Canadian Film Weekly Year Book of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry (1960)

)c pioneer of t!)e Pear: HASKELL M. MASTERS “^T’HIS honor and this occasion I’ll A never forget,” Haskell M. Masters told guests from all parts of Canada who filled the Crystal Ballroom of the King Edward Hotel, Toronto, on Nov. 26, 1959 to see him presented with The Pioneer of the Year Award by L. W. Brockington, QC, CMG, for the Canadian Picture Pio¬ neers. This presentation was followed by one in which John J. Fitzgibbons, CBE, placed a silver tray in Masters’ hands for three Warner Bros, colleagues, Charles Boasberg, Ben Kalmenson and Jack L. Warner. The last was the seventh CPP presenta¬ tion in the course of a busy, enjoyable evening chaired by R. W. Bolstad, CPP president. Five of these were ancillary awards and one was the annual branch award. Brockington’s speech of presentation, richly humorous, contributed a great deal to the pleasure of the evening. “For a man to have friends he must be a friend,” he said, quoting Hesketh Amery, “and Haskell has been a friend to us all.” Of The Pioneer of the Year Award, symbol¬ ized by a plaque, he told Masters: “It comes from us with gratitude for what you have done and affection for what you are.” The honored one, noting the dozens of letters, wires and phone calls of congra¬ tulations, observed that “it just isn’t pos¬ sible, if one has blood in his veins, to just feel normal about it.” There have been many changes in the motion picture business — “from hand-cranked machines to Ben-Hur” — since he got into it 43 years ago in Boston as an employee in a theatre operated by Abe Montague, now Columbia’s vice-president. “I have been blessed with many friends in the industry who made my own years pleasant and the companies I worked for profitable.” Bolstad, opening the evening spoke of all those honored since the inception of the awards as people “who have carried their share of the responsibility of the in¬ dustry and the nation.” The first presentation was that of the branch award for service to the organiza¬ tion and its purposes. This was received by David Rothstein, vice-president of the Winnipeg branch, which covers Manitoba and Saskatchewan, from Frank H. Fisher, vice-president of the Canadian Picture Pioneers. Two ancillary awards were accepted in person, these by Harold Pfaff from 0. R. Hanson, and Joshua Leiberman from F. Gordon Spencer. The first two are from Toronto and the last two from Saint John, NB. Owen Bird of Vancouver, who pres¬ ented Bolstad with a $2,000 cheque for the Trust Fund in behalf of the Vancouver branch, accepted an award for Frank Gow of that city, Sam Swartz of Winnipeg one for P. W. Mahon of Prince Albert, Sask., and Ken Leach of Calgary one for his fel¬ low-townsman, W. 0. Kelly. All were honored for their contributions to the growth and development of the in¬ dustry in their parts of Canada. King Vidor, noted Hollywood director, was a head table guest. During the course of the evening Lionel Lester, co-ordinator of the dinner, thanked his committee heads, among them George Altman, tickets and setting up of the bro¬ chure; Martin Simpson, aide to Altman; Len Bishop, entertainment; Ralph Dale and Archie Laurie, publicity; and Dave Ongley, head table arrangements. NEXT PAGE: PHOTOS OF THE PIONEERS' AWARD DINNER TOP ROW: R. W. Bolstad, president of the Cana¬ dian Picture Pioneers, is shown receiving a $2,000 cheque for the Trust Fund, which was presented by Owen Bird for the BC branch. Bird accepted an ancillary award for Frank Gow, Vancouver. In the centre photo Bolstad looks on as Leonard Brockington, right, presents The Pioneer of the Year Award to Haskell Masters. Right photo has David Rothstein receiving the branch award for Winnipeg from Frank Fisher, CPP vice-president. SECOND ROW: On the left are two old friends: Oscar R. Hanson presenting an ancillary award to Harold Pfaff of Toronto. The centre photo is of the general scene. The third photo shows Joshua Leiberman of Saint John, NB, ( with Mrs. Leiberman), who received an ancillary award. 16