c I N E M A G • , R A D E NEW 5 • Smith to top Famous post in 'QC I~!~~ _f~~ ~~Y~,u~on~~!~,!. the tentative trial date set to parently been the) qttalyst MONTREAL - The controversy guage other than French as tion to the Parisien Cinema in resolve the dispute between which caused Duke to go to surrounding Roland Smith's quickly as possible; to play a Montreal and a redevelopment Daryl Duke and Izzy Asper Asper for financial assistance in sale of the Outremont Theatre more active role in promoting of the Palace Cinema also on was temporarily forgotten at a Quebec-made films, and to St.Catherine Street. over control of Vancouver In- the first place. dependent Television station CRTC license approval was recent press conference when prepare an inventory of short Over 20 more Cinemas Unis CKVU. one of the conditions of the Smith, in his new role as vice­ films from Quebec for expo­ theatres will be equipped with On February 13, of this year, sale agreement but before the president of Cinemas Unis/ sure through its network of Dolby stereo in 1987-1988 United Theatres, outlined ex­ theatres. and six theatres will be equip­ the CRTC approved transfer of CRTC began its July 1986 tensive theatre renovation Smith also took apparent de­ ped to show 70mm films. control of the station from hearings, the transfer of con­ plans for Quebec. light in assuring his audience Western Approaches Ltd. trol was again being disputed As senior executive of the that repertory and art cinema Cinemas Unis will publish whose prinCipal shareholders by Duke and K1enman. An Quebec wing of the Famous in Quebec was alive and well two 40-page magazines are Daryl Duke, Norman K1en- RCMP investigation into 38 al­ Players theatre chain, 44-year­ and will be showing at Cine­ (French and English) twice man and a company that was ledgedly forged letters of sup­ old Smith has been given carte mas Unis theatres. yearly, including a calendar of formed on March 1986 that is port for Canwest's ownership blanche for all booking and Cinemas du Parc, with three films for the art and repertory owned 50.01 per cent by of the station put the CRTC operation poliCies. Joining screens on Park Ave., will be­ cinemas. Asper's Canwest Broadcasting hearing on hold for several Ltd and 49.9 per cent by West- months during the winter of Smith as assistant to the vice- come The Bogart art cinema David Lint, a vice-president president is Carole Boudreault, with one French, one English ern Approaches. 1986. By the time the CRTC of Famous Players who at­ The deal to transfer control approval of the sale to Canwest former director of distribution and one subtitled screen. The tended the Montreal press for Les Films Rene Malo. Capitol Theatre on St. to Canwest stems from a loan came through on February 13, conference with Jack Berns­ agreement which was made by 1987, Duke was claiming that Smith told his audience at Catherine Street East will be- tein, preSident, and Walter Montreal Sheraton Centre that come the Nouveau Cinema, the two parties when Canwest it was a moot decision,' as the Senior, chairman and CEO, an­ guaranteed a bank loan for $4 agreement to sell had had an new management is fully con­ and the Kent will become the nounced that Ron Emilio, for­ scious of the specific nature of chain's west end repertory the­ million in 1979, and in 1982 expiry date of Dec. 31 , 1986. merly of Cineplex Odeon, has forwarded the company Asper contends that the deal English and French-language atre. (The Capitol is next door been appointed senior vice­ film audiences in Quebec. to the only rep theatre cur­ another $8 million. The agree- stands, as the delay was caused president of Famous Players as ment gave Canwest the option by events beyond the control In a renewed effort to win rently active in the east end, of April 27. the patronage of both language the Ouimetoscope; the Kent is to buy out Western Ap- of either party. groups Smith said Cinemas a few blocks from the only rep Lint estimated the cost ofre- proaches shares. in the station, While Canwest and Western Unis promises: to strengthen theatre in the west end, Cine­ novations and additions in which Asper chose to do in Approaches have been cleared relations with distributors of ma V.) 1987 - including a total of 26 1984. The takeover has had a of any wrong-doing concern­ Quebecois and foreign French­ A dozen new screens are new screens in Montreal, Mis­ stormy protracted course, ing the letters, an as yet un­ language films; to bring out planned with two major sissauga, Vancouver, Winnipeg, complicated by the presence