Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1940)

Projectionist Training Scheme Riles Labor Toronto — Organized labor continues to protest against the inauguration of the training scheme of the Ontario government for new projectionists which Premier M. F. Hepburn has ordered to get under way in January with O. J. Silverthorne, chairman of the Ontario board of moving picture censors, in charge. W. P. Covert of the Toronto operators’ local declared that the school would seriously affect his organization and said that there was no shortage of projectionists to justify the official sponsorship of a training plan. The Toronto district labor council has decided to organize a deputation of labor representatives to wait on Premier Hepburn to protest against the opening of the school while protests have been adopted by various labor bodies throughout the Province. The argument has been advanced that a number of projectionists have been unemployed for a long period, that there is no prospect of a labor shortage among the operators. It is maintained that the apprentice training system should be under the supeiwision and regulation of operators’ unions so that the number of qualified men can be kept within appropriate bounds. The school will have a 12 months’ course under the direction of three government instructors and the pupils will pay a fee of $100. Chairman Silverthorne declared that apprentices are now in training for three years but that some of them fail to pass their tests after this time. The school would teach them in a short period what now takes three years. He believed that enlistments would eventually cause a shortage of projectionists and the government had adopted a plan which would standardize the training of new men throughout the Province. "Golgotha" to Canada Through France Film Montreal — France Film Co. informs Boxoffice that it has just obtained exhibition rights for all of Canada of the film version of the passion play, “Golgotha.” This film, said J. M. DeRoussy, commercial director of France Film, had a huge success last year when produced in the French language with English subtitles, and was one of the notable presentations in the United States in 1940. The print has arrived in Montreal. France Film is expecting a great succe.ss with “Golgotha” when it is released next year during the season of Lent, and shown extensively in French Canada. It is understood that France Film has received several new pictures which had been secured by United States interests before France was occupied by the Germans. Prints of these offerings have been presented to the Quebec censors and. following approval, will be put on early in 1941. The first of these pictures is; L’Empreinte du Dieu.” The other three are: “La Bete Humaine,” “Les Musiciens du Ciel,” and “La Charette Phantome.” France Film Company reported that they have sufficient stock of films on hand until the end of 1942, and while not all of these are new, there are some of the old successes which will be produced and which, in many instances, are more largely patronized than some of the newer films. WIIIWWIIIIIP^IIEG pLANS already are under way for the opening of “Hudson’s Bay” in the west. George Frazer, who carried out publicity at Regina in connection with the premiere of “North West Mounted Police,” will arrive here to look after the publicizing of “Hudson’s Bay.” Jack Fitzgibbons, assistant manager of the Metropolitan, will work with Frazer arranging publicity. Scheduled to open simultaneously at a number of points in the west, the film breaks on January 16 in Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria. In Winnipeg. Harold Bishop is hard at work lining up plans for publicizing the show. Showmen have big plans under way for the holiday season, with stage shows planned for New Year’s night and special shows for Christmas. At the Capitol, Harold Bishop is planning a gala New Year’s stage show on a lavish scale with a CBC orchestra and radio talent. With $1.00 and $1.25 prices this undertaking will he unique . . . At the Metropolitan, Syl Gunn is planning a stage show ... At the Lyceum Eddie Newman has a fortunate break. Since Eddie’s opening day is W ednesday he will ?iot be faced with the necessity of rearranging his schedule. A very nice break for Sim Rost was the appearance in the magazine section of one of the dailies of a story about his showing “The Thief of Bagdad” . . . Harold Bishop has worked out a novel way of ballyhooing his feature, “Love Thy Neighbor.” Bishop will air spot announcements over CJRC with Jack Benny and Fred Allen alternating in cracking at each other. In addition various tieups are played with the Jello people. The Times, which has been closed down for repairs, is scheduled for reopenmg Boxing Day with stage vaudeville in addition to regular double features. Foto Nite, which was a feature at the house before it went temporarily dark, ivill be continued. An item of interest to the film industry was a CBC feature last week. This was a talk by Ben Lepkin, Boxoffice correspondent, and his radio collaborator. Tommy Tweed, summarizing film events during 1940 . . . Jack Kurk, formerly of the Times, resigned his post to be manager of the Roxy at Neepawa. VI CTO Rill A T^ANAGER GEORGE WARING of the newly-opened York Theatre here was formerly manager of the Empress and Avenue in Vancouver. Waring, who comes from a family associated with the legitimate stage for generations, was himself for many years a Shakespearean actor. He has also produced and managed hundreds of shows during his 45 years in the theatrical profession. After completmg a successful engagement at the Atlas here, the Yo-Yo exhibitors will proceed to Honolulu where they ivill give an exhibition at several theatres. Tallulah Bankhead outspokenly championed the cause of the Allies here when she told local reporters, “I think Churchill is the grandest man in the world. I would willingly die for him.” She is very proud of having been made an honorary corporal in a Canadian regiment. /. D. Davidson Guides Navy Film Production Ottawa — J. D. Davidson of London, England, formerly with the empire marketing board and the film unit of the British post office, has arrived in Ottawa and is at work on the production of a film dealing with the Royal Canadian Navy which will be made and distributed by the Canadian government motion picture bureau. The appointment of Davidson as an associate producer of the bureau was one of the last official acts of John Grierson whose resignation as national film commissioner has been accepted by Hon. J. A. MacKinnon, minister of trade and commerce and chairman of the National Film Board. Grierson has explained that the work of turning out Canadian films should be done by Canadians but his appointment of Davidson is regarded in some quarters as a step toward his selection as successor to the retiring official. Grierson had no announcement to make regarding his plans after his retirement as commissioner which is expected to take place in January. New Post Helps Divide MPDC Executive Duty Toronto — The adoption of a plan for the distribution of duties in the Motion Picture Distributors of Canada, Toronto, has led to the establishment of the post of chairman of the board of directors in addition to the presidency. Col. John A. Cooper, who has been mainly responsible for the long success of the film exchange association in the Dominion, becomes chairman of the board and will continue to have charge of the administrative office while James P. O’Loghlin, general manager of 20th Century-Fox Corp. of Canada, Ltd., has been named to the office of president. Col. Cooper has carried a heavy load of responsibility and administration since the inception of the association with satisfying result and his associates have taken the step which will relieve some of the burden. C AILG AMY gOXOFFICE reports in cities and towns on the western prairies are holding up to last year. Only exceptions are reports of greatly improved business at film houses located where military units have been established. Besides Calgary, other points in Alberta reporting increased business are Red Deer, Lethbridge, Penhold, Camrose, High River, Grande Prairie and Macleod. Salesmen have put away their order sheets and folios for two weeks. No more bucking wintry trails and snowdrifts along prairie highways until January 6. Office ivork and light hours over the holidays will be their portion . . . Entire staffs of all film distribution offices in Calgary, from manager to office boy, attended a Christmas party in the Palliser Hotel Saturday, December 21. With two days’ holiday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, declared by the Alberta provincial government, which closed stores and offices, local theatres did not hold any Christmas midnight shows. Instead they are concentrating on New Year’s Eve frolics at raised prices which will range from 50 cents to $1. 72 BOXOFFICE : : December 28, 1940