When 99 Cent Cinemas opened in Toronto in the 1970s (The Roxy) and 1980s (The Bloor, The Fox, etc.) people who wanted cheap went to them. As a result many wonderful people (Robert “Bob” Huber) were put out of business.
I focused on offering quality. They are long gone. I am here.
When video stores opened everyone flocked to them.I offered something that could not be gotten at a video store. Myself.
The video stores are mostly gone. I am here.
Lillian Gish put it best when she said, “The bad taste of poor quality lingers long after the sweet taste of the bargain is gone.”
The first motion picture theatre built as a Cinema in Canada and The United States was Montreal’s OUIMETOSCOPE. Originally a 1,000 seat house it had been cut down to a 50, a 300 and a 500 seat theatre.In 1986 they asked me to go there.
When I insisted on charging a premium price they said, “Our audience won’t pay it.”I said, “They will.”
They said, “It is on your head if no one comes.”
Upstairs in the 500 seat room they showed a then new movie at cheap prices. They did 12 shows in the 3 days I was there. I did 4 shows in those 3 days at my prices. Each show saw the room filled. Hundreds were turned away for lack of space.
My shows are about ideas.
My shows have always been about ideas.
Everyone else from Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese on down is about entertainment, bagatelles.
I can and have spoken for hours on one single animated cartoon.Why? Because the subject not only warranted it, it demanded it.
Entertainment is forgotten as soon as it is consumed. Last year’s BIG movie is this year’s forgotten one.
Ideas, great ideas, set fire to the world.
Out of my tiny CineForum in Toronto a fire has burned and is burning that has set fire in the minds of many who came and come here. I mean that not metaphorically but literally.
The CineForum is a literal light burning in the darkness.Many efforts have been and continue to be made to put out that light however the light burning here is the Divine Light.
Many have tried. Many try. It is a light that exists unto itself. It can not be put out.
Samuel Rothafel (the “Roxy” THE ROXY was named after) opened a near 6,000 seat theatre. He charged Legit Theatre prices. Why? Because, starting with David Wark Griffith, the movies grew up.
When Walt Disney brought his film, “STEAMBOAT WILLIE” to New York everyone but Rothafel said, “There is no market for short films.” Rothafel (Roxy) said, “I can fill my Colony Theatre with your cartoon.” The Colony had 1,700 seats.
Roxy packed his theatre. In the process he established the names of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.Roxy made them both stars.
Gary Topp is a swell guy. Not saying he isn’t. H’s done a lot of great work. Not saying he hasn’t.
But Gary is a dead voice speaking from a dead industry.
It is an industry I have never wanted to be part of.
The Ouimetoscope in Montreal is gone now. It died shortly after it turned its back on me.
“Mr. Hartt, we had complaints about your show,” I was told by the theatre’s management.I replied, “Upstairs in the room you would not let me have you did twelve shows. You pulled 60 people at your prices. Down stairs at my prices you did 4 shows, pulled 1,200 people. Hundreds had to be turned away. With that many people I expect a few to complain. However, if I were you I would be saying, ‘Thank you. How soon can you come back?'”
They said, “You are never coming back.”
They are gone. I am here.
When I brought Grim Natwick, credited as the creator of Betty Boop (though, naturally, some deny it) and the principal animator on the character of Snow White for Walt Disney) to Toronto for not one day but three in 1980 Grim said, “When you speak I hear Max Fleischer and Walt Disney.”
Gary Topp, like I said, is a nice guy. However no one ever said that about Gary. Not saying Gary has not got worthwhile things to say. He has. I know he has as I have listened to him.
I will say that when the greatest artist in the history of animated cartoons says he hears Max Fleischer and Walt Disney when he hears me speak, well, that is a damn good reason to come to everyone of my animation programs.
Jerry Beck’s a helluva good guy,too. I have all his books.So is Leonard Maltin. Neither got a fan letter from Chuck Jones in which he said, “Your thoughts are close to my heart.”
David Mirvish is a real credit to his father, Ed. David has done and is doing tremendous work. However no one ever said to David Mirvish, “The the best part of what you offer is what he has to say.”
Yuk Yuk’s has a host of venues. A few years back after doing a presentation that packed their Yonge Street Theatre. They asked me to work with them. I learned they wanted me to work for them. After waiting longer in their office than anyone waited for Godot I said, “I’m out.”
Mark Breslin is good. However he is not in the same league as Emo Philips. Hell, except for this one he’s not even in the same sentence.
Does this meaning I’m going to talk at these animation programs? Nope. I am letting the films speak for themselves.
What I have to say can wait until 9pm when that program is over. –Reg Hartt 09-09-2026.
