The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (Jul 15, 1941)

July 15th, 1941 No Red Reels, Ally or No The Soviet’s present position as | a member of the military opposition to Hitler won’t help win distribution im this country for its films. A rather sudden wave of interest in that question seems to have rolled up. The Communist Party is still outlawed here—and so are Russian pictures, explained Mr. O. J. Silverthorne, chairman of the Ontario Censor Board. A week after Hitler took off his mask in front of Stalin three Russian pictures were doing good business in New York. Even the Hearst papers, which had an aversion to Red ‘dollars, relented long enough to print the advertising of the Soviet musical, “Volga, Volga” while barring the same benefits from the three-reel short, ‘The Red Army.” Soviet films were never officially shelved in Uncle Sam’s | place. Audiences faded after the 1939 peace pact between the present belligerents. Soviet anti-Nazi films, such as “Professor Mamlock” and “Alexander Nevsky” were _ sent back where they came _ from. Prints are now coming from South America. Foreign films can stir trouble. In the Latin American countries an anti-Nazi picture pulls out the demonstrators and you get a riot for the same price of admission That’s what happened with ‘The Great Dictator.” In some cases pressure is strong enough to cause the engagement to be cancelled. The Soviets haven’t been chased completely off our screens. Stalin, Molotov and the Red Army are timely subjects. As such they can take their turn in the newsreels —in the right light. Iii >> ee HEATING AND VENTILATING CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERS AWA | The Exhibitor — On the Square By HYE BOSSIN Title: ‘“‘Bucking the Pass.” Jack Melzer, the theatre advertising man, clips smart and funny cartoons the way many p2ople save things in prose. You can spend a laughy while checking his file. Those that bear on the business he sets in circulation. They’ve brightened up many a dull. day. Knowing this whim, sundry folk mail him pen-and-ink teasers. The other day a reporter pal who snags the odd pass got in a whack at the free list’s favorite phobia, “Not Good On—” He sent along one of those Jimmy Hatlo cartoons from the Globe and Mail. The first panel shows the happy scribe getting his pass. In the second he’s frowning as he reads: “Not good on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, special days, fish days, wash days, hot days, cold days, bank nites, previews, special performances. Federal tax extra.” And he’s saying: ‘Yeh, but what good is it? They’ll do it every time.” More trouble with the press? os * k * * Camerangles: Sam Appiebaum of the Palace, New Toronto, is one of the few exhibitors who didn’t pass on the tax to the patron. No wonder. Two weeks before the impost was added Sam upped his admission from 20 to 25c. When the tax came he let the price stand. Now he advertises: “No Advance in Prices.” Smart fellow ... Congrats are due to Art Ryall, formerly of the Paradise. He’s the new manager of the Crescent. Art has lingered a while on every rung of the theatrical ladder. Here’s hoping he’ll need a longer ladder soon. * * * * * Refrain: “With my eyes wide open I’m stupid’’: Our last Digest of Reviews gave Fox a Columbia picture. Didn’t. do Fox any favors, either ... Young Harry Allen, Jr., is about to show us up. He’s going to do a movie column for High School News. Don’t sneer—it’s got a 30,000 circulation. It should happen to us—that circulation . . . That’s a grand estate Squire Harry Price has out past Weston. Raises chickens, pheasants, fruit trees and all that country stuff. Mrs. Price, the former Marion Wainwright, keeps busy welcoming the many friends whose favorite stopoff spot it is. Lo * * * * Abe) Wilkes, who umps the film loop games, turns his fee over to the Telegram’s War Victims’ Fund . . . The United Artists men were given gifts of those swell “personal” radios by chief Charlie Chaplin. Sam Glazer, Pete Meyers, A. J. Jefferies and Harry Kohen were the lucky lads in the Toronto office .. . Joe Carr, the Mussolini of CBC’s “Carry On, Canada” program is being mentioned for some work in “Captain of the Clouds.” Joe used to do his stuffi in the silents. 4 * % * C Saul Goldhamer, who used to be head of Dominion Sound in Toronto, is with the RCAF overseas. He’s a Flying Officer and attached to the Radio Division. So many people have been asking for him around here we thought we’d better mention it ... Jim Cameron, the exploiteer, is pinch-hitting at the Uptown while Manager Fred Trebilcock basks in the sun at St. Andrew’s by the sea. ... A fellow that’s alive to all possibilities is Alf Schwartz of the Strand, Geraldton. Alf dropped a big idea by mail to Herb Allen when “Hudson’s Bay” was released. To this effect: “I think Fox is passing up a good thing by not holding the premiere here—since we're the nearest theatre to Hudson’s Bay.” * % * * cS Barney Fox, formerly of RKO, is now shining the seat of his pants on an Exhibitor’s Booking Association chair . .. Lou Appleby kicked around with his pal, Percy Faith, during a recent stay in Chicago. The young Toronto conductor now handles the Ford Sunday evening hour as well as the “Contented” program. He’d make a good picture bet ... That was some. gadget Bill Saal, Republic relations man, gave Walter Kennedy, Empire-Universal publicist. It’s a cinch Sister. Susie’s. Sewing Circle didn’t knit that one. Enough to warm the cockles of your heart. iP PRC Announces }|Canadian Program Producers Releasing Corporation, one year old in the United States, has arranged for distribution offices in Canada. The company has completed 34 of the 38 pictures called for on its 1940-41 schedule. The Canadian branch anticipates delivering a minimum of ten features, picked from PRC’s American releases of that type, and eight of the eighteen westerns produced. Continuous and regular releases are effective immediately. Prints are or will be available shortly in the following offices: Vancouver, British Columbia, 1208 Burrad Street, Manager: Leslie “Sonny” Allen. 4 Calgary, Alberta, 514 Eleventh Avenue West, Manager: H. A. Kaufman. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Cinema Centre, Manager: I. H. “Izzy” Allen. Toronto, Ontario, 277 Victoria Street, Manager: H. B. Shawn. Montreal, Quebec, 5971 Monkland Avenue, Manager: Jerry Chernoff. St. John, New Brunswick, 87 Union Street, Manager: Sammy Jacobs. The first of three pictures ready for distribution is ‘Misbehaving Husbands,” with Ralph Byrd, Esther Muir, Harry Langdon, Betty Blythe. It was directed by William Baudine. Next is “Paper Bullets,” acclaimed in the American trade papers as one of the best melodramas of the year. The third is “The Devil Bat,” with Bela Lugosi. Not less than eight additional British subjects will be released during the coming year. FOR ALL THEATRE EQUIPMENT and SUPPLIES —Call on— PERIGINS COMPANY LIMITED 2027 BLEURY STREET MONTREAL 277 VICTORIA STREET TORONTO Page 3 sis a |