Blair Entertainment
Blair Entertainment was a United States television production and syndication company that operated from the early 1980s until 1992.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Blair Entertainment was an American television production and distribution company active primarily in first-run syndication. Its immediate corporate predecessor, Blair Video Enterprises, was established in February 1981 by John Blair & Company through Blair Television, with Richard C. Coveny as president. The enterprise entered the television syndication market in 1982 with The Rock 'n' Roll Show and expanded its activities through the acquisition of Rhodes Productions in 1983. Rhodes Productions had a substantial history before becoming part of the Blair organization. Jack E. Rhodes originally formed the company in 1970 as a Taft Broadcasting subsidiary to distribute Hanna-Barbera cartoons. The business later handled syndicated programming including Hollywood Squares and moved its headquarters from New York City to Los Angeles. In 1975, Rhodes relaunched the company as an independent operation after moving from Taft and Filmways-related distribution arrangements. During the late 1970s, it became associated with programs such as High Rollers, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and the Canadian sketch-comedy series Second City Television, commonly known as SCTV. Blair acquired Rhodes Productions in late August 1983, and the company was formally renamed Blair Entertainment in October of that year. Jack E. Rhodes remained connected to the operation as a special sales consultant. The renamed company retained or handled distribution rights for several established properties, including SCTV, The Cisco Kid, and a revival of Divorce Court. Divorce Court became one of the most commercially successful and durable programs in Blair's syndicated portfolio. The company pursued a mixture of game shows, music programming, comedy, drama, and action-adventure. Its subsequent launches included Break the Bank in 1985, produced with participation from Storer Communications and Hubbard Broadcasting, and Strike It Rich in 1986. Blair also considered additional projects, including the pilot Sweethearts, although that program did not proceed to broadcast. In 1990, Blair entered the syndicated action-adventure field with Dracula, developed with RHI Entertainment and Action Media Group. The series ran for one season. Stuntmasters, launched in 1991 with GRB Entertainment and All American Television, became Blair's final new series. Blair Entertainment was never the principal business of the wider Blair organization, whose main activity involved representing television stations in advertising-sales arrangements. In 1992, Blair Entertainment shut down after difficulties obtaining further investment. All American acquired the company's program library soon afterward. Much of that library subsequently became associated with Fremantle, while rights connected with the Divorce Court franchise followed a separate chain involving New World Entertainment and later Twentieth Television's distribution operations. Since 2019, Divorce Court has been syndicated by Fox First Run. Blair Entertainment is therefore best understood as a historical television syndication label and production operation rather than a continuing consumer-facing entertainment brand.
History
Blair Entertainment developed from two earlier television distribution operations. Jack E. Rhodes formed Rhodes Productions in 1970 as a subsidiary of Taft Broadcasting in New York City. Its initial purpose was the distribution of Hanna-Barbera cartoons, but the company broadened its portfolio in 1971 by handling the syndicated version of Hollywood Squares. Around the same period, its headquarters moved to Los Angeles, and Jack Pearson International became its international supplier. In 1975, Taft renamed its original Rhodes operation Taft H-B Program Sales. Rhodes then moved to Filmways, where he relaunched Rhodes Productions as Filmways' domestic distribution arm. The company took the nighttime version of Hollywood Squares with it and introduced High Rollers. It also became involved with Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, a late-night soap-opera satire produced by Norman Lear's T.A.T. Communications Company. In 1977, Rhodes debuted Second City Television, the Canadian sketch-comedy program that became one of the most recognizable properties associated with its library. Rhodes Productions separated from Filmways in 1978 and operated independently as a production company and syndicator. It retained distribution rights to SCTV and Disco Break and later obtained syndication rights to a Canadian revival of Let's Make a Deal in 1980. In 1981, it added Pitfall, another Canadian-originated game show. Both of those programs were produced by Catalena Productions, which subsequently collapsed amid financial and legal difficulties. A separate Blair operation began in February 1981, when John Blair & Company, through Blair Television, established Blair Video Enterprises. Richard C. Coveny served as president. The unit entered first-run syndication in 1982 with The Rock 'n' Roll Show, a music magazine format. In late August 1983, Blair acquired Rhodes Productions. The transaction brought Rhodes' program relationships and distribution rights into the Blair organization, and Rhodes continued as a special sales consultant. The company adopted the Blair Entertainment name in October 1983. Under that identity, it continued distributing properties such as SCTV and The Cisco Kid and handled a revival of Divorce Court. Divorce Court became particularly profitable and formed an important part of the company's business. Blair's output also included new game-show projects. Break the Bank premiered in 1985 with involvement from Storer Communications and Hubbard Broadcasting, followed by Strike It Rich in 1986. Kline and Friends also developed the pilot Sweethearts for Blair, but the project did not reach series broadcast. During the early 1990s, Blair attempted to broaden its portfolio beyond game and variety formats. Dracula, launched in 1990 with RHI Entertainment and advertising-sales agent Action Media Group, represented the company's move into syndicated action-adventure drama; it lasted only one season. In 1991, Blair worked with GRB Entertainment and All American Television on Stuntmasters, which became its final new series. Blair Entertainment closed in 1992. Its operations had generally remained secondary to Blair Television's core business of representing stations for advertising sales, and the entertainment division was unable to secure enough additional investment to continue. All American acquired the program library soon after the shutdown. Much of the library later passed to Fremantle. The Divorce Court franchise followed a different rights history, remaining connected first with Storer and later with New World Entertainment and Twentieth Television's distribution unit. Fox First Run has syndicated the series since 2019. Blair Entertainment consequently survives mainly through the continuing circulation and ownership history of programs developed or distributed during its operating period.
