Catalena Productions

Catalena's first known production was a TV show featuring Stan Kann, a vacuum cleaner enthusiast and frequent guest on The Tonight Show, 13 episodes of which were taped at the Burnaby studios of BCTV.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874202/chucks-choice/|date=August 14, 1979|first=Chuck|last=Davis|page=A5|title=Chuck's Choice|newspaper=The Province|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022}} Another 19 episodes were taped in Edmonton at CITV, which would later sue the production company, claiming its contract entitled the station to a portion of gross proceeds earned from syndication.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874224/james-adams-on-television-and-radio/|date=March 5, 1980|page=G5|first=James|last=Adams|title=James Adams on television and radio|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|location=Edmonton, Alberta, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203065146/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874224/james-adams-on-television-and-radio/|url-status=live}}

In March 1980, Catalena announced it had secured a deal with Monty Hall and Stefan Hatos-Monty Hall Productions to produce 200 episodes of a revival of Let's Make a Deal in Vancouver for syndication to Canadian and U.S. stations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874242/lets-make-a-deal-vancouver-gets-a/|date=July 23, 1980|page=1F|first=Peter|last=Wilson|title=Let's make a deal! Vancouver gets a quiz show|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203065147/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874242/lets-make-a-deal-vancouver-gets-a/|url-status=live}} The program was filmed beginning later that year at the large Panorama Film Studios in West Vancouver.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874260/some-panorama-villagers-uptight-about-d/|date=August 6, 1980|page=A4|first=Bob|last=Hendrickson|title=Some Panorama Villagers uptight about 'Deal'|newspaper=The Province|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203065147/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874260/some-panorama-villagers-uptight-about/|url-status=live}} Two other major productions by Catalena at Panorama were also in the offing: Pitfall, a game show with an original format that began taping in October 1980,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874279/chuck-davis/|date=October 3, 1980|page=A4|title=Chuck Davis|first=Chuck|last=Davis|newspaper=The Province|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203065147/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874279/chuck-davis/|url-status=live}} and a new syndicated variety show, Tom Jones, featuring Welsh singer Tom Jones which got underway in March 1981.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94012881/lorne-parton-on-television/|date=February 24, 1981|page=B8|first=Lorne|last=Parton|title=Lorne Parton on Television|newspaper=The Province|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203065149/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94012881/lorne-parton-on-television/|url-status=live}}

Financial problems, however, quickly engulfed Catalena Productions in the late summer of 1981. In early August, EPI Limited, which was distributing the Tom Jones show, sued Catalena after half of the episodes of the program had been completed. It charged Catalena with breach of contract for not paying certain agreed-to production fees and failing to hand over master tapes of the 12 completed shows.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93651225/tom-jones-television-show-involved-in/|date=August 7, 1981|page=A4|title=Tom Jones television show involved in suit|newspaper=The Province|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128200436/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93651225/tom-jones-television-show-involved-in/|url-status=live}} Production costs had reached $3.5 million, and EPI had charged Catalena with "financial irresponsibility" that imperiled its ability to continue producing the remainder of the series. Ian MacLennan, the president of Catalena, claimed that the EPI suit represented a "smear campaign" against a "strong and promising company". However, the company delayed production of further shows of Let's Make a Deal because there was sufficient inventory to satisfy the stations, and Catalena did not want to produce episodes until they were needed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93651289/tom-jones-star-of-courtroom-drama/|date=August 15, 1981|page=A12|first=Larry|last=Still|title=Tom Jones star of courtroom drama|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128184555/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93651289/tom-jones-star-of-courtroom-drama/|url-status=live}}

It turned out that EPI's forecast of financial doom for Catalena was correct. In mid-August, Hatos and Hall petitioned the Supreme Court of British Columbia for the appointment of a receiver to manage Catalena's financial affairs, claiming they were owed $210,000.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874315/new-fires-in-forests-reported-but/|date=August 31, 1981|page=B8|title=New fires in forests reported, but hazard reduced by rainfall|newspaper=The Province|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203065147/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874315/new-fires-in-forests-reported-but/|url-status=live}} On August 31, a Supreme Court judge found in their favor and placed the firm into bankruptcy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874328/west-van-studio-bankrupt/|date=September 2, 1981|page=A12|title=West Van studio bankrupt|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203065148/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874328/west-van-studio-bankrupt/|url-status=live}} Creditors would find that there had been transfers between several related companies that confused the status of the firm's financial assets and that production costs for Tom Jones had exceeded budgeted expenses by $1 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93653098/tv-players-try-to-make-a-deal/|date=October 8, 1981|page=11|agency=Canadian Press|title=TV players try to make a deal|newspaper=Times Colonist|location=Victoria, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128193833/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93653098/tv-players-try-to-make-a-deal/|url-status=live}}

