From the Archives:
Lights, camera, action

October 16, 2009

This image is an example of the University of Saskatchewan Film Society fall series film synopsis. The society logo, a candle illuminated projector, was designed by Nik Semenoff of the Department of Art.

On Oct. 31, 1960, the University of Saskatchewan Graduate Student Society wrote the Canadian Film Institute seeking advice on establishing a film society. Their initiative was successful, and in February 1963, the University of Saskatchewan Film Society was born. Membership was open to all and included several members of faculty who served on the executive.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the film series were well attended with crowds averaging between 200 to 300 members. Films were shown at various locations including the upper MUB, the Cinema Twins, the Public Library and the Roxy and Paramount theatres. By the mid-1980s, membership had sharply declined. The number of video stores in Saskatoon exploded while the price of video machines became affordable to most families. The society also found itself in direct competition with the Public Library who lent video tapes for free.

Saskatoon was not an isolated case. The records (MG 121) show Calgary and Edmonton Film Societies were also in decline. The final showing came on the evening of April 12, 1986 at the Public Library Auditorium. The film was Yojimbo, the 1961 Samurai comedy directed by Akira Kurosawa. Attendance was exactly 30.