Why B Movies?

The B movie was a direct response by Hollywood to the falling cinema audiences of the early Depression years. Where previouslyaudiences had paid to see a single feature supplemented with shorts and cartoons, they were now treated with two features, one of which was a low-budget supporting film, the B.

In October of 1935 two of the big New York theater chains, RKO and Loew’s (the holding company for MGM), adopted the double feature in all of their principal theaters. This was a crucial moment in the development of the B film industry. Within a year 75% of all theaters in America were featuring double bills. All the major studios had their own B units, headed by men who knew every aspect of the low-budget film business. Of course Bs from the major studios reflected their particular house style. Warner’s recycled their G-men series. Paramount offered their typical fast-paced comedies and melodramas. Of course the giant, MGM dressed up their Bs that would have passed for A’s elsewhere.