Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

78 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD July 6, 191* Canadians Disagree as to Policy Conditions Vary Widely in Different Provinces — Toronto Working Under Full Steam and Montreal Wants to Close for Summer. A FEATURE of the present summer situation in moving picture circles of the Dominion of Canada is the diversity of action among exhibitors of various cities. The attitude of the theater men of Montreal, for instance, is in direct contrast with the exhibitors of Toronto; while the exhibitors of Winnipeg seem to be following still another line of action. In Vancouver the exhibitors are more or less isolated with their views, while conditions in Xew Brunswick are quite unsettled because of the recent enactment of a provincial law providing for an amusement war tax. The decision of many Montreal theater managers is to close up shop for the summer, while in Toronto every exhibitor is working full steam ahead and does not ( talk of closing for any period. Probably more than a dozen large and small picture theaters of Montreal were closed temporarily or permanently during a period of two weeks. How many more will follow suit remains to be seen. In Toronto several small theaters have been reopened, and one theater, to seat 1,000 persons, is being built. Two downtown houses of prominence have just been redecorated for the summer season. Quite a number of Toronto houses are also giving special matinees regularly for children and Otherwise. Several more theaters, in the central section, have reached the decision to open morniu. In Winnipeg the Provincial Exhibitors' Association has issued a printed appeal tor more patronage in order, it is declared, to maintain a high standard of show s. A fewweeks ago all the theaters of any account in Winnipeg raised their evening admission prices from 20 cents to 25 cents. One or two small houses in Winnipeg have been closed, but at least one theater has been reopened after being remodeled. In Vancouver the exhibitors recently took joint action to make an important change in policy. They had been paying the provincial war tax for -even months, hut the tax bills became such a formidable item that it was resolved to call upon the patrons of the theaters to pay their own tax. Slightly higher admission prices have also been the rule in Vancouver, Regular Houses Unaffected by Converted Theater*. Another development in various cities has been the con■ n of various dramatic and vaudeville theaters into moving picture houses for indefinite periods. The Grand Opera House, Toronto, for instance, has been presenting pictures for two months, and this fact lias apparently not affected the patronage at regular picture theaters. In Montreal several dramatic and vaudeville theaters have been used for the presentation of picture productions. These have been His Majesty's, Princess and Orpheum theaters. The outstanding success among Montreal theaters has been Loew's theater, it is declared Both Toronto and Montreal have had about eighty moving picture theaters, although Montreal has a population of some .villi. (HIO more than Toronto. Yet Montreal theaters do not seem to be doing so well as those in Toronto. One reason for this difference, it is argued, is that no less than forty Toronto exhibitors have been advertising regularly in newspapers and others have been paying considerable attention to neighborhood advertising. There has been an increase in the tariff on imported films, a reel tax has been announced, provincial and civic licenses have been increased, or are about to be increased, and practically every province now imposes a war tax on patrons. In spite of these assessments the picture business in Toronto and siime other cities has been considered good. Another activity that is more or less general is the selling of theaters or leases. In many cities one or more theaters have changed hands during the past few months, and there always seems to be a buyer whenever a theater is to be sold in a number of cities. This is partially rlue to a movement on the part of two or three large exchange companies to acquire theaters. Canadian Embargo Hits Theater Publicity Order in Council Bars Importation of Photographic Matter. Officials Refuse to Pass Posters and Other Advertising. FOLLOWING the passage of an order in council at Ottawa, providing an embargo on the importation of photographic matter, fruit, high-priced automobiles and other articles, the Canadian customs department refused to pass posters, printed pictures and other advertising matter accompanying moving picture releases, which wert being brought into Canada from the United States. Jusi how the customs officials could class lithographs and printec stills as photographs is difficult to see, but this is what was done. The Exchange Managers' Association at Toronto immediately got busy in the matter. It was declared that the exchanges and exhibitors could get along better without the posters than without the photographs. No decision has yet been made by the government. Manitoba Association Appeals to Public Printed Declaration Asks for Better Backing of Picture Show as a Necessary Industry. THE Provincial Exhibitors' Association of Manitoba has made an appeal to Winnipeg citizens for increased patronage because local moving picture theaters are facing a serious crisis, it is declared. The support of the public is required, it is asserted, in order to maintain the nt high standard of moving picture entertainment. In the printed appeal, which has been widely distributed, the exhibitors tell of the manner in which the governments have been inclined to view the theaters as a luxury rather than a necessity. The declaration is made that the future existence oi a number of picture theaters depends to a great extent upon the response of the public to a "genuine effort to supply a high-class product at a slight increase over the old rates. Unless tin response continues — yes, unless it increases — there is no doubt but that certain moving picture theaters in this city will close their doors, either part or all the time " The comments of several representative exhibitors are also published. Manager Davis showed where current presentations included high-salaried and prominent stars, orchestras and music often written expressly for the one production: yet the admission price was not high. Manager W. 1'. Wilson, of the Lyceum theater, pointed out that it had cost nisi $975 to bring "My Four Years in Germany" through the Canadian customs alone. A year or two ago the duty and wai tax on the same feature would have been only $270. Mr. Wilson also referred to tHe various dominion, provincial and civic taxes and license fees. Canada Decides to Alter Tax on Reels Proposed Flat Rate of 15 Cents a Reel a Day as Used Not Fair to Small Theaters. INTIMATION has I. ecu received by the Moving Picture Exhibitors' Protective Association of Ontario that the Canadian Federal Government has decided to make a change in the tax mi reels. It was proposed to impose a lax of IS Cents a reel a day on all films as they were used. It was pointed out. however, that a flat rate would prove a hardship on the small tin. iters, where as many reels of pictures are shown regularly as in the large houses. Further, it was shown that the large theaters paid more for their , and a tl.it rale would be a proportionately higher assessment on the rental charge for pictures for the small theai i The Canadian government has not yet made any public announcement regarding a change in arrangements for this tax. nor has the nature of the revision been stated to the Ontario association. Considerable correspondence has passed between representatives of the association and the government, and the object was obtained, it is declared, without the necessity of sending a delegation to Ottawa from Ontario cent Announcement has been made by the Ontario association that a new secretary and organizer for the organization has been appointed. The man > In. sen is a Mr. Scott, of the Bryant Press, Limited, Toronto. At a recent general connce of the association in Toronto M. R. Nutting, a former publisher of Montreal, was named for the office, but Mr. Nutting's appointment was not confirmed. President Bailie, with other officers, is trying to instill more co-operative enthusiasm into the exhibitors of Ontario outside of Toronto. Mr. Bailie has been able to line up many Toronto exhibitors for the association, but he declares that the outside exhibitors "are asleep" Not long ago lit sent out ninety personal letters to out-of-town exhibitors, asking for their support, and he received only three replies. The association is busy with several legislative matters, but he finds it difficult to secure the co-operation of many exhibitors.