named individual is believed to dubbed or subtitled versions changes in the immediate fu­ Calgary, Brampton - at close to of Charles Allard (owner of be subject to charges of fabri­ originally released in a lan- ture being a multi-screen addi- $14 million. Super Channel and CITV in Ed- cation of evidence and monton) whose takeover bid obstruction of justice. $4.6M offering for Lance et compte Consternation in Ottawa MONTREAL While the Syndication, as opposed to of a 4,600 unit limited partner­ OTTA W A - Approval for a new decision on the new Ottawa brokerage firm Midland Doh­ U.S. network programming is ship in a total offering of Ottawa television station will station March 2, 1987. erty Ltd. continues to take or­ the most appropriate distribu­ $4,600,000 at $1,000 per unit have "serious consequences" He said there are conflict of ders, hand over fist, on a tion venue for He Shoots He (minimum of 5 units). for the CTV television net­ interest issues in the setting up 84,600,000 public offering for Scores which will have a The offer, which closes April work, one of the private net­ of the new service. Lance et ComptelHe Shoots localized appeal, says Ross, in 15, 1987, is the first public of­ work's affiliate companies has "Unless the CRTC has a hid­ He Scores II, initial efforts to areas throughout the U.S. fering on a Quebec-made tele­ warned. den agenda to destroy the CTV sell the first series of episodes where hockey is a popular vision series since 1980. Standard Broadcasting presi­ network I find their decision to U.S. independent television sport. Domenico Vitale, invest­ dent Alan Slaight said his com­ inconceivable," he said. stations have not been as suc­ Part of the initial U.S. reluc­ ment executive with Midland pany is considering an appeal A press release from CjOH­ cessful. tance to purchase the first Doherty says orders totalling of the Canadian Radio-televi­ TV states "It is a decision that A record-breaking 2.7 mil­ series, says Ross, was the lack $3 million were written during sion and Telecommunications has damaging implicatiOns for lion viewer rating for the final of a pilot episode and the use the first week of the offering. (CRTC) decision. the structure of the CTV net­ episode of the first 13-part of composite scenes from He says the popular appeal Standard owns CjOH-TV, work. .. " series on Radio-Canada, and episodes one, two and three. of the first series combined CTV's Ottawa affiliate, a station "The decision will have seri­ relative popularity in the En- . (The dubbing of the French­ with limited risk on invested that will be in competition ous consequences, not only for gUsh-language market (CBC),­ language version for CBC capital is what makes the offer­ with the new service. CTV, but for all the local Ot­ do not guarantee immediate created wide-spread criticism ing so attractive. The CRTC gave Toronto's tawa television stations both acceptance in the U.S. market, in English Canada. An English­ An aggregate total of Baton Broadcasting Inc. ap­ English and French." says Gerald Ross, in charge of htnguage version, starting with 84,224,000 in financial partici­ proval to operate a new En­ Spokesmen for Baton Broad­ sales of the series for Com­ episode nine, increased the pation has been agreed to by glish-language station, choos­ casting were not available for munications Chiude Heroux ratings from 770,000 for Telefilm Canada, O'Keefe Bre­ ing it over four other appli­ comment at press time. Inc. episode eight to 1,200,000 for wing Company Ltd., Ultramar cants. Siaight said Standard Broad­ episode nine). The fourth Canada Ltd. and Canada Trust. The new Ottawa service will casting outlined concerns at Ross told Cinema Canada episode of the first series is As well, agreements for co­ not be affiliated with the CTV the CRTC hearing, insisting that the initial foray into the currently being re-shot for use production of the series have network even though Baton that it is the wrong time and U.S. market was met with a as a pilot in the U.S. market and been entered into between the owns Toronto's CFTO station wrong place to add a new tele­ "cool reception" and that the at MIP-TV. producer, TFl (France) and - the private network's flag­ vision station. With the televi­ Montreal-based production SFP (France). The French fi­ He Shoots He Scores II is ship station. Instead, Nation's sion industry under such company is, as a result, looking nancial participation is currently on location in Swit­ Capital Television Incorpo­ economic stress, he said such a for a U.S. sub-distributor.