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22 MONEY BEHIND THE SCREEN
It will be seen that there is a great difference in strength and number between the small, the medium sized and the large circuits. The position of the latter with regard to the number of halls and the seating capacity controlled at the end of 1935 was as follows :
The 9 largest circuits controlled : —
984 halls with 1,290,000 seats, or 22 per cent, of the halls and' 33 per cent, of the seats in this country.
The 4 largest circuits : 801 halls with 950,000 seats, or 18 per cent, of the halls and 24 per cent, of the seats in this country.
The 2 largest circuits : 559 halls with 653,000 seats, or 13 per cent, of the halls and 17 per cent, of the seats in this country.
In order of size these circuits were : Gaumont-British Picture Corp. and its subsidiaries ; Associated British Cinemas ; Union Cinema Group ; Odeon Theatres ; H. D. Moorhouse Circuit ; A. B. King ; County Cinemas ; E. J. Hinge ; Shipman & King. According to the Cinematogi-aph Exhibitors' Association (Moyne Committee Evidence) 9 circuits controlled 652 first run theatres, amounting to approximately 50 per cent, of all first run halls, which in turn control the booking situation.
21. The two largest circuits are affiliated to renter-producer concerns, while the two next in size have some more or less definite link with renting organisations. Of the smaller circuits at least one is controlled by executives engaged in production (Wainwright) and at least two by renters (Paramount and General Film Distributors). Apart from the link indicated in paragraph 11 for County Cinemas, there is no evidence of joint interests between producers or renters and any other cinema enterprise.
22. Changes during 1936 have brought about a rapid increase in the size of the larger and medium circuits, while a number of smaller ones have crossed the 20 mark. It appears from notices published in the trade press that the four largest circuits alone have increased their total cinema holdings from 801 to 1,055 halls (approx.). If the total number of cinemas in the country has increased at the same rate as last year, this would mean that the 4 largest circuits now control some 23 per cent, of all halls (instead of 18 per cent, at the end of 1935). The combined strength of Gaumont-British and Associated British Picture Corporation, Ltd., is stated to be 635 cinemas or 14 per cent, of the assumed total. It appears reasonable to assume that the tendency most marked to-day is a decisive and continuous strengthening of the position of the major circuits, as compared with that of the single halls and of the smallest groups. (On the parallel tendency for closer links between renters and exhibitors see paragraphs 11, 15 and 18.)