The Tom Jones show survived the bankruptcy and lawsuit when a new production company, Clancy Grass Productions, took over the contract and hired 40 to 50 former Catalena employees to tape the 12 remaining programs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93651389/tom-jones-show-to-be-continued/|date=September 3, 1981|page=C7|first=Peter|last=Wilson|title=Tom Jones show to be continued|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128193121/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93651389/tom-jones-show-to-be-continued/|url-status=live}} Game show contestants, however, were not so lucky. Because most game shows do not award prizes until the episode airs, and prizing is the responsibility of the producers, many contestants had won prizes on Let's Make a Deal and Pitfall that were no longer paid for. In the case of the latter show, which had not yet premiered, production staff—among them host Alex Trebek—were not paid.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874356/waiting-to-win/|date=September 8, 1981|page=B8|first=Peter|last=Wilson|title=Waiting to win|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203065157/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874356/waiting-to-win/|url-status=live}} Television stations that had contracted to carry the show, including Vancouver's CKVU-TV, faced some difficulty acquiring tapes.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874349/kcpq-is-coming/|date=September 9, 1981|page=C2|title=KCPQ is coming|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022}} Contestants on Let's Make a Deal were informed by Los Angeles–based promoter Global Promotions that they would not receive their promised prizes;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874336/game-show-winners-losers/|date=September 10, 1981|page=15|agency=Canadian Press|title=Game show winners losers|newspaper=The Expositor|location=Brantford, Ontario, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022}} Catalena owed Global $80,000 to $90,000, out of a total of $3 million in liabilities.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874399/deal-went-sour-for-local-residents/|date=October 10, 1981|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874412/deal-turned-sour-for-contestants/ 6A]|first=John|last=Stark|title=Deal went sour for local residents|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|location=Bellingham, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022}} Another large creditor was the Canadian government itself, owed $500,000 to $600,000.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874423/tv-program-winners-learn-theyre-losers/|date=October 14, 1981|page=A-7|title=TV program winners learn they're losers|newspaper=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022}} Because Catalena also owed moving and storage companies, some prizes were stuck in warehouses in Bellingham, Washington, with freight, storage, and customs duties owing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93653063/prizes-stuck-in-storage/|date=October 18, 1981|page=A7|title=Prizes stuck in storage|newspaper=The Province|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022}} Despite Catalena's bankruptcy, stations such as the Global Television Network in Ontario continued to air Pitfall for years, irking contestants that were depicted winning prizes they never received{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874439/game-shows-bankruptcy-made-even/|date=November 6, 1982|page=1|first=Don|last=Collins|title=Game show's bankruptcy made even winners losers|newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen|location=Ottawa, Ontario, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93874443/tv-game-show-a-definite-pitfall/|date=June 12, 1985|page=8|title=TV game show a definite Pitfall|newspaper=The Province|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022}} as well as Trebek, who stated in an interview with the Archive of American Television that he was unable to prevent the show from airing because he was a low priority for payment.{{Cite web | title = Pitfall Game Show - with Special Alex Trebek Clip | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUghwCZ1wDY&t=1444s | date = 2014-09-15 | accessdate = 2022-11-08 | quote = ...They didn't pay me.... then I went to the union and I said 'You gotta help me here, they're not paying me.' 'Well, there's really nothing we can do....' And then I pursued it through some other entities, and I discovered through a lawyer that on the scale of those who are to be paid, I was about 35th on the list. Somebody who had done work at the studio, carpentry work or whatever, was way at the head of the list because they had a mechanic's lien. And as a performer... I was way down at the bottom of the list, and I could not prevent them from marketing the program, even though they had never paid me.}}

Catalena's collapse left one notable Canadian creditor—Trebek—vowing never to do work in Vancouver again, though he relented in March 1982 when two old friends of his asked him to voice commercials for Greater Vancouver's Chrysler dealers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93653726/joy-metcalfe/|date=March 8, 1982|page=A2|title=Joy Metcalfe|newspaper=The Province|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 2, 2022}} Trebek would note it was the only time he went unpaid as a game show host;{{Cite episode | title = Jeopardy! | url = http://www.jeopardy.com/ | series = Jeopardy! | series-link = Jeopardy! | credits = Host: Alex Trebek | network = Syndicated | airdate = 2010-04-01 | minutes = 6:04 | quote = Contestant Matt Drury comments that he thought Pitfall was the 'best thing ever'; Trebek replied, 'I didn't, because in all of my years in broadcasting, that's the only time they stiffed me for my salary.' | access-date = 2022-02-02 | archive-date = 2019-03-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190308091635/https://www.jeopardy.com/ | url-status = live }} he had the bounced check from Catalena for his $49,000 salary framed and hung it up at his home.{{cite book|last=Baber|first=David|title=Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VbrwCQAAQBAJ&q=%22alex+trebek%22+%22pitfall%22&pg=PA264|pages=264–265|chapter=Alex Trebek|date=June 14, 2015|isbn=9781476604800|access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203065227/https://books.google.com/books?id=VbrwCQAAQBAJ&q=%22alex+trebek%22+%22pitfall%22&pg=PA264|url-status=live}}

{{reflist}}

Category:1981 disestablishments in British Columbia

Category:1977 establishments in British Columbia

Category:Canadian companies disestablished in 1981

Category:Canadian companies established in 1977

Category:Companies based in Vancouver

Category:Defunct companies of British Columbia

Category:Defunct film and television production companies of Canada