This is an orange stock certificate issued by the Trans-Beacon Corporation in the 1960s. It was issued and later cancelled. Offered as a collectible.

The Trans-Beacon Corporation traces its roots back to Howard Hughes, who sold off his stake in RKO Pictures during the mid-20th century. The new owners spun off a vast film library of over 700 motion pictures for television syndication under the brand Movie Time USA. In a unique twist, the syndication was largely backed by C&C Cola, created to compete with Coca-Cola and Pepsi. By 1966, the company had reorganized and formally adopted the Trans-Beacon Corporation name, positioning itself as both a theater operator and film distributor.

At its peak, Trans-Beacon controlled theaters and was involved in bids for high-profile properties, but financial troubles soon followed. By the early 1970s the company went bankrupt, and United Artists acquired the valuable film collection. Newspaper coverage from the period highlighted Trans-Beacon’s attempts to expand aggressively into both movie theaters and real estate before its collapse.

The certificate features a striking lighthouse vignette, symbolizing guidance and stability, with bold orange borders and detailed engraving work typical of mid-century American securities. Cancellation punches and stamps mark its redemption, but its design and backstory make it a vivid piece of entertainment and consumer culture history.

An issued and cancelled orange stock certificate from the 1960s with a distinctive lighthouse vignette.