- 1992
Blair Entertainment shuts down
[1]The company ceases operations after failing to attract additional investors; All American acquires its library soon afterward.
- 1991
Stuntmasters becomes the final new series
[1]Blair debuts Stuntmasters with GRB Entertainment and All American Television.
- 1990
Dracula enters syndication
[1]Blair collaborates with RHI Entertainment and Action Media Group on the syndicated drama Dracula.
- 1986
Strike It Rich launches
[1]Blair adds Strike It Rich to its first-run syndicated game-show lineup.
- 1985
Break the Bank launches
[1]Blair introduces Break the Bank in partnership with Storer Communications and Hubbard Broadcasting.
- 1983
Blair acquires and renames Rhodes Productions
[1]Blair acquires Rhodes Productions in August and formally adopts the Blair Entertainment name in October.
- 1981
Blair Video Enterprises is established
[1]John Blair & Company establishes Blair Video Enterprises through Blair Television, with Richard C. Coveny as president.
- 1978
Rhodes becomes independent
[1]Rhodes Productions separates from Filmways and resumes independent production and syndication activities.
- 1977
Second City Television debuts
[1]Rhodes Productions debuts the Canadian sketch-comedy series Second City Television, later widely known as SCTV.
- 1975
Rhodes is relaunched under Filmways
[1]Jack E. Rhodes relaunches Rhodes Productions as Filmways' domestic distribution arm after Taft renames its original operation.
Products and positioning
A U.S. television syndication and production company focused on supplying broadcast stations with first-run entertainment formats, acquired library programming, and syndicated series across game shows, comedy, music, and drama.
Syndicated court show
Divorce Court
A revival of the long-running courtroom-format television franchise distributed by Blair Entertainment. Divorce Court was among the company's most profitable syndicated properties and remained commercially significant after Blair's closure. Its later rights history involved New World Entertainment and Twentieth Television's distribution operations, with Fox First Run handling syndication from 2019.
Sketch comedy · 1977
Second City Television (SCTV)
A Canadian-originated sketch-comedy series first debuted through Rhodes Productions in 1977. Blair retained distribution rights after acquiring Rhodes Productions, making SCTV one of the best-known inherited properties in the Blair catalog.
Music magazine · 1982
The Rock 'n' Roll Show
Blair Video Enterprises' first syndicated series, launched in 1982. The program used a music-magazine format and marked the Blair organization's entry into the first-run television syndication market.
Game show · 1985
Break the Bank
A syndicated game show introduced by Blair Entertainment in 1985 in collaboration with broadcasting groups Storer Communications and Hubbard Broadcasting. Kline and Friends was associated with its production.
Game show · 1986
Strike It Rich
A game-show property added to Blair Entertainment's syndicated lineup in 1986. It was another collaboration with Kline and Friends and followed the company's earlier Break the Bank project.
Action-adventure drama · 1990
Dracula
A syndicated action-adventure drama launched in 1990 by Blair Entertainment with RHI Entertainment and Action Media Group. It represented Blair's attempt to expand beyond game, comedy, and music programming, but lasted only one season.
Stunt and action program · 1991
Stuntmasters
A program launched in 1991 through a collaboration among Blair Entertainment, GRB Entertainment, and All American Television. It was Blair's final new series before the company ended operations.
Brand decisions
1992
Close Blair EntertainmentStrategyBackground
The entertainment operation was a secondary activity alongside Blair Television's station advertising-sales representation business and could not secure additional investors.
Action taken
Blair Entertainment shut its operations in 1992.
Aftermath
All American acquired the program library shortly afterward, and parts of the catalog later passed to other rights holders including Fremantle.
1990
Expand into syndicated action-adventure dramaProduct launchBackground
Blair sought to diversify beyond game shows, music programming, comedy, and inherited library titles.
Action taken
The company partnered with RHI Entertainment and Action Media Group to launch Dracula.
Aftermath
The series lasted one season and did not establish a continuing action-adventure franchise for Blair.
1983
Acquire Rhodes ProductionsM&ABackground
Blair Video Enterprises sought to expand its syndication business by acquiring the established Rhodes Productions operation and its program relationships.
Action taken
Blair acquired Rhodes Productions in late August and retained Jack E. Rhodes as a special sales consultant.
Aftermath
The acquired company was formally renamed Blair Entertainment in October, and Blair inherited distribution interests including SCTV, The Cisco Kid, and Divorce Court.
1983
Adopt the Blair Entertainment identityStrategyBackground
Following the Rhodes Productions acquisition, the Blair organization needed a unified name for its expanded production and distribution activities.
Action taken
The operation was officially renamed Blair Entertainment in October 1983.
Aftermath
The Blair name was used for the company's subsequent syndicated game shows, dramas, and library-distribution activities until its closure.
Sources1 sources
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