Block booking refers to the practice of ________.

A) the studios owning theater chains
B) the studios typecasting actors and actresses
C) making exhibitors license an entire slate of films in order to gain access to one or two hit titles
D) licensing films sight unseen

Block Booking

The practice whereby distributors forced exhibitors to rent their films in large groups, or “blocks,” in advance of production, with the blocks tied to several desirable titles as well as films exhibitors would otherwise not book. Block booking was ruled illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court as part of the 1948 Paramount decision.

Exhibitors

Refers to businesses or individuals that present artistic or educational materials, such as films or artworks, to the public.