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{{DISPLAYTITLE:United Productions of America}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:United Productions of America}}
[[File:UPA logo.jpg|right|250px]]
[[File:UPA logo.jpg|right|250px]]
'''United Productions of America''', typically abbreviated as '''UPA''', was an [[United States|American]] studio founded in [[1941]]. Beginning as an animation studio, UPA produced several theatrical shorts for [[Sony|Columbia Pictures]] such as the ''Mr. Magoo'' series, and went on to find success with the television series ''Gerald McBoing-Boing'' it produced for CBS. When UPA's financial condition declined in the 1950s and 60s, it was purchased by producer [[Henry G. Saperstein]], who initially increased the quantity of television output it produced before turning the studio toward distribution instead. '''Benedict Productions''' {{Nihongo|ベネディクト・プロ|Benedikuto Puro}}, a subsidiary of UPA, co-produced three [[kaiju]] films with [[Japan]]ese studio [[Toho]] in [[1965]] and [[1966]]; UPA would go on to license numerous other Toho productions for release to theaters, television syndication, and home video from the 1960s<ref name="BoxOffice 6/1/1964">{{cite book|title=Hank Saperstein Obtains 'Giant Moth' From Toho|date=June 1, 1964|publisher=BoxOffice|page=W-2}}</ref> through 90s.<ref name="Variety 9/23/87">{{cite book|title=Godzilla, Japan's Monster Hit |author=Sciacca, Tom |date=September 23, 1987 |publisher=Variety|page=48, 119}}</ref><ref name="Variety 6/29/98">{{cite book|title=Obituaries: Henry G. Saperstein |date=June 29, 1998 |publisher=Variety|page=44}}</ref>
'''United Productions of America''', typically abbreviated as '''UPA''', was an [[United States|American]] studio founded in [[1941]]. Beginning as an animation studio, UPA produced several theatrical shorts for [[Sony|Columbia Pictures]] such as the ''Mr. Magoo'' series, and went on to find success with the television series ''Gerald McBoing-Boing'' it produced for CBS. When UPA's financial condition declined in the 1950s and 60s, it was purchased by producer [[Henry G. Saperstein]], who initially increased the quantity of television output it produced before turning the studio toward distribution instead. '''Benedict Productions''' {{Nihongo|ベネディクト・プロ|Benedikuto Puro}}, a subsidiary of UPA, co-produced three [[kaiju]] films with [[Japan]]ese studio [[Toho]] in [[1965]] and [[1966]]; UPA would go on to license numerous other Toho productions for release to theaters, television syndication, and home video from the 1960s{{sfn|Boxoffice|1964|p=W-2}} through 90s.{{sfn|Sciacca|1987|p=48}}{{sfn|Variety|1998|p=44}}


