Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 24, 1955)

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Aug 24, 1955
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Aug 24, 1955)
Leaf #:
00011
Language:
English
Collection:
Canada, Global Cinema, and Hollywood Studio System
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Greig Dymond in memory of David Dymond, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:

Canadian Film Weekly

  • Editor: Hye Bossin (1942-64)
  • Renamed Canadian Film & TV Bi-Weekly (1965-69, editor: Stan Helleur)
  • Renamed Candian Film Weekly(1970, editor: Ed Hocura)

Canadian Film Weekly (1942-70) was edited by Hye Bossin and published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., wholly owned by leading exhibitor, Nat Taylor. In the late 1930s, Taylor was head of the Independent Theatre Association and his Toronto-based chain, Twinex-Century (Twentieth Century), was the largest independent circuit in the country. In 1941, however, he negotiated for chain affiliation with upstart Canadian Odeon before leveraging a better deal and greater booking control with nationally-dominant Famous Players Canada, Ltd. No longer independent, he took ownership of the Independent Theatre Association’s semi-monthly magazine, The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (1940-41), installed Hye Bossin as editor, and laid plans to relaunch in January 1942 under a new name, Canadian Film Weekly. This enduring key publication was no longer solely focused on independent exhibitors but instead covered the entire industry on a national scale–exhibition, distribution and production–with some attention given to studio news from New York and Hollywood.

Bossin was a vibrant writer with a canny way with words, admired in the industry in the United States as well as Canada. He was one of a large family who lived above their father’s secondhand shop in the Jewish “ward” downtown in Toronto. His older brother was a bookie with ties to the underground; his younger brother was a famous journalist, protégé of Walter Winchell, and Hollywood screenwriter. In contrast, Hye spent nearly two decades learning the publishing trade in a printers’ shop before trying a stint as a Hollywood publicist, then writing a column for the Toronto Star Weekly before taking Taylor’s offer to edit the Film Weekly. Bossin was central to the creation of the Canadian Film Archive, the Canadian Film Awards, and he wrote some of the first histories of early cinema in Canada, published in the first volumes of the annual Canadian Film Weekly Year Book (1951-70).

In 1957, the Film Weekly had incorporated the rival Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1917-57), and began dating its start to that paper’s earlier start as the Canadian Universal Bulletin (1915-18). Subsequent variants of the Canadian Film Weekly and its yearbooks always claimed their roots all the way back to 1915 and the origins of the film industry trade press in Canada. After Bossin died in 1964, the Weekly’s new editor, Stan Helleur, renamed the magazine Canadian Film & TV Bi-Weekly, scaling back the pace of publishing but adding a purview for television and broadcasting. The annual was renamed similarly, its subtitle amended to “Year Book of the Canadian Entertainment Industry.” An attempted renewal to weekly format in 1970, edited by Ed Hocura, was short-lived and Nat Taylor decided instead to relaunch under an entirely new title, Canadian Film Digest (1971-77) and Canadian Film Digest Yearbook (1971-86).

– Paul Moore, March 2024

Further Reading

  • Bossin, Hye. “Canada and the Film: The Story of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry.” In Canadian Film Weekly Year Book of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry, 21-41. Toronto: Film Publications of Canada, 1951.
  • Moore, Paul. “Chronicling a National History: Hye Bossin’s Canadian Film Weekly and Year Book.” In Eric Hoyt and Kelley Conway, eds., Global Movie Magazines. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2024.

Date Added:
May 23, 2024
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Page 12 CASS RE MGM (Continued from Page 1) Country, Toronto. Among those who questioned him about his experiences and impressions were Ken Johnson and Clyde Gilmour, respectively amusement editor and movie critic of The Telegram; Alex Barris, The Globe and Mail; Gerald Pratley, the CBC; and Frank Moritsugu, Canadian Homes and Gardens. Also on hand were Garfield Cass, manager of MGM’s Toronto branch, and Chet Friedman, Canadian publicity director. Cass spoke of the following pictures, some due shortly in the theatres: Guys and Dolls, produced by Samuel Goldwyn from the hit Broadway play and being released by MGM; It’s Always Fair Weather, in CinemaScope and Eastman Color, starring Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey, Dolores Gray and Michael Kidd; Trial, starring Glenn Ford, Dorothy McGuire and ‘Arthur Kennedy; Kismet, in color and CinemaScope, starring Howard Keel, Ann Blyth, Vic Damone, Monty Woolley, Sebastian Cabot and Jay C. 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He was director-cameraman for Pathe from 1929 to 1941, and film production manager for the Ministry of Information in Cairo from 1941 to 1946. From then until 1952 he specialized in commercial films in the Middle East. Before coming to Canada he was with the BBC as lighting cameraman and director-cameraman on TV plays, documentaries and newsreels, Martin has also had extensive experience in such film work as writing, editing, commenting, direction and production. At Audio he will specialize in commercial film work. MGM's 'The Opposite Sex' Doris Day and Howard Keel star in MGM’s The Opposite Sex. WB's ‘The Greater Courage’ Alan Ladd will star in Warners’ The Greater Courage. WESTRAX —— “PENTHOUSE” REPRODUCER Call it a ‘penthouse’, ‘sandwich’ or ‘button: on’ reproducer, the Westrex is the simplest and cheapest way to get stereophonic sound reproduction from a complete print. It can be used with any modern projector or soundhead. It is small and does not interfere with operation of projection equipment. Replaceable magnetic pick-up tracks—a Westrex exclusive feature. Westrex is film-pulled and requires no special lubrication or maintenance. Write or ask for complete details: MINION <IS> rink Bat ca HEAD OFFICE: 4040 St. Catherine Street West, Montreal. BRANCHES AT: Halifax, Saint John, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa; Toronto, Hamilton, London, North Bay, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, DS-55-22 August 24, 1955 A. D. Simpson Heads New RKO Board A. Dee Simpson was elected president of the Board of Directors of RKO Pictures Corporation at a recent organizational meeting in New York. Also named were J. Miller Walker as vice-president, general counsel and secretary; William H. Clark, treasurer; Garrett Van Wagner, comptroller; Joseph J. Laub, assistant secretary; and Charles G. Drayton, assistant secretary-treasurer. 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