Paragon Entertainment Corporation

Paragon Entertainment Corporation was a Canadian film and television production company founded by Jon Slan in 1977. It began as Paragon Motion Pictures, concentrating on feature-film production, and later broadened its activities into television programming, international distribution, production financing, and ownership of entertainment libraries. The company became one of the more ambitious Canadian screen-production businesses of its period, seeking to compete with larger domestic rivals such as Alliance Entertainment Corporation and Atlantis Films while also pursuing opportunities in the United States and overseas markets. The company’s early film work included productions such as High-Ballin', Fish Hawk, Improper Channels, and Threshold. In 1983, Paragon entered television production with Philip Marlowe, Private Eye. It subsequently became associated with a varied slate of scripted series, television movies, factual or reality-oriented programming, and children’s entertainment. Its television credits included Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Dog House, Beyond Reality, Forever Knight, Lamb Chop's Play-Along, and Kratts' Creatures. The company also participated in feature-film projects including Wyatt Earp, Intimate Relations, The Wrong Guy, The James Gang, The Assistant, Dinner at Fred's, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Twice Upon a Yesterday, and The Secret Laughter of Women. During the late 1980s, Paragon established Paragon International under the leadership of Isme Bennie. This operation represented the Degrassi series and reflected the company’s effort to build a broader international distribution and rights-management business. In 1989, the corporate name changed from Paragon Motion Pictures to Paragon Entertainment Corporation. The rebranding accompanied a period of expansion in which Paragon positioned itself as a major Canadian studio rather than solely as an independent film producer. Paragon continued to develop television projects in the early 1990s. It worked on the pilot that became Dog House and entered a partnership with PBS in 1991 to revive the Lamb Chop franchise, with Shari Lewis returning as host. The resulting Lamb Chop's Play-Along ran from 1992 to 1997 and became one of the company’s most visible family-programming properties. In 1992, Carol Reynolds, formerly associated with CBC production, joined the company as president of Paragon Productions. The company also expanded its geographic and executive infrastructure, hiring Gary Randall to lead its United States television operations and Julie Lee to establish its Vancouver operations. Paragon became a publicly traded company in 1993, described in the reference material as the first Canadian major film and television producer to do so. The public-market structure supported a strategy of expansion into the United States and into intellectual-property ownership. In 1994, Paragon acquired Handmade Films and its title library. In 1995, it purchased animated studio Lacewood Productions for $3.2 million, later increasing its ownership to 75 percent in 1997 and taking full control that same year. These acquisitions increased Paragon’s production capacity and rights holdings but also added financial and operational complexity. The expansion ultimately proved unsustainable. In 1998, Paragon reported a loss of $9 million and subsequently declared bankruptcy. Its collapse led to the separation of Handmade Films, whose proposed acquisition by Rubicon was abandoned, with Cartier Investments providing backing and The Equator Group taking over the business. After Paragon ceased operations, its library was sold to Octapixx Worldwide. Jon Slan later founded Steering Wheel Entertainment in 2003, but that later company was separate from Paragon. Paragon’s legacy is therefore principally that of an ambitious Canadian production and distribution company whose portfolio spanned feature films, television series, television movies, animation, children’s programming, and acquired libraries.

Paragon Entertainment Corporation originated in Canada in 1977, when Jon Slan founded Paragon Motion Pictures to produce feature films. Its early screen credits included High-Ballin', Fish Hawk, Improper Channels, and Threshold. The company broadened its scope in 1983 by moving into television production with Philip Marlowe, Private Eye. Television became increasingly central to the business, with later involvement in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Dog House, Beyond Reality, Forever Knight, Lamb Chop's Play-Along, and Kratts' Creatures. In the late 1980s, the company established Paragon International, led by Isme Bennie, to support international business and represent properties such as the Degrassi series. In 1989, Paragon Motion Pictures adopted the name Paragon Entertainment Corporation. The change accompanied an effort to operate as a larger Canadian studio capable of competing with Alliance Entertainment Corporation and Atlantis Films. The company developed the pilot for Detective Spot, which later became Dog House, and continued to build a mixed slate of feature films and television productions. Paragon’s relationship with PBS was particularly important to its family-programming business. In 1991, PBS partnered with the company to revive the Lamb Chop franchise, with Shari Lewis returning as host. Lamb Chop's Play-Along subsequently aired from 1992 through 1997. During the same period, Carol Reynolds joined Paragon from CBC and became president of Paragon Productions. To support expansion beyond Canada, the company appointed Gary Randall to lead its United States television operations and hired Julie Lee to establish Vancouver operations. In 1993, Paragon became a publicly traded company. It then pursued acquisitions intended to enlarge both its production capabilities and its intellectual-property holdings. The 1994 acquisition of Handmade Films brought an established film library into the company. In 1995, Paragon acquired animated studio Lacewood Productions for $3.2 million. It raised its Lacewood stake to 75 percent in 1997 and took full control later that year. Its production and distribution activities during the broader period included films such as Wyatt Earp, Intimate Relations, The Wrong Guy, The James Gang, The Assistant, Dinner at Fred's, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Twice Upon a Yesterday, as well as television movies including An American Christmas Carol, Anything to Survive, Sherlock Holmes Returns, Rent-a-Kid, and The Teddy Bears' Scare. The acquisition-led expansion did not produce a sustainable business. Paragon posted a $9 million loss in 1998 and declared bankruptcy. Following the collapse, Handmade Films became independent after an attempted Rubicon acquisition was abandoned; Cartier Investments backed the business and The Equator Group took over its operations. Paragon’s library was later sold to Octapixx Worldwide. Jon Slan subsequently founded Steering Wheel Entertainment in 2003, a separate venture formed after Paragon had ceased business.

