Boxoffice (Aug 25, 1951)

Pack Island Theatre Eyhjbitors in Ontario Making Video Survey For Local Travelog ST. JOHN, N. B.—The Community Theatre at Grand Harbor on Grand Manan Island was the scene for the final day of the sixday annual fair for the local hospital. A feature of the event was the screening of a travelog about the history of the border island by Mrs. Perry Allaby, a native of Grand Manan who is here on furlough from missionary work in India. The Community was provided by Harry Cheney, owner-manager of the theatre which he opened several years ago. The theatre was jammed by patrons of the fair with all receipts going to the hospital. Although on Canadian soil, Grand Manan is nearer the U.S. than the Canadian mainland. For its patronage, the Community regularly draws motorboat trade from the neighboring Maine shore. Turpin-Robinson Picture Revives Fight Films TORONTO—The success at many Toronto theatres of the championship fight picture of the bout in England between Randy Turpin and Sugar Ray Robinson, won by the former, has. given new life to prize-fight films. The motion picture of the recent heavyweight championship bout in the United States in which Jersey Joe Walcott knocked out Ezzard Charles has also proved popular. Prints were added to the programs at eight units of Bloom & Fine Theatres here for simultaneous showing. These theatres were the Beaver, Carlton, Century, Belleyue, Prince of Wales, Lansdowne, Vaughan and York. Not so long ago, even the exhibitors themselves would not look at a fight film for free in a distributor’s screening room. Famous Players, Odeon Call Halts in Nanaimo VANCOUVER—Famous Players Canadian had planned to build a 900-seat theatre at Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, but the project was shelved on account of steel shortages. The Odeon circuit also had plans for a theatre in Nanaimo but has now given up the idea with present restrictions in effect. In the days of the coal mining boom, Nanaimo had five theatres, the Capitol, Opera House, Crown, Orpheum and Princess. Now the town, with a 17,000 population, has only two Famous Players theatres in operation, the Strand and Capitol—with a combined seating capacity of 1,264. Woman Manager Named VANCOUVER—Helen Bettles, formerly assistant manager at the Odeon Theatre in New Westminster, has been appointed manager of the Metro Theatre there. She succeeds Johnny Stobbart, who is now with a candy concern in Vancouver. Spike Jones Signed TORONTO—Spike Jones and his Musical Depreciation Troupe has been announced as a special attraction for the Canadian National exhibition for four nights, August 24-28, BOXOFFICE August 25, 1951 French Film Distributor Tells Montreal About TV MONTREAL—Gustave Jiff of Paris, president of the national federation of film distributors in France, is in Montreal to confer in his capacity as administrator of the Compagnie Cinematographique Canadienne de Paris with J. A. Deseve, president of France Film Co. Jiff described the French motion picture industry as flourishing and said pictures produced this year, such as “Justice Est Faite,” have taken “all the honors imaginable” in all recent film festivals. France, he said, has alWays understood the importance of the film industry as a medium of culture and bringing nations together. Relations between the film producers and television producers in France were described as good. Contest Winner in Film MONTREAL—Nicole Germain, a French Canadian film star, and Janine Fluet, winner of third prize in the recent “Miss Cinema” contest, have been signed for important roles in Quebec Productions’ forthcoming picture, “Le Rossignol et les Cloches” (The Nightingale and the Bells). TORONTO—Serious study is being given to the prospective influence of television on the theatre business in Canada by a special committee of the Motion Picture Theatres Ass’n of Ontario in preparation for the annual convention of the national committee of Motion Picture Exhibitors Ass’ns of Canada at Montreal next month. The Ontario committee, under the chairmanship of H. C. D. Main, discussed the question of television for use in theatres as well as a competing medium at a full-dress meeting this week. Those who took part in the discussion included President J. J. Fitzgibbons of Famous Players, President L. W. Brockington of Canadian Odeon, President Ben Freedman of Allied Independent Exhibitors, George Cuthbert of General Theatre Supply Co. and Hyman Golden of Perkins Electric Co. Another meeting has been called for a further interchange of information and opinfons which will be incorporated in a report to be presented by Main at the Montreal convention September 24-26. The start of TV broadcasting in Canada by Canadian Broadcasting Corp. is not expected to get under way at the first two points, Toronto and Montreal, until the fall of 1952. MONTREAL ames Pearson, 20th-Fox salesman, was taken suddenly ill the other day and admitted to the Rose Memorial pavilion of the Royal Victoria hospital. His condition is reported favorable. Arthur Quintal, booker, substituted for him on a sales trip to the Gaspe peninsula ... Tony Ronicar, public relations officer of Warner Bros., came to Montreal for exploitation work on “Captain Horatio Hornblower” ... Mrs. Lottie Roher, wife of the president of Peerless Films, is spending her annual holiday in the Laurentians. Jack Roher and his family will move here in the fall from Toronto and reside permanently. Theatres in the French-speaking section of the city are concentrating on Parisian pictures. Currently showing are “Le Mystere de la Chambre Jaune” and “Manon” at the St. Denis, “Souvenirs Perdus” at Cinema de Paris, “Docteur Louise,” “La Veuve et l’Innocent” and “Le Beau Voyage” at the Arcade, “‘Seraphin” and “Les Deux Combinards” at the National, “Passion Immortelle” and “Le Justice de la Sierra” at the Champlain, Mercier, Cremazie and Villeray; ‘“Perdu dans les Tenebres” and “La Vie Recommence” at the Electra and “L’Aventure Vient de la Mer” at the Passe-Temps . . . French-speaking fans are mourning the sudden death in Paris of Louis Jouvet, who was a favorite with Montreal audiences. The star was engaged recently to return here next spring with a new repertoire. Children are being admitted by a special K concession of the provincial government to view “Alice in Wonderland” at the Palace, which advertises “Bring the whole family” for the Walt Disney film. Juveniles under 16 are customarily prohibited by law from attending motion picture theatres in Quebec province . . . Outdoor amusements have been under a cloud recently, with rain interfering with their production and causing postponement of some offerings ... “On the Riviera” opened at Loew's and another Danny Kaye starrer, “Up in Arms,” {s being shown at the Empress, a Confederation Amusement house in Notre Dame de Grace. La Presse, Canada’s leading French-language daily, quotes a prominent film critic in its theatrical columns, saying: “After having seen television, I am convinced that there will always be films on the cinema screens” . .. Filmrow staffs are still depleted by holldays. Eileen V. Brennan, head booker at Warner Bros., is vacationing at Rawdon; Therese Stannett, Paramount contract clerk, is at Lake St. John; Marguerite Corbeil, niece of Arthur Larente, manager of Peerless Films, sailed on the Franconia for a two-month visit to Europe; Harry Cohen, manager of RKO, sent the staff a postcard from his Miami vacation; Arthur Bell, assistant booker at RKO, is on holiday in New York City and Albert Blondin, manager of the York Theatre, spent a week at his summer residence at Como, Quebec, and then took his family on a motor trip to Frewsburg, N. Y. The York is a west end St. Catherine street unit of United Amusement Corp. 43