Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May 18, 1920)

Page scan 00017 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
May 18, 1920
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May 18, 1920)
Leaf #:
00017
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, Early Cinema, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Picture Pioneers, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:

Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Editors: Merrick R. Nutting (1917-18), Raymond S. Peck (1918), Ray Lewis (1918-19 and 1920-54), Walter Greene (1919-20), Jay Smith (1954-57)

Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1917-57) was initially a Montréal-based rival of the first film paper in Canada, Toronto-based Canadian Universal Bulletin (1915-18, edited by W.A. Bach 1915-17, J.W. Cambridge 1917-18, Raymond S. Peck 1918). The two periodicals were combined in 1918, keeping the Digest name, but moving production to Toronto with Peck as editor. Canadian Moving Picture Digest assumed The Bulletin’s volume numbering and always claimed 1915 as its year of origin. Ray Lewis (née Rae Levinsky) was a writer and playwright, who spent time in early Hollywood’s publicity departments. She briefly took the Digest helm in 1918, then long-term editor, later owner and publisher, from 1920 until her death in 1954. Under Lewis’s leadership, the trade paper claimed to serve as a voice for independent exhibitors and advocated for a Canadian cultural presence in cinema, particularly emphasizing British films as a way to keep a distance from Hollywood. Lewis's editorials were notable for their advocacy, wit, and critique of American dominance in the Canadian film market. While initially positioning herself as an outsider, she became integrated within the industry and a true insider. She even had an ongoing correspondence with Canadian Prime Minister R. B. Bennett, advocating for the industry as a whole and supporting British film imports. She was well-known at Toronto’s Dundas Square film row as well as in New York and Hollywood. Variety’s Sime Silverman called her “the Girl Friend in Canada,” and she delighted when U.S. writers not “in the know” presumed “Ray” was a man’s name. Lewis was later an inaugural member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, eventually the group’s first female president and Pioneer of the Year. After she died in 1954, her son Jay Smith took over editorial duties until Canadian Moving Picture Digest was bought by Nat Taylor’s Film Publications of Canada in 1957. Taylor incorporated the legacy journal into a joint masthead for Canadian Film Weekly (1942-70), which subsequently dated its roots back to the 1915 origins of the film press in Canada.

– Jessica Whitehead and Paul Moore, March 2024

Further Reading

  • Whitehead, Jessica, Louis Pelletier and Paul Moore, “‘The Girl Friend in Canada’: Ray Lewis and Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1915–1957).” In Daniel Biltereyst and Lies Van de Vijver, eds., Mapping Movie Magazines: Digitization, Periodicals and Cinema History, 127-52. London: Pagrave-Macmillan, 2021.

Date Added:
May 29, 2025
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-_—a_eppesition hose + ppened inthe: territore, so ereat — 6 tronage of existing theatres, me Tour of West Reveals Great Opp ortunities for Exhibitors Mr. Ouimet, President of Specialty Film Import, Ltd., tours. Western Canada and Visits Los i Angeles Studios _ ~ . 7 When interviewed. on Hiscreturn from his totirof Western Canada and Los Angeles, Mr. Ouimet, Presi dent of the SpecialtyoFilm Import, Ltd., was very enthusiastic over the staple conditions and progress of the Motion Picture industry. — “Opportunity exists on every hand throughout Canada for the greater expansion of the Motion Pic ture industry, and_it ; a question whether this @6ppor. tunity is being fully réalized by the present Exhibitors in the exploitation of the films whieh ee exhibit..” says Mr. Ouimet. .. The advent of new motion pretiré fienaes . ho matter what size, has made no material inroads on the paproviding the. manager has been alive to the film possibilities of the district which he covers. This is everywhere instanced, and those who have seen the coming to their city ?of another theatre have often openly expressed the opinion, and if not expressed, felt it with gloom that their business was about_to be jeopardized, but in very few instances has this condition of affairs occurred.‘ Competition is the life of business,’* and in our ces competition, is not only the life, but the stimulating food for greater motion picture audiences. Many hibitors must have thoughtthat—peopt—dropped trom the skies to provide the audiences to their theatre after had been the Increase in their business, but-the facts of . ie) the case are * clear, that greater populares for good _ films herd Deegerreatéd : that-eotd advertising in wall departments—posters, cutouts and newspaper advertint had created enthusiasm amonest the inhabitants than ever the exclusive theatre owner anticipated. theatre Ex-~ -to-Men,* My last trip through Western Canada has more pointedly shown—me. that the full possibilities of the motion picture industry are not-fully being realized ;. that greater opportunities exist for good showmanship Nin more-theatres, but. unquestionably. the Exchanges must do much to assist these conditions. The question of attractive advertising is one of the essentials, and added to this, ##ust be the full co-operation’ of the Exchange with the Exhibitor, and in controlling the affairs of my company | impress this idea of CO-OPERATION on everyone of the employees of Specialts Film Import Limited” _ t “ALIAS JIMMY VALENTINE”’ Next Metro Release A crook story which has been known to the publie for the last five’ years, as well as Sherlock Helmes was ten years ago. Jimmie Valentine performs some weird and wonderftl feats in his picture. The stunts are not of the Arsene Lupin variety, but they certainly are there with the thrills, : 4 Bert Lytell, in the role of Jimmy, shows us that he can be a bad man just as well as not. -We are so aecustomed to having Bert as a well-behaved, stay-athome little chap that this may be a surprise. However, the pictiire is well produced and has a-couple of thrills that will be hard to equal, both for their daring and originality. di “DANGEROUS TO MEN’”’ COMING VIOLA DANA IN Viola b: Una f akes te part of a @Rown-wp hele aE H thergis.suck a thingy ta her naw: release Dangerous euardian fiinks she isa mere ehild, der and insists on. her wearing. rompers, gingham frocks, ete, and Viola does just as she’s told until a naughty vamp comes along and tries to marry friend euardian, and then Vi0la-eets outa vampire gown or two, some lace stockings and cloes a-tittle vambing on her own aecotuit. ah he star is as Vivae ious as usual and pute over some ee E conde some good vamping. ‘Lhe pieture is full of fun and has farcical situations. Bilton Sills as the severe guatdian is much more emusing than usual, and the picture is ¢ood a umber of big laughs. Viola Wears one or twa “vamp” costumes that make: folks sit mp and take notice, Marie ‘Prevost, the charming Mack Boniiet star, is per e _formnig some exceptionally clever stunts in Mr. Sennett’s big new five reel sensational comedy ‘‘Down on the Farm,’’ released through United Artists’ Corpor ation. Page Eighteen ““BYES OF. YOUTH” GOING OVER BIG The following telegram was received by the St. John office of Famous Players Film Service, Limited, from Mr.-W. W. 0. Fenety of Fredericton, N.B.. : “Eyes of Youth’? “opened Gaiety absolutely capacity business, against road attraction. Patrons delighted. Biggest and best bet so far this séason.** The above wire was unsolicited and came to the Famous Players Exchange from one of the most conservative exhibitors in the Maritime. Bookings or Chara _htimbat¥ onng in “Phe Kyes of... Youth” are coming in daily and Famous Players predet that this subject will go over big throughout the entire territory, mes