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United Cinemas as they were called, were<br />
HORSING AROUND: Guzzo prides itself on its unique attractions, sucli as this in-theatre carousel.<br />
This combination of top-quality equipment,<br />
unique attractions and an emphasis on customer<br />
service helps to explain Cinemas Guzzo's<br />
striking success as an independent theatre chain<br />
in a country whose exhibition industry has long<br />
been characterized as a duopoly.<br />
All of which inevitably leads to questions<br />
about Guzzo's lawsuit, an unprecedented step<br />
taken by the circuit against what Vmce Guzzo<br />
has claimed is a concerted effort by Famous<br />
Players and Cineplex Odeon to deny him firstrun<br />
product for his theatres. (Neither Cineplex<br />
nor Famous would comment on Guzzo's lawsuit.)<br />
It's also the latest effort in the Guzzo<br />
family's fight to let all<br />
shot at all first-mn product.<br />
independents have a<br />
That state of affairs didn't happen overnight,<br />
he explains. "For a number of years, my dad<br />
was a second-run theatre operator because that<br />
was the only thing that could happen as an<br />
independent. Odeon, which later became<br />
Cineplex Odeon, and Famous Players, or<br />
only ones who had access to any [first-r<br />
product. Later on, the market opened up a<br />
with [Cineplex Odeon founder] Ga<br />
Drabinsky and his [similar] lawsuit. Once<br />
had [won] the lawsuit and bought up Ode<br />
he continued opening up the market. Th;<br />
when we [upgraded our status] from a seco<br />
run theatre operator to a first-run theatre op<br />
ator."<br />
That was in the mid-' 80s, but the ease u<br />
which Cinemas Guzzo made that move did<br />
last,<br />
says Guzzo. "We continued always<br />
build in 'non-compete' zones, very, very<br />
away—20 kilometers [12.4 miles] in soi<br />
cases—^from major markets and suburbs.<br />
^<br />
created markets that had never existed bef(<br />
in Quebec; markets of40,000 to 50,000 peo]<br />
now had their eight-plex. Before, they woi<br />
have to travel 20 kilometers to bigger cities<br />
share a six- or eight-plex with 350,000 peoi<br />
of that city."<br />
"We got the product. [But] in 1986, we mu<br />
a deal with Cineplex Odeon whereby th<br />
were to officially represent us to distribute)<br />
Unofficially, though, they did not do ve<br />
much representation." Guzzo also claims l\<br />
despite the C$300,000 (US$201 ,000) paid a<br />
nually to Cineplex Odeon as what he term;<br />
"non-obstruction fee," Guzzo's zone for safe<br />
playing chain product was significantly i<br />
duced over time. After 10 years, that relatio<br />
ship went bust. Marci Davies, Cineple><br />
senior vice president of communicatior<br />
termed the agreement "a booking arrangeme<br />
[to] supply film product to their theatre.'<br />
30 BOXOFFICE Response No. 421
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