The film daily year book of motion pictures (1934)

Associated Talking Pictures, while Regal Films have the largest British product, including British Gaumont, Gainsborough and British Lion. The number of British feature pictures distributed during 1933 was about 75, as compared with 30 in 1932. Censorship in Canada showed no change during the year. There are still eight Censor Boards, one for each province with the exception of the small province of Prince Edward Island. Recently a resolution was presented to the Government by the Womens' Institutes favoring national censorship. Most of the theaters have taken out musical licenses from the Canadian Performing Right Society during the year, and the prevailing rate is 10 cents per seat per annum. Newfoundland gets its pictures mainly through distributing companies in St. John, N. B. and gross rentals for Newfoundland showed considerable decline in 1933. The finances of that portion of the British Empire are now being reorganized under a joint commission pf Englishmen and Newfoundlanders. On October 2nd a reduction in express rates averaging 20% went into force throughout Canada and Newfoundland. It is expected that this will be a saving to the theater owners at a rate of $40,000 per year. In a few centers there are still some theater deliveries by truck, but most of the film moves by express. The Post Office does not handle film and parcel post is limited to 15 pounds. The number of United States tourists visiting Canada during 1933 was much less than in any one of the previous five years. It is hoped that this loss will be offset to some extent in 1934 by increased exports of beer and spirituous liquors to United States points. This movement began in considerable volume during the month of December. Motion picture producers and distributors in the United States will benefit considerably by the changes which have taken place in the exchange market. During 1932 the average discount on the Canadian dollar in New York was about 15%. In 1933 the average discount was not more than 5%. In December the Canadian dollar actually reached a premium in the United States. This improvement in exchange is equal to an increase of 10% in the net rentals remitted to the United States. This was offset to some extent by a decline in the gross rentals due to the slowness in the return of prosperity. The discussions with regard to the Code in the United States has had some reaction in Canada and a movement has started to establish a Conciliation Board in Toronto to improve business practices and adjust disputes for the Province of Ontario. If this is successful, similar boards may be established in the other five distributing centers. — • — SURVEY BY PROVINCES ALBERTA AND SASKATCHEWAN Theaters operating in this territory, which principally comprises Alberta, now total 86. Its distribution center is Calgary, where the censor board charges $4 per reel for viewing pictures. Exchange license fee for the provinces is $250 annually. The territory also covers the Western part of Saskatchewan. • BRITISH COLUMBIA Wired theaters running in this province total 64 houses. Exchanges pay a yearly license fee of $300. The censor charge is $3 per reel for each reel of 1,000 feet for the first sound print and $2 a reel for each additional sound print. Appeal may be taken from the provincial censor board's decisions to an appeal board consisting of three members and appointed by the Attorney-General of the province. MANITOBA AND SASKATCHEWAN In this territory, which consists of Manitoba, the part of Ontario west of Lake Superior and eastern Saskatchewan, there are 91 theaters wired for sound reproduction. Winnipeg has the largest number of theaters of any town in the territory and it is there that the censor board has its headquarters. Fee for reviewing pictures is $2 per reel in each province. Manitoba has an appeal board but there is none in Saskatchewan. License for operating an exchange costs $255. • MARITIME PROVINCES Territory comprises provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, in addition to the independent Dominion of Newfoundland. Theaters operating now total 75 houses, principally located in the larger cities of St. John, N. B ; Halifax, N. S.; Moncton, Sydney, N. S. ; Glace Bay, N. S. and St. John, O "EXPLOITETTES" — A REGULAR FILM DAILY FEATURE O 1003