Film Weekly 1956-57 year book : Canadian motion picture industry (1956)

Appreciations; THE AFFECTION enjoyed by Louis Rosenfeld, president of Columbia Pic¬ tures of Canada Limited, from his colleagues of the Canadian motion picture industry became loud and obvious when the time came for him to receive the third Pioneer of the Year Award at the annual dinner of the Canadian Picture Pioneers in the Royal York Hotel, Toronto, on No¬ vember 1, 1955. The guest of honor was presented with the onyx-and-gold symbol of the award by Haskell Masters. Rosen¬ feld thanked the Pioneers and his friends for the honor. Following the main ceremony Leo Jaffe, who had come from New York both as the representative of the Motion Picture Pio¬ neers of the USA and of Columbia Pic¬ tures, presented Rosenfeld with a silver plate from his American colleagues and friends. Two other presentations, these in behalf of the Canadian Film Awards, preceded the one to Rosenfeld. L. W. Brockington, CMG, QC, presented a framed certificate to Dr. A. W. Trueman, National Film Commissioner, for The Stratford Adven¬ ture as The Film of the Year. Before that Walter Herbert, chairman of the Canadian Film Awards, handed Hye Bossin, editor of the Canadian Film Weekly, the CFA’s Special Award for his research into the history of the industry and his promotion of a film archive for this country. Brockington, who heads the J. Arthur Rank Organization of Canada, made some wittily humorous comment about some of those present, then spoke seriously in praising both the guest of honor and Bos¬ sin. He was, as always, interesting and enjoyable. Dr. Trueman, in replying, em¬ phasized that The Stratford Adventure had been directed by Morten Parker and writ¬ ten by Gudrun Parker and he also named the others who had worked on it. Herbert, who came from Ottawa to make the presentation to Bossin, spoke of the Canadian Film Weekly editor’s deep Canadianism, saying that among many non¬ industry people he was regarded as one of the industry’s leading figures. Bossin, he said, loved the motion picture industry and was proud of it. The latter, in thank¬ ing Herbert, emphasized the value to Can¬ ada of the industry’s history and made a plea for the establishment of a film ar¬ chive. N. A. Taylor, president of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, acting as toastmaster, in¬ troduced Mayor Nathan Phillips, who wel¬ comed the out-of-town guests to the city. They were followed by John J. Fitzgibbons, CBE, who recalled the part the late Ray Lewis, editor of the Canadian Moving Picture Digest, played in organizing the Canadian Picture Pioneers. The last speaker of the evening was George Oullahan, chairman of the ar¬ rangements committee for the dinner, who praised the work of co-chairmen Harry Lester and George Altman and thanked all who helped. A souvenir program, de¬ signed by Altman, was on each table, and a large blowup of Rosenfeld flanked by snipes dealing with his business back¬ ground, stood behind the head table. The latter was made by A1 Harvey and Pete Grant of Pictorial Display. Among those at the head table were Hugh Sedgwick, IA vice-president in Can¬ ada; James Cowan, president of the Cana¬ dian Film Institute; Fred Peters, president of the Quebec branch of the PioneersMayor A. W. Shackleford of Lethbridge; Charles Chaplin, president of the Cana¬ dian Motion Picture Distributors Associa¬ tion; A. J. Mason, president of the Mari¬ time Motion Picture Exhibitors Associa¬ tion; Pierre Harwood of Montreal, presi¬ dent of the Association of Motion Picture Producers and Laboratories of Canada; David Griesdorf, president of the Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada; Owen Bird, president of the British Columbia Motion Picture Exhibitors AssociationHarry Mandell, Chief Barker of the Variety Club of Toronto; Robert Hurwitz, representative of the Manitoba Pioneers;’ and Lionel Lester, president of the Mo¬ tion Picture Theatres Association of On¬ tario. About 450 persons crowded into the Con¬ cert Hall of the Royal York for the dinner, which was covered by newsreels, TV and the daily and trade papers. 17