Rose & Ruby Productions

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Rose & Ruby Productions
Company typeEvent and film production company
Founded30 June 1977[1]
Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario
,
Canada[1]
Key people
Damian Lee (President)
David Mitchell (Vice President, until circa 1990)[2]

Rose & Ruby Productions, also known as Rose and Ruby Pictures,[3] was a Canadian sports promotion and film production company founded in 1977. It was one of the country's notable producers of televised sports programming before establishing itself as a purveyor of genre movies in the 1980s and early 1990s. For much of its history, the company was anchored by directors Damian Lee and David Mitchell.[4][5][6]

History[edit]

Rose & Ruby Productions' originally specialized in the organization of competitions for "everyman" athletes, which it placed on television for the benefit of a corporate sponsor, a concept that Lee had popularized in the Canadian market shortly before the creation of Rose & Ruby itself.[7] Many of these programs were seen on the Canadian version of Wide World of Sports broadcast on the CTV network.[7] The company later graduated to sports featuring professional or established amateur athletes, often for CTV as well.[8][9] In 1977, Rose & Ruby tried to set up a professional tennis tournament for the following March at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens to replace the dormant Rothmans International, but the event did not proceed.[10] In 1983, the company also applied to the CRTC for a license to operate a pay sports television channel.[11]

While it did not get its own channel, the emergence of premium cable outlets looking to satisfy Canadian content obligations, such as First Choice, opened the door to branch out into fiction content.[12][13] Rose & Ruby also took advantage of the tax shelter opportunities that were synonymous with Canadian film financing at the time[14][15] although, according to Lee, the boom of international pre-sales during the second half of the 1980s allowed the company to distance itself from that sometimes stigmatized model.[5] Bodybuilder Franco Columbu, who contributed to several of Rose & Ruby's mid- to late 1980s features, was a partner in the company and was listed as its American representative at the time.[3] In later years, Rose & Ruby also named veteran cameraman and director of photography Curtis Petersen as its Vice President of Production.[16]

In 1993, Rose & Ruby entered a multi-picture financing partnership with Menahem Golan's 21st Century Films, which was struggling to find banking support. It included National Lampoon's Last Resort (21st Century was initially mentioned as co-producer but later only as international distributor), Death Wish V: The Face of Death and the less commercial Crime and Punishment.[17][18] However, Lee was not credited in the final version of Crime and Punishment, and although he remained on board as producer of the other films, the Rose & Ruby label was phased out from them as well.[19] After that batch of Golan collaborations, Lee focused his efforts on another outfit headquartered on the same premises, called Richmond House, to whom former Rose & Ruby associate David Mitchell briefly collaborated early on.[20][21]

Filmography[edit]

Sports (select list)[edit]

Year Title Broadcaster/Distributor
1978–1984 The Great Canadian Challenge/The Gillette Challenge Fitness CTV[22][23]
1978–1982 Datsun Special Gymkhana CTV[7][24]
1979 GMC Jimmy Showdown Gymkhana CTV[7][25]
1979 Canadian Frisbee Championships Frisbee CTV[26]
1981 Cointreau Cup Racquet sports CTV[27][28]
1981–8? Yesterday in the CFL Gridiron football CTV[9]
1982 Hitachi Mile Running CTV[8]
1982 Avon Women's Marathon Running CTV [29]
1983 National Fitness Test Fitness CTV (unconfirmed)[9]
1985 WPSA Hardball Squash CTV
Rose & Ruby Prods (video)[30]

Fiction[edit]

Year Title Domestic distributor Notes
1983 Copper Mountain: A Club Med Experience First Choice (TV premiere)[31]
1984 Reno & the Doc First Choice (TV premiere)[32]
Pan-Canadian Film Distributors (theatrical)[33]
1986 Screwball Academy Rose & Ruby Productions[34] Also known as Loose Ends
1986 Busted Up Cineplex Odeon Films[34]
1987 Circle Man Cineplex Odeon Films[34] Also known as Last Man Standing
City of Shadows Cineplex Odeon Films[34] With Shapiro Entertainment
1988 The Miles Ahead First Choice (TV premiere)[35]
Cineplex Odeon Films (home video)[36] 		Also known as Hot Sneakers
Watchers Alliance Releasing[34] With Concorde Pictures and Carolco Pictures
1989 Food of the Gods II Alliance Releasing[34] With Concorde Pictures and Carolco Pictures