• 1998

  Bankruptcy

  [1]Paragon Entertainment Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  After reporting a $9 million loss, Paragon declares bankruptcy and ceases operating as an independent company.

• 1995

  Lacewood Productions acquisition

  [1]Paragon Entertainment Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Paragon purchases animated studio Lacewood Productions for $3.2 million.

• 1994

  Handmade Films acquisition

  [1]Paragon Entertainment Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The company acquires Handmade Films and its title library.

• 1993

  Public-market listing

  [1]Paragon Entertainment Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Paragon becomes a publicly traded Canadian film and television producer.

• 1991

  PBS partnership revives Lamb Chop

  [1]Paragon Entertainment Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Paragon and PBS collaborate on the revival of the Lamb Chop franchise with Shari Lewis.

• 1989

  Corporate renaming and studio expansion

  [1]Paragon Entertainment Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Paragon Motion Pictures becomes Paragon Entertainment Corporation as the business seeks to operate as a larger Canadian studio.

• 1983

  Entry into television production

  [1]Paragon Entertainment Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The company expands from feature films into television with Philip Marlowe, Private Eye.

• 1977

  Paragon Motion Pictures is founded

  [1]Paragon Entertainment Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Jon Slan establishes Paragon Motion Pictures in Canada to produce feature films.

A Canadian independent screen-production and entertainment-rights company that evolved from feature-film production into a diversified studio and international television business.

• Children's television series · 1992

  Lamb Chop's Play-Along

  A children's television revival developed through Paragon's partnership with PBS and featuring Shari Lewis. It extended the Lamb Chop franchise into a serialized play-and-learning format and became one of Paragon's most prominent family-programming properties, running from 1992 to 1997.

• Scripted television series · 1992

  Forever Knight

  A television drama among Paragon's recurring scripted-programming interests during the company's expansion in the 1990s. The series was part of the company's broader slate of internationally marketable television content and ran from 1992 to 1996.

• Television series · 1983

  Philip Marlowe, Private Eye

  The television production that marked Paragon's move beyond feature films. Its production in 1983 established television as a significant part of the company's business and preceded a larger slate of series and made-for-television films.

• Children's television series · 1996

  Kratts' Creatures

  A children's television property associated with Paragon during its later period of activity. It formed part of the company's family and educational programming portfolio before the company entered bankruptcy.

• Film library · 1994

  Handmade Films title library

  A collection of film rights acquired by Paragon through its 1994 purchase of Handmade Films. Ownership of the library supported Paragon's strategy of combining production with distribution and long-term exploitation of entertainment intellectual property.

• 1991Lamb Chop franchise revival

  United States · Canada

  Paragon partnered with PBS to bring back the Lamb Chop franchise, with Shari Lewis returning as host. PBS also assisted with syndication to affiliated stations.

  Outcome. The initiative led to Lamb Chop's Play-Along, which ran from 1992 to 1997.

  Source

• 1998

  File for bankruptcyOther

  Background

  The company reported a $9 million loss amid the financial strain associated with its expanded production, acquisition, and library strategy.

  Action taken

  Paragon declared bankruptcy.

  Aftermath

  Handmade Films became independent after an unsuccessful proposed Rubicon buyout, The Equator Group took over its business, and Paragon's library was sold to Octapixx Worldwide.

  Reported loss. $9 million loss (1998)

  Source

• 1995

  Acquire Lacewood ProductionsM&A

  Background

  Paragon sought to expand its capabilities in animation and children's programming.

  Action taken

  Paragon acquired Lacewood Productions for $3.2 million, increased its stake to 75 percent in 1997, and later took full control.

  Aftermath

  The transaction added an animation studio to Paragon's portfolio but formed part of an expansion program that preceded the 1998 bankruptcy.

  Acquisition price. $3.2 million (1995)

  Source

• 1994

  Acquire Handmade FilmsM&A

  Background

  Paragon was broadening from production into ownership and exploitation of established entertainment assets.

  Action taken

  The company purchased Handmade Films and its title library.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition increased Paragon's library holdings; after the company's collapse, the Handmade business was separated and its library-related assets changed hands.

  Source

• 1993

  Enter the public marketStrategy

  Background

  Paragon sought capital and organizational scale to support expansion into the United States market and additional production operations.

  Action taken

  The company became publicly traded.

  Aftermath

  Paragon pursued further acquisitions, including Handmade Films and Lacewood Productions, before later entering bankruptcy.

  Source

• 1989

  Adopt the Paragon Entertainment Corporation nameStrategy

  Background

  The business was expanding beyond its original feature-film identity and seeking to compete with larger Canadian film and television producers.

  Action taken

  Paragon Motion Pictures changed its corporate name to Paragon Entertainment Corporation.

  Aftermath

  The renamed company continued expanding into television, international representation, and rights ownership.

  Source

1. 1Paragon Entertainment Corporationen.wikipedia.org