com/owners/sereno-ventures-llc-3843970/|title = SERENO VENTURES LLC Trademarks :: Justia Trademarks}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.trademarkia.com/company-sereno-ventures-llc-4950498-page-1-2|title=SERENO VENTURES LLC Trademarks (31) from Trademarkia - page 1|website=www.trademarkia.com}} and it is currently this "new" Encore which owns Simitar and the other former BCI labels.
Simitar releases
- 5th Day of Peace, American Bullfighters 1 & 2
- Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe
- Anima Mundi
- Awesome Fire Engines
- Awesome Police Cars
- Awesome Rides
- Awesome Mining
- Awesome Airplanes
- Awesome Bridges
- Awesome Trains
- Awesome Big Rigs
- Awesome Road Construction
- Awesome Building Construction
- Awesome Diggers & Dozers
- Awesome Ships
- Awesome Space
- Awesome Junior Dragsters
- Awesome Race Cars
- Awesome Monster Trucks
- Awesome Motorcycles
- Awesome A.T.V.'s
- Awesome Farm Machinery
- Bleeders
- BMX Freestyle
- Body Armor
- The Boys Club
- Canyon Dreams: Tangerine Dream
- Canyon Dreams/Desert Vision/True North
- Car Funnies
- Cartel
- Cause of Death
- Christopher Crocodile and his Wonderful World
- The Christmas Light
- The Christmas Brigade
- Chronos
- Dead & Buried
- The Dude Gang
- Fearless Hyena
- Frankenhooker
- God Told Me To
- Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
- Godzilla's Revenge
- (Godzilla vs.) Monster Zero
- Godzilla vs. Mothra (DVD / VHS)
- Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (VHS only)
- Grambling's White Tiger
- Greatest Hits (SWV album)
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- I Wanna be a Policeman Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/kLqa66eFwwA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150705024529/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLqa66eFwwA&feature=youtu.be Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLqa66eFwwA| title = I wanna be a policeman (1996) | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
- Jets
- Jack Frost
- Jungle Boy
- Kamikaze in Colour
- Korean War in Colour
- Laurel & Hardy Classics[https://www.amazon.com/Laurel-Hardy-Classics-Anthology-Utopia/dp/6303241697 Laurel and Hardy Classics Anthology Utopia] Amazon.com
- Mind Meld
- Mob War
- Mr. Superinvisible Cat.#7984 [https://www.amazon.com/Mister-Superinvisible-VHS-Dean-Jones/dp/6300230457]Amazon.com
- Mysteries of the Sphinx
- Mysterious Origins of Man
- Porsche
- The Real Untouchables
- Red Scorpion
- Rush Week
- Search and Destroy
- Serial Killers
- Sing a Long with Bugs Bunny
- Sing a Long with Daffy Duck
- Sing a Long with Popeye
- Sing a Long with Little Lulu
- Spplat Attack
- Strike Fighters
- Surgeon
- Story of a War (Story of Iran-Iraq (1980–1988) war part1–5, P: Ramel Inc./Simitar Entertainment Inc. 1989) Story of Iran-Iraq (1980-1988) war part1
- The Railroad Modeler
- Terror of Mechagodzilla
- To Kill With Intrigue
- Top Gun: The Story Behind The Story
- Two Evil Eyes
- Vampires (VHS only)
- Venom
- Vitsie Video Sitter
- Voodoo
- Wings Of Thunder
- Witchcraft (film series)
- Werewolf
- Wheels of Thunder
- Women Unchained
= Bob Hope =
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Minnesota Corporations}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Mass media companies established in 1985
Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2000
Category:1985 establishments in Minnesota
Category:2000 disestablishments in Minnesota