UPA became defunct in [[2000]] following Saperstein's death in [[1998]], and was sold to [[Classic Media]], itself acquired by DreamWorks in [[2012]] and then by [[Universal Pictures]] in [[2016]].
UPA became defunct in [[2000]] following Saperstein's death in [[1998]], and was sold to [[Classic Media]], itself acquired by DreamWorks in [[2012]] and then by [[Universal Pictures]] in [[2016]].
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*''[[The War of the Gargantuas]]'' (1966) [with Toho]
*''[[The War of the Gargantuas]]'' (1966) [with Toho]
===United Productions of America===
===United Productions of America===
*''[[Invasion of Astro-Monster|Monster Zero]]'' (1970) [American version<ref name="BoxOffice 6/6/1966">{{cite book|title=New Recording System Used For 'Astro-Monsters' Film|date=June 6, 1966|publisher=BoxOffice|page=10}}</ref>; released by Maron Films]<ref name="Variety 9/2/1970">{{cite book|title=Pair Toho Monsters; May Take $3-Mil; Maron Presses His Luck In New Duo|date=September 2, 1970|publisher=Variety|page=6}}</ref>
*''[[Invasion of Astro-Monster|Monster Zero]]'' (1970) [American version;{{sfn|Boxoffice|1966|p=10}} released by Maron Films]<ref name="Variety '70">{{harvnb|Variety|1970|p=6}}</ref>
*''[[The War of the Gargantuas]]'' (1970) [American version; released by Maron Films]<ref name="Variety 9/2/1970"/>
*''[[The War of the Gargantuas]]'' (1970) [American version; released by Maron Films]{{R|Variety '70}}
*''[[All Monsters Attack|Godzilla's Revenge]]'' (1971) [American version; released by Maron Films]
*''[[All Monsters Attack|Godzilla's Revenge]]'' (1971) [American version; released by Maron Films]
==Selected releases==
==Selected releases==
*''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]'' (TV 1978){{#tag:ref|UPA's version of ''Terror of Mechagodzilla'' was produced for and distributed to television. UPA sold its theatrical rights to the film to Bob Conn Enterprises, which subsequently released a differently-edited version as ''The Terror of Godzilla''; UPA would distribute the theatrical version, re-titled ''Terror of Mechagodzilla'', on television and video beginning in the 1980s.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=204, 205}}|group="note"}}
*''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]'' (TV 1978){{#tag:ref|UPA's version of ''Terror of Mechagodzilla'' was produced for and distributed to television. UPA sold its theatrical rights to the film to Bob Conn Enterprises, which subsequently released a differently-edited version as ''The Terror of Godzilla''; UPA would distribute the theatrical version, re-titled ''Terror of Mechagodzilla'', on television and video beginning in the 1980s.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|pp=204, 205}}|group="note"}}
*''[[ESPY]]'' (TV 1980s)
*''[[ESPY]]'' (TV 1980s)
*''[[Evil of Dracula]]'' (TV 1980s)
*''[[Evil of Dracula]]'' (TV 1980s)
*''[[Lake of Dracula|The Lake of Dracula]]'' (TV 1980s)
*''[[Lake of Dracula|The Lake of Dracula]]'' (TV 1980s)
*''[[Prophecies of Nostradamus|The Last Days of Planet Earth]]'' (TV 1980s)
*''[[Prophecies of Nostradamus|The Last Days of Planet Earth]]'' (TV 1980s)
In addition to all aforementioned films, UPA also held the U.S. television and home video rights to the following Toho films:
In addition to the aforementioned films, UPA held the U.S. television and home video rights to the following Toho films:
*''[[Godzilla (1954 film)#U.S. release|Godzilla, King of the Monsters!]]''<ref name="Broadcasting">{{cite book|title=NATPE 87: Westin Canal Place exhibitors|date=January 19, 1987|publisher=Broadcasting|page=182}}</ref>
*''[[Godzilla (1954 film)#U.S. release|Godzilla, King of the Monsters!]]''<ref name="Broadcasting">{{harvnb|Broadcasting|1987|p=182}}</ref>
*''[[Rodan (film)#U.S. release|Rodan]]<ref name="Broadcasting"/>
*''[[Rodan (film)#U.S. release|Rodan]]{{R|Broadcasting}}
*''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla#U.S. release|Godzilla vs. Mothra]]''<ref name="Broadcasting"/>
*''[[Mothra vs. Godzilla#U.S. release|Godzilla vs. Mothra]]''{{R|Broadcasting}}
*''[[The Explosion#U.S. release|High Seas Hijack]]''<ref name="Broadcasting"/>
*''[[The Explosion#U.S. release|High Seas Hijack]]''{{R|Broadcasting}}
<!--
==Selected home video releases==--->
==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
{{Notelist}}
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{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
===Bibliography===
===Bibliography===
*{{cite magazine|title=Hank Saperstein Obtains 'Giant Moth' From Toho|magazine=Boxoffice|date=1 June 1964|publisher=Boxoffice Media LP|ref={{harvid|Boxoffice|1964}}}}
*{{cite magazine|title=Godzilla, Japan's Monster Hit|magazine=Variety|last=Sciacca|first=Tom|date=23 September 1987|publisher=Cahners Publishing}}
*{{cite magazine|title=Obituaries: Henry G. Saperstein|magazine=Variety|date=29 June 1998|publisher=Cahners Publishing|ref={{harvid|Variety|1998}}}}
*{{cite magazine|title=New Recording System Used For 'Astro-Monsters' Film|magazine=Boxoffice|date=6 June 1966|publisher=Boxoffice Media LP|ref={{harvid|Boxoffice|1966}}}}
*{{cite magazine|title=Pair Toho Monsters; May Take $3-Mil; Maron Presses His Luck In New Duo|magazine=Variety|date=2 September 1970|ref={{harvid|Variety|1970}}}}
*{{cite magazine|title=NATPE 87: Westin Canal Place exhibitors|magazine=Broadcasting|volume=112|issue=3|date=19 January 1987|publisher=Broadcasting Publications|ref={{harvid|Broadcasting|1987}}}}
*{{cite book|last=Ryfle|first=Steve|authorlink=Steve Ryfle|title=[[Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of "The Big G"]]|publisher=ECW Press|date=1 April 1998|isbn=1550223488}}
*{{cite book|last=Ryfle|first=Steve|authorlink=Steve Ryfle|title=[[Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of "The Big G"]]|publisher=ECW Press|date=1 April 1998|isbn=1550223488}}
{{Companies}}
{{Companies}}

