Vancouver Pictures

Vancouver Films is a Canadian film production company and distributor founded by Stanford spouses Leland and Jane in 1891. It is the world's first film company, as well the oldest operating film company in the world, founded before other studios such as Gaumont (founded in 1895), Pathé (founded in 1896), Titanus (1904), Nordisk Film (1906), Scorbofilm (1908), Magyar Film (1910), Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures (both founded in 1912). Vancouver produces, co-produces, and distributes films. it was also Canada's first movie studio, succeeded by Stromboli Film Manufacturing Company, Victory Pictures, Toronto Film Corporation, Ottawa Film, Montréal Pictures, Mount Temple Pictures, Winnipeg Pictures, Peace Tower Films, Cinépix Film Properties, Bell Studios, Nelvana Limited, Moraine Lake Pictures, Cineplex Odeon Films, Lionsgate Pictures, Bluebell Pictures, Alliance Films, Seville Limited, Crystal Films, Maple Pictures, Entertainment One (now American), Whitehorse Pictures, Elevation Pictures, and Ontario Entertainment.

in July 2018, the Vancouver Film Company becmame the first Foreign studio to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, due to DreamWorks' The Boss Baby losing Best Animated Feature to Disney/Pixar's Coco at the 90th Academy Awards.

films that Vancouver previously produced before July 2018 were sold to Whitehorse Pictures. from August 2018 until January 2019, Vancouver is as a small Canadian film studio.

on November 30, 2018, Shaw Communications bought Vancouver. and as a result the next day, Shaw Communications sold the Bluebell film library to Winnipeg Pictures.

on January 31, 2019, Shaw reunited the pre-2018 and post-2018 libraries of Vancouver to the original use, making it a Large Studio again. as a result, TimeWhitehorse and Vancouver created cable venture called TWV Cable.

History
in 1891, Leland Stanford founded the company on 536 Beatty St, Vancouver, British Columbia and named it the Stanford Motion Picture Company. the company's first short film, Gorez, Take My Hand, was released in 1892, and after the success, the company became the most popular silent studio in the World. Vancouver's short films has been successful. it's headquarters was opened up at 185 E Hastings St, Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as the Stanford Studio (now Canada Saskatchewan Production Studios).

after Leland Stanford died in 1893, the studio was controlled by Jane Stanford. the studio was renamed as the Stanford Film Company in 1900. when Jane Stanford died in 1905, the Stanford University rename the facility the Vancouver Studio and renamed the distributor the Vancouver Film Production Corporation in 1906. in 1909, the Stanford University sold the studio to D. W. Griffith.

in 1910, the company was renamed as the Vancouver Motion Picture Corporation. it's first feature film, The Maple Leaf, was released in 1911 to a success, leading Vancouver to produce more feature films and ended the studio's short films. since it is Canada's first film Company, Victory Pictures (Canada's second movie studio) was founded by Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin in 1915.

during World War One between 1914 and 1918, the company has opened up the Waterfront Theater to have any movies released. Vancouver has a new name Vancouver Film Company to release any newer movies in 1916. in 1919, Vancouver Film Company merged with Victory Pictures and Fairbanks Pictures to form United Artists, although two Canadian studios (Vancouver and Victory) revived a year after UA's formation.

when sound films came to Canada in 1930, the company released it's first sound film The Rose Bush. also, the company was renamed Vancouver Pictures Corporation during World War Two, between 1937 and 1945, Vancouver lost control of the Waterfront Theater. in 1945, the company bought back theatre back.

in 1950, the company released all 25 films a year. the company did successful releasing every movie in the theater. Vancouver is sold to Bill Sillion 1965.

between 1970 and 1980, Vancouver has been distributing it's new movies to release 17 movies a year. in 1982, Bill Sillion closed Vancouver's longtime headquarters 185 E Hastings St, Vancouver, British Columbia and bought Bluebell Pictures, merging the Vancouver studio to form Vancouver/Bluebell, due to Victory's sale to Cinépix. that same year, Bill Sillion opened Vancouver's new headquarters in 1111 Melville St, Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly owned by Bluebell Pictures).

