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

FACTS ABOUT EXHIBITION QUEBEC is the only province in Can¬ ada where motion picture theatres are open on Sunday. It is also the only prov¬ ince in which drive-ins are banned, as well as the only one in which no person may enter a licensed movie house who is under 16. It is hoped that the first change in government in many years may lead to the end of the juvenile ban, which was instituted for safety reasons only following a tragic fire in 1927. EFFORTS to have the amusement tax ended or reduced are being continued by Canada’s provincial and regional motion picture theatres’ associations. Reduction in civic assessments, licence fees and seat taxes are other aims that have won occa¬ sional recognition. RADIO and television are getting larger shares of the theatre advertisers’ dollar. Theatre operators have been asking news¬ papers to end the old and unfair business of charging a much higher rate for am¬ usement advertising, a practice which be¬ gan in the days of strolling actors. On occasion these didn’t pay their printing and advertising bills. DIVERSIFICATION of interests, a pol¬ icy among USA theatre operators in the past few years, has come to Canada. The¬ atre chains are converting profitless the¬ atres into profitable bowling alleys and building or buying into more. They are also building motels and entering the TVstation business. NEW THEATRES: Since January 1, 1960 four theatres have been built in Can¬ ada, of which one, in Alta., was a drivein. Of the three auditorium houses, BC, Alta, and Sask. each had one. Five stand¬ ard houses and two drive-ins are on the planning boards. In 1959 eight theatres opened, six of them drive-ins. CLOSINGS: From January 1 to Septem¬ ber, 1960 62 standard houses and two drive-ins closed. In all of 1959 71 four-wall theatres and 11 drive-ins shuttered. From January 1 to September, 1960 six theatres were put out of business by fire, while in 1959 three theatres were destroyed by fire. AVERAGE admission price in 1958 was 52c, up three cents over that of 1957. Quebec’s 61c was the highest in Canada and Prince Edward Island’s 40c the low¬ est. These figures do not include amuse¬ ment taxes. The per capita expenditure in 1958 was $5.21 compared with $5.46 in 1957 and $6.04 in 1956. FILMS released for theatrical booking in 1958 included 653 35 mm. features and 178 16 mm. features. French-language features totalled 130 in 35 mm. and 56 in 16 mm., while 119 35 mm. ones were in other languages. Of the short subjects 114 cartoons were in 35 mm. and 35 in 16 mm. The total of all types of films released theatrically in 1958 was 1,432, with 1,084 being in 35 mm. and 348 in 16 mm. CAPACITY utilized of theatre seating was 21 per cent in 1958, the same as for 1957 and one per cent lower than 1956. The record figure was that of 1946 — 37.6 per cent. PAYROLL: The collective wages and salaries of the 6,691 men and 5,085 women employed in theatres in 1958 (11,776 em¬ ployees compared to 12,668 in 1957 and 13,661 in 1956) was $17,110,735 against $17,669,425 in 1957 and $17,893,731 in 1956. Forty-nine film exchanges working from 124 offices paid 546 male employees $2,685,591 and 556 female workers $1,419,086. Exchange payrolls declined in totals, the drop from 1957 being about $230,000. THEATRES OPERATING (35 mm.): So many theatres are closing and reopening in Canada that it is difficult to determine how many are operating at a particular time. However, Canadian Film Weekly records show that in September, 1960 there were 1,466 standard theatres (not includ¬ ing two with Cinerama and 10 offering live drama) and 231 drive-ins. A year ago CFW figures showed that 1,528 standard houses and 234 drive-ins were doing busi¬ ness. 25