Canadian Film Digest (Nov 1973)

‘Page 4 The Canadian Film Digest Variety Club welcomes M.J. Frankovich International Variety Club President M.J. Frankovich was guest of honour at a Club Juncheon in Toronto on November 6th. Site was the Royal York Hotel. Frankovich was on a tour of various Tents, and he was especially interested in Tent 28's artificial limb bank program Also on hand as featured guests were E.B. Martin of ia and Ralph Prize of Philadelphia, both long active in Variety on an international level. a 0p 0) OWTARIO. | NN el a \a ie / M.J. Frankovich, President of Variety Clubs International, addresses the luncheon. E.D. Martin (rear left) and Ralph Prize 4second from right) were featured guests at the Variety Club luncheon. Joining them is singer Kay Starr (right). The head table presented the usual selection of top entertainers and show business personnel, among them actress Barbara Hamilton, singers Kay Starr and Buddy Greco, actors Mini Hines and Shelly Berman, as well as Jean Robertson of Women of Variety and various members of the Toronto area tent. Business was attended to by Sam Shopsowitz who called for executive election nominations. Chief Barker Doug Wells reminded members about Club Christmas cards, and congratulated Women of Variety on their highly successful | fund-raising cocktail parties. _ , Plaques were presented to three corporate citizens for their aid to Variety: Bill Rostan of ’ the Bank of Commerce, Verne Archer from the Toronto Star, and Deputy Police Chief John Murray. Jeff Kurtz accepted an appreciation plaque for Malabar costumes. Malabar has supplied costumes for Variety’s annual . Christmas play. Wells announced that next year’s bikeathon would be held the first two Sundays in April. He also mentioned that next June would be Tent 28’s 25th anniversary. Furthermore, there is a good chance that Toronto will be the site of the 1976 International convention. Ralph Prize spoke of his long association with Tent 28, and then Frankovich took the floor. Before his turn, however, came Mimi Hines with a brief monologue, and Shelly Berman. Berman commented on Hines, Toronto, and closed with an hilarious mild roast of Frankovich. Frankovich spoke without a prepared speech, and emphasised that the work of Tent 28 was known everywhere because of the Artificial Limb program. He said that similar ideas are being put into practice everywhere. To close, he congratulated the tent on its work, and said he looked forward to visiting Variety ~ Village. _ The highlight of the occasion was the speech by the graduate of Variety Village. Since his departure he has opened a thriving insurance business based in several small Ontario centres. He is so busy, he said, that he doesn’t even have time to do the travelling he wants to do; at one time he never thought he would ever go anywhere. ' Crawley making all out distrib effort Crawley Films Limited is making a concerted effort to move into the mainstream of distribution, not only of the sponsored shorts that have made the company a leading force in the industry, but also in feature-length product. Crawley has set up separate Toronto offices for its 16 and 35mm distribution division. Located at 409 King Street West, Toronto M5V 1K1, -the new premises are devoted to distribution alone. The phone number is (416) 366-0714. President of Crawley Films is F.R. Crawley. In the distribution division is Managing Director Harvey Hunt and Sales Manager Douglas McMaster. , Cdn Theatres appoints Frank Fisher V-P Michael W. Zahorchak, president of Canadian Theatres Group Limited, announced the appointment of Frank H. Fisher as Vice-President and Executive Assistant to the President. Fisher has had many years experience in the Motion Picture Industry, holding execulive posts in both distribution and circuit theatre operations. Last year he retired as Vice-President and General Manager of the Odeon Theatre Chain in Canada. The announcement by Zahorchak comes hard on the heels of Canadian Theatres Group’s acquisition of the National General Cinemas in Canada. NGC Cinemas were formerly booked and, for the most part, managed by Famous Players. National General sold all their | U.S. cinemas earlier this year, and have aw disposed of their Canadian holdings also. Among the features available are August and July, The Rowdyman, Gimme Shelter, Monterey Pop, Raven’s End, The: Wanderer, ae Zazie dans le Metro. George Destounis given Award — sroke[q snowey :ojoyd George Destounis "Famous Players President George Destounis was given an award at a dinner held by The Canadian Council of Christians and Jews. The dinner was held at Toronto! s Royal York Hotel on November 5th, Destounis received the award for his contribution to human relations. Three such awards are given out annually by the council. The council was formed in 1947 to heighten understanding between Christians and Jews. Destounis, born in Montreal, began as a theatre usher, and is now president of Canada’s largest theatre chain. He is active in Montreal’s Greek Orthodox church and in many charitable organisations. He said that pecenysOR the award was a truly great honour. Market Report ENTERTAINMENT STOCKS STOCK CLOSE CLOSE NET OCT.5 NOV.9 CHG. TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE Baton 9% 10% +% Bushnell 11 9% =I Canadian Cable Systems 16% 16% “= CFCN 842 8% pit CHUMB. 10% 11 +% IWC Industries Ltd. 2.25 2.40 +.15 Maclean-Hunter Cable 14% 14 Yq 7 Premier Cable 123% 11% —1% Q Broadcasting 3.80 4.00 +.20 Rank Organization 10% 10% —% Selkirk A 16% 16% —l, Standard Broadcasting 10 10% + Western Broadcasting 11% 141% +244 MONTREAL STOCK EXCHANGE 1.75 VANCOUVER STOCK EXCHANGE 2.60 2.60 —.05 —.05 NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE Astral 1.75 All Can A 2.65 All Can B 2.65 Columbia Pictures 4 Walt Disney 78Y4 ” Gulf & Western 3056 Lowes 2 MCA 25% Metromedia 12% MGM 175 National General : 33 Transamerica | 13% 20th-F'ox | 8% Warner Communications 14% 4% . 29 24 7 12 1% —2% AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE Allied Artists 3 Cinerama al Filmways , 4Y, General Cinema Distribs Association 4% 13% 456 11 +1% +% +% 5% HIGH VL ut ih . > is: a-,¥ a %.° ' . & ‘Wy a, ‘November 1973 LOW FOR73 FORT73 13% 141% 2.25 3.50 3.40 37% elects new offi icers A meeting of the directors of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association was held in Toronto on October 11th, and a new slate of officers was elected. ‘The new president is Frank Mancuso, General Manager of Paramount Film Service. The new Vice-President is Victor Beatty, | General Manager of Twentieth Century-Fox in Canada, Treasurer is Martin Bochner, General Manager of Astral Communications. Millard Roth is the Executive Director. The CMPDA consists of ten member companies. Included are Astral Films, Bellevue Films, Columbia Pictures, International Film Distributors, MGM, Paramount Film Service, 's Twentieth Century-Fox Corporation, United 3 Artists, Universal Pictures, and Warner : Brothers Distributing. The executive of the CMPDA consists of representatives from each of the member companies. . Ss junoweieg :0) Frank Mancuso 1.10 2.00 1.80 5944 1% % 24% 10% Telia ee ee Se eg Re ee Fhe ree eee re