The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (Nov 1, 1941)

November Ist, 194] Ottawa Gives Film Figures The Canadian department of trade and commerce has issued a report showing the production and distribution of government and to pical films during the past fiscal year by the Motion Picture Bureau which is understood to have been taken over by the National Film Board in recent weeks. The bureau released 1,404 prints of new films, approximately 70,000 feet of new film material being obtained by staff cameramen with the bulk dealing with war and national service activities in all parts of Canada, at sea and in the air. A proportion of these were still silent films. At the close of the fiscal period the bureau had 6,820 prints in active circulation in 30 different countries of the world although the number of countries was appreciably cut down because of the war, distribution in Europe being practically nil with the exception of Switzerland where 58 films were in use. The United Kingdom and Eire had 985 Canadian official films in spite of bombing raids and war activities. The United States stood at the top of the list with a total of 3,248 Canadian films, the distribution there being far greater even than in Canada which had 1,827 prints on the go. It is also interesting to note that, the tense situation. Japan had 29 films—probably until the time when trade with that country was banned. Distribution in other countries in the year included the following: Australia, 287 prints; British West Indies, 9; China, Straits Settlement, Dutch East Indies, 97; Cuba, 8; Panama, 8; India, 61; Mexico, 6; New Zealand, 81; Greece, 11; South Africa, 83, and South America 56. It was estimated that Canadian government pictures had an audience of 35,000,000 people during the 12 months. Announcement is made that a contract was signed with a film distributor at Singapore for the theatrical release of Canadian films in British Asiatic possessions and the East Indies while theatre distribution in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, British West Indies and other parts of the Empire had been well maintained and increases had been secured in South America. In Canada nearly 700 theatres regularly exhibited the “Canada Carries On’ series each month, thus making these prints the most widely screened films of any type in this country, it was claimed. in spite of | The Exhibitor Picture Pickups Roly Young, in the Toronto Globe & Mail, had a letter from two of his readers, “A & G”, telling about movie likes and dislikes. It’s worth Enns as a guide to customer reaction to the types of product: “At a small party when a dozen of the older folk, all over sixty, were gathered, the movies were discussed. Four points on which there was general agreement came out. Comedy, drama and musical shows were preferred. War, Western and gangster pictures were out, Westerns being enjoyed until they came in droves like the Western cattle. As to comedy of the Marx, Costello and Formby class, once was enough. Slapstick is strictly for youth. We need another Chaplin. Most of us prefer to go twice weekly to the neighborhood theatre, rather than once to the higher-priced central theatres. Our men cannot go to matinees. Neighborhood theatres where the audience expresses itself in cat calls, whistles, and loud comments are out. There is a lack of agreement between the better neighborhood theatres, which would make it possible for them to show a different class of picture in each. When they are all running War, Western, Gangsters or fillers -without any rating, the old folks just stay at home.” One of the best ideas pertaining to the recent aluminum matinees was carried out by H. S. Humphrey of the Windsor, Grenfell, Sask. He ran the first metal show in the province and collected “a couple of cords” of the valuable stuff. The boy scouts moved the collection out to one of the streets, where, before a large crowd, a tractor flattened the stuff for shipment. A tank could serve the same purpose. A band played throughout and the Red Cross garnered it at the end of the job. # # co * co I listened in on a session of yarning the other day between Frank “Pop” Meyers and Charlie Stephenson about the days in the business that are dead and gone. The years rolled away as the personalities and problems of other times shone again. These lads are living histories of the theatre around here. They got to talking about John Griffith, a forthright fellow who brought the flickers to Toronto and Ontario. Griffith was one of the best-known showmen on the continent. He was advance man for Barnum’s circus and was known as the greatest remover of blue laws and other obstructions in the DUBINERS. Barnum mentioned him in his will. Charlie Stephenson was a good friend of his and Frank Meyers, as a youngSter, managed one of the houses on his string. Griffith could give an actor 52 weeks booking in the province. So Charlie says. And Frank told how he disciplined unruly actors by booking them for an Elk Lake date. You had to portage, lugging your baggage, on the way. They suffered for their art in those days—and for Griffith. Meyers told about the time that Griffith, swinging around the circuit, stopped in a St. Kitts barber shop for a shave. He thought he’d pick up a little info about the state of things in the local theatre. ‘“‘Where’s a good show?’ he asked the barber. “Any,” the heretofore silent barber replied, “but that Griffith house. Stay out of there. It’s godawful!”’ Griffith nearly burst a blood vessel. He rubbed his face. moving towards the door. “I’ve been shaved in nearly every town on this continent,” he said, “but I want to.say here and now that this is the worst scraping I ever had!” He got out before the barber recovered. Griffith, who hated blather with his lather and made it plain at the start,. never violated his own rule again. Charlie and his partner, a song-and-laugh team, played the Griffith wheel. Charlie’s friendship didn’t interfere with’ Griffith’s attempts at economy. In one spot he ‘tried to pay them $40 instead of the agreed $50. But*Charlie knew how to ‘handle him. “All right. John,” he said, “I guess you-need the money to buy coal with and heat up this damp, cold place. Take it.” _ Griffith, a great fellow for his pride, kicked in the other tenspot. . i m~ _——$—— 6 i , ———————————— — r m4 a“ SS ~ ¥ Bo. : 2 5 : ; = : : “J b » = ae 4 : : Page 95 Notice ! Change of Address CANADIAN AUTOMATIC CONFECTIONS Ltd. SYD TAUBE—Mcr. MOVED TO: 939 KING ST. W. TORONTO UA to Produce United Artists has bought Walter Wanger Productions, Inc. and will become a production organization. The purchase gives UA 100 per cent of the stock. The company at present is a releasing organization. It will be known as United Artists Productions, Inc. Organization of the new setup will begin immediately. Little has been said of late about UA’s recently-announced intention of entering the theatre operation field but it is presumed that there is no change of plan. It is expected that Gradwell L. Sears, now -general sales manager of Warners ‘and: vice-president of Vitagraph, ‘will ‘become president. TR. 1287