Also known as Gnaw: Food of the Gods II

Thunderground Cineplex Odeon Films[37]
1990 Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe Cineplex Odeon Films[38]
Ski School Famous Players[39]
(Cineplex Odeon Films in some sources)[40]
1991
(or 1987) 		Deadly Descent First Choice (TV Premiere)[41]
1992 Baby on Board Cinépix/Famous Players Distribution[42] With Sandy Howard Productions and World Entertainment Network
1994 National Lampoon's Last Resort C/FP Video (video premiere)[43] Uncredited[44]
With Amritraj Entertainment[44]
1994 Death Wish V: The Face of Death Cinépix/Famous Players Distribution[45] Uncredited[46]
With 21st Century Film Corporation[47]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Ontario Business Registry; Rose & Ruby Productions". ontario.ca. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Metropolitan Toronto City Directory (Central ed.). Toronto: R.L. Polk & Co. 1990. p. 662.
  3. ^ a b "Rose and Ruby Pictures, Inc. (1395886)". bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov. 5 January 1987. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  4. ^ Thompson, Patricia, ed. (1989). "The Industry in Canada". International Motion Picture Almanac. Quigley Publishing: New York. p. 669. ISBN 9780900610400.
  5. ^ a b Algie, Jim (15 November 1989). "Movie 'space cops' come to Thornbury". The Sun Times. Owen Sound. p. 3  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  6. ^ Kipen, David M.; Bales, Kate, eds. (1994). Film producers, studios, agents, and casting directors guide (4th ed.). Los Angeles: Lone Eagle Publishing. p. 139. ISBN 0943728622.
  7. ^ a b c d Laverty, Gene (13 June 1980). "Another "ordinary people" event". Calgary Herald/TV Times. p. 50  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  8. ^ a b Wayne, Jayne (7 August 1982). "Hitachi pioneers jogging sponsorship approach". National Post. p. 28  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  9. ^ a b c "National Fitness Test". Recreation Canada. Vol. 41, no. 1. Vanier City: Canadian Parcs/Recreation Association. February 1983. p. 27.
  10. ^ Ryan, Allan (20 October 1977). "World's top tennis pros Toronto bound". The Toronto Star. p. C1  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  11. ^ McKee, Ken (8 May 1983). "Sportsline hosts bids for pay TV". The Toronto Star. p. E3  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  12. ^ Fitzgerald, Paul (17 March 1983). "Actors weary as Pay TV goes shopping for 'Canadian content'". The Montreal Gazette. p. A-6  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  13. ^ Adilman, Sid (21 April 1983). "Eye on Entertainment". Toronto Star. p. D1  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  14. ^ Druckman, Howard (15 June 1985). "Dennis is a one-man movie industry". Toronto Star. p. E2  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  15. ^ "Limited number of units available; Exceptional investment & tax shelter 'Busted Up'". The Sun. Vancouver. 1 December 1984. p. E8  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  16. ^ "Cinematographers/Directeurs photo". Who's Who in Canadian Film and Television/Qui est qui au cinema et à la télévision au Canada (in English and French). Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press; Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. 1991. pp. 54–55. ISBN 0889202109.
  17. ^ Honeycutt, Kirk (14 February 1993). "'Death Wish V', fantasies in 21st Century's plans". The Hollywood Reporter. p. C-2  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) – via The Oakland Tribune.
  18. ^ Ayscough, Suzan (8 February 1993). "Coreys top 21st Century 3-film sked". Variety. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  19. ^ "Commitments: Location Promotion & Services". Annual Report 92–93. Toronto: Ontario Film Development Corporation. 1994. p. 17.
  20. ^ Thompson, Patricia (Canada), ed. (1997). "The Industry in Canada". International Motion Picture Almanac. Quigley Publishing: New York. p. 668. ISBN 0900610573.
  21. ^ "Projects: Films". hdsound.fr. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  22. ^ "These are Hamilton's fittest". 8 May 1978. p. 19  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  23. ^ Wayne, Jayne (25 July 1984). "Gillette steps ups Challenge event". National Post. p. 11  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  24. ^ "TV Sports". The Province/TV Times`. Vancouver. 11 June 1982. p. 8  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  25. ^ Laverty, Gene (21 December 1979). "GMC Jimmy Showdown: Filmed behind backs of Calgarians". Calgary Herald/TV Times. p. 59  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  26. ^ Nolan, Mary K. (30 July 1979). "Rookie steps up to take Frisbee championship". The Hamilton Spectator. p. 8  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  27. ^ "Barlow advances to finals". The Burlington Gazette. 14 July 1981. p. 34  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  28. ^ Rennie, Gary (9 February 1982). "Racquet Sports". The Windsor Star. p. B3  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  29. ^ "TV Sportsweekend". The Toronto Star. 5 November 1982. p. B5  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  30. ^ "Squash News". 30 November 1985. p. 51  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  31. ^ Bawden, Jim (26 July 1986). "Prime Time". Toronto Star. p. B3  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  32. ^ "Monday". The Winnipeg Sun/TV Week. June 3, 1984. p. 12  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  33. ^ "Reno & the 'Doc' theatrical release advert". Toronto Star. 30 November 1984. p. F9  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  34. ^ a b c d e f Bidd, Donald, ed. (1990). "Directory of producers and distributors". Film/Video Canadiana 1987–1988. Montreal: National Film Board of Canada; National Archives of Canada; National Library of Canada; La Cinémathèque québécoise. p. 682. ISSN 0836-1002.
  35. ^ "November 8, 1988 Daytime movies". Niagara Falls Review. 5 November 1988. p. 8-A  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  36. ^ "Hot Sneakers". vhscollector.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  37. ^ "Cineplex Odeon Theatre Guide". The Toronto Star. 9 October 1989. p. C7  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  38. ^ "Cineplex Odeon Cinema Guide". The Toronto Star. 1 March 1991. p. D7  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  39. ^ "Famous Players advertisement". Vancouver Sun. 26 January 1991. p. H11  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  40. ^ "What's On – At the Movies". The Edmonton Journal. 15 February 1991. p. C4  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  41. ^ "Tuesday April 16, 1991". The Sun-Times/TV Times. Owen Sound. 12 April 1991. p. 35  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  42. ^ Salem, Rob (11 December 1992). "Made-in-Toronto comedy destiny for video and TV". The Toronto Star. p. C10  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  43. ^ National Lampoon's Last Resort (VHS). Toronto: C/FP Video. 1994. 11580.
  44. ^ a b Ayscough, Suzan (21 June 1993). "Oh brother! Clinton inks for part in 'Resort'". Variety. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  45. ^ "Capsule movie reviews". The Edmonton Journal. 25 February 1994. p. D4  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  46. ^ Shot in Ontario Master Spreadsheet (Up to 2021) (Report). Ontario Film Commission. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  47. ^ "Commitments: Location Promotion & Services". Annual Report 92–93. Toronto: Ontario Film Development Corporation. 1994. p. 17.
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