Revision as of 03:29, 11 October 2021

UPA logo.jpg

United Productions of America, typically abbreviated as UPA, was an American studio founded in 1941. Beginning as an animation studio, UPA produced several theatrical shorts for Columbia Pictures such as the Mr. Magoo series, and went on to find success with the television series Gerald McBoing-Boing it produced for CBS. When UPA's financial condition declined in the 1950s and 60s, it was purchased by producer Henry G. Saperstein, who initially increased the quantity of television output it produced before turning the studio toward distribution instead. Benedict Productions (ベネディクト・プロ,   Benedikuto Puro), a subsidiary of UPA, co-produced three kaiju films with Japanese studio Toho in 1965 and 1966; UPA would go on to license numerous other Toho productions for release to theaters, television syndication, and home video from the 1960s[1] through 90s.[2][3]

UPA became defunct in 2000 following Saperstein's death in 1998, and was sold to Classic Media, itself acquired by DreamWorks in 2012 and then by Universal Pictures in 2016.

Selected productions

Benedict Productions

United Productions of America

Selected releases

In addition to the aforementioned films, UPA held the U.S. television and home video rights to the following Toho films:

Notes

  1. ↑ UPA's version of Terror of Mechagodzilla was produced for and distributed to television. UPA sold its theatrical rights to the film to Bob Conn Enterprises, which subsequently released a differently-edited version as The Terror of Godzilla; UPA would distribute the theatrical version, re-titled Terror of Mechagodzilla, on television and video beginning in the 1980s.[6]

References

This is a list of references for UPA. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]

  1. ↑ Boxoffice 1964, p. W-2.
  2. ↑ Sciacca 1987, p. 48.
  3. ↑ Variety 1998, p. 44.
  4. ↑ Boxoffice 1966, p. 10.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Variety 1970, p. 6
  6. ↑ Ryfle 1998, pp. 204, 205.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Broadcasting 1987, p. 182

Bibliography

  • "Hank Saperstein Obtains 'Giant Moth' From Toho". Boxoffice. Boxoffice Media LP. 1 June 1964.
  • Sciacca, Tom (23 September 1987). "Godzilla, Japan's Monster Hit". Variety. Cahners Publishing.
  • "Obituaries: Henry G. Saperstein". Variety. Cahners Publishing. 29 June 1998.
  • "New Recording System Used For 'Astro-Monsters' Film". Boxoffice. Boxoffice Media LP. 6 June 1966.
  • "Pair Toho Monsters; May Take $3-Mil; Maron Presses His Luck In New Duo". Variety. 2 September 1970.
  • "NATPE 87: Westin Canal Place exhibitors". Broadcasting. Vol. 112 no. 3. Broadcasting Publications. 19 January 1987.
  • Ryfle, Steve (1 April 1998). Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of "The Big G". ECW Press. ISBN 1550223488.

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