Use of Automated Video in a Chain of Minitheaters

A chain of 60-seat automated-video minitheaters has been established across Canada from Vancouver, B.C., to St. John's, Newfoundland. Each installation has a Sony U-Matic color videocassette player Model VP-1000, an Advent Video-Beam™ color television projection system and sufficient electronics for everything to be operated by one person — the ticket seller in the boxoffice. Concessions are managed by vending machines. Six sources of programming are under contract with negotiations continuing to obtain more, and local Sony dealers are retained to provide installation, operator training and system maintenance. Although cassettes are now used, videodisc systems are being actively considered. Plans include a year of consolidation in 1974 along with a deliberate move into the U.S. market and examination of licensing possibilities in Europe, Australia and elsewhere.

Print ISSN

0361-4573

Published

1974-10

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J13438