The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (Dec 1, 1941)

Page 2 The Exhibitor , December Ist, 1941 WE MibIOR Bead This HYE BOSSIN Managing Editor Vol-7; No: 23. Dec. Ist, 1941 Subscription Rates: Canada and U.S.: $5.00 per annum > 28 Address all communications to The Managing Editor The CANADIAN EXHIBITOR 21 Dundas Square AD. 4318 Toronto, Canada Soldiers Kick At Poor Prints (Continued from Page 1) eliminated and newer’ subjects made available. Colonel Cooper’s report on the matter reveals that Sovereign Films leads the importers with 174 prints. Figures in order of amount after Sovereign are General Films Ltd., 100 prints; Fox, 54 prints; and Warners, 26 prints—a total of 354 prints. The total number of playing days for all the military camps in Canada and Newfoundland is 580 per week or 30,160 per year. The number of prints can provide, if necessary, 55,224 playing days. It is estimated that 67,000 sailors, soldiers and airmen attend the films shown in YMCA auditoriums each week. The Y sends out 140 programs each week to various points. There is no admission charge to the men in training. The YMCA paid out $79,000 in rental charges for one year. “Movie Quiz" Grows In Popularity Produced and directed by Grant Withers and Jack Harvey, a short subject already favorably previewed provides the background for quiz in which the patrons participate. In Canada this is particularly interesting news sinee the law squelches .come-ons common to the USA, such as Screeno, Bank Nite, etc. Exhibitors requiring an extra attraction and those affected by the dish shortage may find the answer here. Right now the Quiz craze is going strong in New Jersey theatres. Six houses of the Skouras chain have a questions-&-answers melee thrice weekly, the. competing .teams being supplied from schools, offices, shops and organizations, ee Beginning with the first issue in 1942, this magazine will spruce up and call around twice as often as now. The name will be changed to the Canadian Film Weekly. Instead of being a paper devoted to exhibitors or the voice of a particular branch of the film trade, it will cover the entire industry. The Canadian Film Weekly will be issued each week, thus providing a more complete coverage of the Canadian and American film scene. It is our intention to be completely impartial, reporting events as they occur, providing varied services for all sections of the industry and advocating that which is just and helpful. Canada has a right to have its own trade press recognized by all as an entity of its film industry. This is not a second-run country, from a film standpoint or journalistically. Now in its eighth year, this paper is stepping out. Good Luck Myer Axler’s decision to resign from 20th Century Theatres and leave the supervision field for the operation of the Victory Theatre, Toronto, managed previously by his late father, will be met with genuine regret wherever the news is heard. However, it is easy to understand the factors which prompted him to make the change. The Victory Theatre, at Spadina and Dundas, was the pride of the senior Axler and the family. It stands in the centre of a closely-knit community which holds a sentimental affection for the theatre and held the late Isidore Axler in the highest regard. The people in the neighborhood remember well his struggles to keep the theatre open during the depression. The theatre was to those people more than just that. It was a kind of community centre in which they held meetings for popular causes—of which Isidore Axler was often a leader. He was more than a manager to them. He was a good friend and an exemplary neighbor. The offices of the theatre often held committees sharing their troubles with Isidore Axler, just as many brought him their personal problems. The Victory without an Axler present is almost unthinkable to the people of the district and to the family. Myer-Axler shared many of his father’s communal activities, as well as the admiration in which he was held. The younger Axler is quiet, efficient. and popular in the film world and out. For years he administered a position of great responsibility for one so young. He deserves and will receive the best wishes of all whose path he had crossed in the daily course of things. Studios-Allied to (Continued from Page 1) most have shown interest and pledged co-operation. Allied has offered this seven-points program which is being studied: 1. Co-ordination of policy and action in reference to taxation. 2. Co-ordination of policy and action in protecting the good name and integrity of the industry as a whole. 38. Formulation of plans for meeting the increasing competition of rival forms of entertainment. 4, Formulation of plans for in Weigh Plan stitutional advertising and other goodwill activities. 5. Protecting the necessary priorities ratings. 6. Formulation of an acceptable distribution system to be adopted when the consent decree lapses. 7. Discussion, and if possible. adjustment or modification of the policies or practice of one branch or member thereof which are opposed by any other branch or a substantial portion thereof. There is no doubt that some clauses will affect the Canadian industry indirectly. : Exhibs Boost Prices (Continued from Page 1) al tax pushed the price out of, many family budgets and the ex-— hibitor was generally afraid to add anything for himself. The American trade is now heading slowly toward pre-depression prices, there no longer being much choice. The first moves toward higher prices have been somewhat spotty. Some theatres have taken advantage of their run of an outstanding hit to sneak the prices up. Others have asked for larger fees during’ week-end and holiday showings. Now the move for a uniform level is growing. Downtown houses in American cities now ask 65 cents instead of 55 and neighborhood houses want another nickel. Toronto’s first-run A houses now charge 60 cents, the government getting the dime difference between the former price of 50 cents. It is not unlikely that Canadian theatres, feeling war costs more than neutral USA, will be forced to take some such action shortly. Grierson Tips USA on NFB (Continued from Page 1) from England some years ago, pointed out flaws in the British method. ‘“‘The Ministry of Information,” he said, ‘“‘has not the central authority of our National Film Board and there is not the common policy one would wish to see.” Grierson told the meeting that his body will issue enough propaganda, films to occupy seven hours on Dominion screens. “We may issue in this way as many as 100 items of essential interest to the Government,” stated Grierson. “The average audience will be somewhere in the region of 2,000,000.” Grierson pointed out that one Dominion Government series, “Canada Carries. On,” is being sold commercially to about 90 per cent of Canada’s theatres. “If you haven’t seen it in the States, it is only because we have been a bit diffident about operating down here,” he explained. He revealed that instead of trailers, clips were being inserted into newsreels. Grierson wants 12 trail’ ers to be used in 1942 but the Can-~”" ~ adian industry is opposed to more than. six. Canada’s film board, besides Grierson, includes two Ministers, three high civil servants, three members of the public and one dollar-a-year man. The last represents the industry.