Canadian Film Digest (Aug 1971)

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Digest
Date:
Aug 1971
Volume:
Canadian Film Digest (Aug 1971)
Leaf #:
0009
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System, Canada, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Picture Pioneers, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:

Canadian Film Digest

Editors: Dan Krendel (1971-72), Garth Drabinsky (1972-76)

Canadian Film Digest (1971-76) was owned and published by Nat Taylor’s Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., and initially edited by Dan Krendel, who had edited What’s New? (1942-74) and originated Ballyhoo (1952-61) for nationally-dominant chain, Famous Players Canada, Ltd., also Taylor’s exhibition partner. Despite these ties to a Paramount-controlled theatre chain, the magazine nonetheless aimed to provide news and features about all aspects of the industry across Canada, exhibition, distribution and production. The Digest began when an attempted 1970 renewal of Canadian Film Weekly (1942-70) was short-lived. Taylor decided to relaunch under an entirely new title with a more contemporary, colour layout. Taylor later hired young Garth Drabinsky to edit, impressed by his initiative publishing Impact (1972), a lobby give-away for moviegoers. Drabinksy’s interest turned to film producing in 1977, letting the Digest come to an end, although he and Taylor continued to collaborate in building the original 18-screen Cineplex at Toronto’s Eaton Centre. Canadian Film Digest also published an annual directory Canadian Film Digest Yearbook (1971-86), which similarly continued Canadian Film Weekly Year Book (1951-70), and subsequently became Film Canada Yearbook (1986-2007). Because Canadian Film Digest originated in the Canadian Film Weekly, which had incorporated Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1917-57), which in turn had merged with Canadian Universal Bulletin (1915-18), the magazine dated its roots back to 1915, a single thread of ownership publishing these main periodicals and annuals of English Canada’s film press.

– Paul Moore, March 2024

Date Added:
June 13, 2024
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MULTI THEATRES AND AUTOMATION MESH cont'd. tions are shown in the larger auditoriums but in view of the fact that Sudbury has a French speaking population in excess of 40%, it was decided to play French films exclusively in the small theatre, particularly those of Canadian origin. This has met with excellent response. The City Centre Cinemas in Sudbury were built and decorated in the modern concept with all modern facilities and conveniences. The City Centre is a downtown shopping mall, consisting of 40 retail shops with parking facilities for 750 cars and has all the amenities of shopping plazas usually located on the outskirts. Included in the facilities is a new Holiday Inn Hotel, which boasts of an indoor swimming pool, a highly prized asset in a city like Sudbury. Many dual theatres have turned to automation and have worked out arrangements where one projectionist can handle two booths. In the City Centre Cinemas one projectionist will extend his services to the three auditoria. In one large booth, three pairs of projectors stand and are fully automated. Prior to opening time, the projectionist threads all machines and gets them set. Thereafter he sits at a console and becomes a technical expert. He pushes buttons which activate the opening of curtains, the turning off of lights and the starting of the projection machines. In point of fact, he can start the three shows almost instantaneously. The changeovers, of course, are automatic and in his special Jocation the projectionist can keep his eye on all the equipment and make sure that it is functioning perfectly at all times. It is quite evident that the City Centre Cinemas add another step in the march of automation in the motion picture business.» Further change will continue to come and it is almost impossible to predict what things will be like in another decade. It is interesting to note that Odeon Theatres recently opened a new dual piggy-back in Sudbury. Needless to say, the motion picture patrons in Sudbury have reacted very 10 enthusiastically to their new ’‘Cinema Showplace’’. Motion picture exhibitors and distributors have finally come to realize what producers seemed to have suspected some time ago, that the motion picture theatre is no longer all things to all people. Rather, motion pictures today, with few exceptions, cater to segmented audiences. These people would rather sit in a small crowded auditorium than in a comparatively large empty one. In order to be successful, a theatre must, today, cater to these fragmented audiences. The new City Centre Cinemas in Sudbury gives new evidence of this. Main Lobby providing entrance to all three cinemas SOME OF THE MANY DIGNITARIES AND OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS WHO ATTENDED THE OPENING OF THE CENTRE CITY CINEMAS Father andSon. Harry S. Mandell, Executive V.P. of 20th and Peter H. Mandell, V.P. and Chief Counsel of F.P. t . "3h Lorne Greer, Chief Projectionist for 20th, with Pat Travers, International V.P. of the 1.A.T.S.E.