The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (Nov 15, 1941)

A Semi-Monthly SUMMARY of World-Wide Motion Picture NEWS WORR7 SNOE22 CA TORONTO, NOVEMBER lI5dth, 1941 Found Two New | Famous é& Franklin Extend Agreement. Companies Two new companies, Twinex Century Theatres Corporation, Limited, and Inter Theatre Services, Limited, have been formed in Toronto. Nat Taylor, general manager of 20th Century Theatres, is head of Twinex. The Twinex company, Mr. Taylor explained, was set up to administer and operate those theatres currently classified as 20th Century houses. There are 40 in all. The term, “20th Century Theatres,” is a general one used to describe all theatres associated with Taylor and his organization, regardless of the particular arrangement in each case. These houses are with Twinex under various arrangements, such as pooling, partnership, single ownership, operation services and so _ on. Twinex will provide a firmer legal status for what is an unusual business structure. There will be no change, however, in the use and application of the 20th Century title. Inter Theatre Services, Limited, will handle supplies, advertising, etc., for all 20th Century theatres. Offices of both companies are on the 11th floor, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto. ITA Meeting Off The special meeting of the Independent Theatres Association, called for last week, was postponed because of the death of Isidore Axler. New date hasn’t been set yet. Disney Cooks Up Carrot Carics To Help Pep Up RAF Peepers Three new characters based on the vegetable carrot have been created by Walt Disney for the British Ministry of Foods to be used as the emblematic theme of an extensive campaign throughout the British Empire. British Press service wire-photoed the drawings via RCA wireless recently direct to London for immediate adoption into the extensive program which is to cover the civilian populace as well as ie J. Fitzgibbons of Famous Players Canadian Corporation and J. M. Franklin of Franklin & Herschorn have just signed an agreement which guarantees that FPC and the Nova Scotia circuit will continue to be connected for a further period of years. Franklin & Herschorn operates the Regent, Palace and Mayfair, St. John; the mouth; and the Community and Family, Halifax. Mayfair and Dundas, DartThe St. John houses have been held jointly by both parties. The Community, Yarmouth , has been added under the agreement, which is effective on November 17th. It will be remodelled and enlarged. The agreement also provides that Franklin & Herschorn takes over for supervision the Oxford, Halifax, now a Famous Players house. Charlie's Aunt : Snagged The reason being passed around for the fact that. 20th-Fox’s “Charley’s Aunt’ hasn’t been released yet in Canada is that Empire-Universal own the rights to the title in the Dominion. The current version stars Jack Benny. A picture was made under English auspices some years ago. The matter is still in dispute. Cohen to Return Joseph Cohen, who was engaged in theatre business in Toronto for many years before he moved to Detroit, is said to be planning a return to the business in the Queen City. He owns the Garden Theatre, College St., Toronto, which is under lease to B & F. the RAF. ~The ministry made this special request to Disney in Hollywood. Their drive is to urge the British public and members of the Air Corps to eat more carrots for improving light vision. Heavier carrot consumption is said to create keener sight for blackouts, as well as on actual flight service. The new characters have been} named Doctor Carrot, Clara Car| rot and Carroty George. | SR wn Ray Allen Buys | Seven Theatres Raymond Allen, who resigned from Premier Operating on November ist, moved into action quickly. Trading under his own name, he has set up an operating company that will handle seven houses. His first move was to acquire; the Ottawa Valley Circuit of four houses from M. G. O’Brien Ltd. These are in Pembroke, Renfrew, Arnprior and Alimonte. Since then he has closed for houses in Hes-; peler and Penetang, -as well as the Mavety, in Toronto, which like the Hespeler place, is closed. Some of the deals are not effective until January ist. Allen is doing his own booxing and buying. Shawn Resigns Herman B. Shawn, office manager of Grand National in Toronto has resigned. He leaves Harry Allen’s outfit on Nov. 15th. Shawn, who has been a smallscale distributor on past occasions, will distribute educational shorts through his own channel, the Mutual Screen Service. He’s searching out new product to broaden out. Shawn should rank as the youngest distrib in Canada. NADIAN MOTION PICTURE XHIBITOR Buy WAR SAVINGS CERTIFICATES Regularly $5.00 Per Annum Isidore Axler Passes Suddenly Isidore Axler, prominent in Toronto theatrical circles for many years, died suddenly on November 4th, the result of a heart attack. He was manager and proprietor of the Victory Theatre, at Spadina and Dundas Sts., which was known as the Strand before its recent overhauling. Mr. Axler came to Toronto from Austria in 1905, at 16 years of age. He built the present theatre as a legitimate house for Yiddish Stock drama. It was then known as the Standard. When live shows declined in public interest he joined 20th Century Theatres as a motion picture theatre operator. He numbered among his friends such great stars as Paul Muni, Jacob Ben Ami, Stella Adler, Maurice Schwartz, Vera Gordon and many others whom he brought to Toronto. Mr. Axler was active in his religious community, having been president of McCaul Street Synagogue, where the. funeral services brought a large crowd despite the inclement weather. He received a Masonic burial. Mayor Conboy and representatives of the civic and provincial government were present. He is survived by his wife and two sons, Myer and. A. L. Axler, and one daughter, Mrs. Ruth Karlan of Montreal. Age Before Beauty —Newest Remake At the New York meeting of the Motion Picture Pioneers Syd Taube of Toronto ‘ran into an old friend, Fred McConnell, who used to be with Universal in Canada. After some hearty helloing and back-slapping Fred confessed to being 59, feeling wonderful and that this very day was his birthday. “That’s funny,” said Syd. “This is my birthday too. I’m | 39 today.” “Congratulations!” . beamed Fred as he turned away. “Congratulations!—You !*-?! Liar!”