Canadian Film Weekly Year Book of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry (1960)

Our Business By N. A. TAYLOR THE YEAR IN REVIEW TO many in our business the most startling event of the last 12 months was the merger of the Columbia-Para¬ mount distribution and sales facilities. This kind of possibility was predicted here last year. The cost of distribution in Can¬ ada is comparatively high in relation to potential grosses and the largest portion of reve¬ nue accrues from the more important circuits. It is not unlikely there¬ fore that this merger sets a pattern for others in the future. For many theatres at¬ tendances were down in 1959, which follows a trend of recent years. The dollar loss was offset in some cases by an increase in admission prices. Un¬ seasonable weather for a good part of the year and excessive rain in many areas may be partly to blame. Yet one must consider economic conditions which have been poorer than in previous years and caused greater unemployment. In addition some potential blockbusters did not find the anticipated favor with the public. There has been a further shrinkage in the number of theatres, particularly in small situations and in subsequent runs in larger cities. Early runs continue to become more valuable and the public more selective. In line with the trend in the United States roadshow attractions on a reservedseat basis are growing in number. Not all are necessarily successful and it is only in the larger cities that such policy finds real support. Notwithstanding the general decline in attendance, business in the drive-in thea¬ tres seems to hold up comparatively well. Nevertheless, there has been very little additional construction, principally be¬ cause most suitable locations have already been covered. While there were a number of additional installations of 70 mm. equip¬ ment, it is not likely that this practice will spread much further. The cost of importing 70 mm. prints into Canada is so great that distributors, rather than ex¬ hibitors, are shying away from them. Greater competition for theatres in the more populated areas is foreshadowed by the granting of eight second-station TV licences by the Board of Broadcast Gov¬ ernors, all of which will be on the air in 1961. Because of the competitive factors one may assume that there will then be better TV shows in Canada. Foreign films dubbed into English con¬ tinue to enjoy an increasingly larger per¬ centage of playing time in Canadian thea¬ tres. There is now less public and exhibitor opposition and as the dubbing improves there will be greater acceptance. At any. rate, the public now expects to see films produced anywhere and everywhere in the world and does not look solely to Holly¬ wood for its screen entertainment. Feature film production is still struggl¬ ing to establish itself on even a low pla¬ teau. While there are now ample studio facilities, experienced crews and suitable acting talent, it still remains for a Cana¬ dian film to achieve worldwide acceptance or acclaim, an event which might well start a stampede towards Canadian pro¬ duction or at least establish it as a per¬ manent business. In the final analysis, how¬ ever, a continuing and prosperous feature film production industry must be founded on Government subsidy in some form. At this time it is premature to make a positive prediction on the future of Tele¬ meter. The test in Etobicoke has proven that the public will pay to see in the home what piques its interest. Many im¬ portant people in our business have pre¬ dicted that some form of pay TV must eventuate. This test seems to have proven that success depends on programming. Un¬ doubtedly wider use of Telemeter would enable greater flexibility and variety in at¬ tractions offered and widen the vista of potentiality. The Sixties promise to be most exciting in our business. Before the end of this decade we may expect to see changes which will make our present-day business unrecognizable in many ways. Mobility and fast change are now an important factor and those who want to survive must do so in this kind of atmosphere. Neverthe¬ less, one bright light continues to shinegiven the right incentives, a good portion of the public still wants to attend motion picture theatres. 23