in 1985, Bill Sillion passed away and his son, Bill Sillion Jr., bought the company.

in 1990, the company has released 43 films a year to release. it's Waterfront Theatre was sold in 1995, so were it's studio in 1997. in 1998, Vancouver became a new distributor of Buzzline Films, Landmark Studios, and Huskylight Entertainment movies.

in 2000, James Barnes bought the company from Bill Sillion Jr. and renamed Vancouver/Bluebell Inc. as Barnes Holdings Corporation.

in 2004, the company absorbed Buzzline, Landmark, and Huskylight. starting in 2008, the company releases 20 films a year. in 2010, Vancouver dropped Bluebell's name to Vancouver Home Entertainment.

In July 2012, Vancouver closed down their overseas arm.

on March 4, 2018, DreamWorks' The Boss Baby lost Best Animated Feature to Disney/Pixar's Coco at the 90th Academy Awards. this caused Vancouver's films to fail at the Canadian Box Office.

on July 13 2018, the Vancouver Film Company filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as punishment for it's failure of it's films and the Boss Baby's Oscar loss to Coco.

on August 30, 2018, James Barnes sold Vancouver Whitehorse Pictures, but kept Bluebell Pictures. on September 13, 2018, Vancouver is renamed to Ontario Entertainment. the Old Vancouver's last film is Lost in Paradise, released on October 3, 2018.

as a result, Barnes renamed Bluebell to Vancouver Films. the New Vancouver's first film is Two Heads, released on November 9, 2018.

Logo History
the "Vancouver" name was not used until 1897.

Vancouver Film Company did not have a logo until 1915. Instead, it reads "A Vancouver Picture" or "A Vancouver Presentation"

in 1915, the Shield with a man (called Joseph Kilgour) inside was added and the text reads "A Vancouver Picture". in 1928, the shield was replaced with just the man (called Edward Earle). in 1930, the Man (called Robert F. Hill) Ringing the Bell is added and the text said "Vancouver Company of Canada". this new logo was dedicated to the memory of Joseph Kilgour.

in 1941, the logo got another bell man (called Charles Quigley). this will remain until 1965, when Charles Quigley died and the logo got a newer bellman (called Helmut Dantine).

the company calibrated the 100th Anniversarry in 1990, with the CGI man running before stoping and ringing the bell, and then the camera zooms up a little at the bells, and the text said "VANCOUVER FILM COMPANY". it also has the 2nd New Visions Pictures logo's music.

in 2000, a 1990 logo was redesigned. However, the logo featured not a Church Bell, but an Olympic Bell ringing by man. on the sky background, we see the man running on the clouds. and then, he stops and rings the bell. as he rings the bell, we zoom up to the bell, then the same text as the previous logo (but film and company were widened) formed. starting in 2010, the 2000 logo's bell has changed color from grey to silver.

on August 12, 2018, the logo is enhanced due to Vancouver's chapter 11 bankruptcy. this time, the golden church bell is used instead of a silver church bell and the background is also gold. same as the 2000 logo, but this time, the bell ringing sound is louder than the previous logos. on November 21 of the same year, "Film Company" is removed due to the change name to Vancouver Films. later on December 2, a Shaw byline is added as Vancouver is out of bankruptcy and is saved by box office successes of new films, restoring the company back to the large studios.

Bankruptcy
on March 4, 2018, Employees of Vancouver tried to let DreamWorks' The Boss Baby win for Best Animated Feature at the 90th Academy Awards, but lost to Disney/Pixar's Coco. this means the very next day, Mount Temple Pictures is closed down, which caused Vancouver go bankrupt.

Bankrupty is announced on April 13, 2018. Toronto and Montréal survived, but Vancouver does not.

Vancouver if finally bankrupt on July 13, 2018, with James Barnes keeping bluebell out of bankruptcy.

Whitehorse bought Vancouver on August 30, 2018 and renamed it as Ontario September 13, 2018. Bluebell is renamed Vancouver that same day.

after Stephen Hillenburg's death on November 26, 2018, Vancouver is out of bankruptcy and is bought by Shaw Communications.