Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jun 1921-Apr 1922)

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jun 1921-Apr 1922
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jun 1921-Apr 1922)
Leaf #:
00020
Language:
English
Collection:
Global Cinema, Canada, Hollywood Studio System, and Early Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
New York Public Library
Sponsor:
Google Books
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:
June 13, 2024
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Ralph Ince Directs and Plays Abraham Lincoln in “The Highest Law” HEN the Selznick players W were at work in Washing ton making the picture, ‘“‘The Highest Law,’’ released by Select, they found themselves continually tripping over meshes of red tape, spread out all over the capital city to catch unwary feet. However, their hardihood resulted in some very interesting shots. The incongruity of Lincoln in his frock coat and stove pipe hat gravely regarding the new million dollar Lincoln Memorial from his up-to-date automobile, with airplanes buzzing overhead, and electric cars hurrying by, may be imagined. By the way, this was the first time permission had been given to photograph the Memorial. It was not understood by members of the company that it was necessary to have a permit to take photographs in the Arlington cemetery, and Ralph Ince conceived the idea of having his picture taken impersonating Lincoln paying respect to the heroes of the Maine. However, just after the cameraman had taken the picture the guard dashed madly up and rudely ejected them from the cemetery. The spectacle of Ralph Ince riding through the streets of Washington in his Lincoln make-up drew large crowds of people wherever he went. Some old darkies who remembered the days when Lincoln was alive believed they were seeing a ‘“‘ghost’’ and fled in terror. Secretary Tumulty gave Mr. Ince permission to take pictures in the grounds of the white house, and this occasion was the first since the war began that any one was allowed to take a camera into the white house vicinity. Scene from ‘‘That Girl From Montana,’’ Specialty release. The Russell Theatre, Ottawa, opened a Summer season on Monday, May 23rd, with a combination of music, girls and feature pictures four times daily. This is an entirely new venture with Allen’s Russell, Digitized by Goc gle Robert Scott, formerly manager of Fox Film Corporation, has purchased from Wiley Pettis the leases of the Empire and Lonsdale Theatres, North Vancouver, and took possession May Ist. NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY SECOND DELEGATION OF UNITED ARTISTS SENT TO EUROPE BY HIRAM ABRAMS sent to Europe by Hiram Abrams, to look after the distribution of the ‘‘Big Four’’ product, have already sailed _ for France on the Celtic, where, within a fortnight, offices will be opened in Paris, from which point the distributing of this organizations’! productions will be handled in the future. Immediately after the establishment of the Paris Branch, offices will be opened in other localities, and the product of the ‘‘Big Four’’ will find its way to the theatres of France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Czech-slovakia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Greece, The Balkans and Jugo-slavia. Guy Croswell Smith, well known in the film export business, and who has been located in Europe for the past number of years, headed the delegation and will have charge of the distribution organization in Continental Europe. Prior to his entrance into the export end of the film industry he was connected with the D. W. Griffith organization. During the World War, Mr. Smith was a Special Agent for the U. S. Department of State throughout Europe and was also the representative in Russia, Scandanavia and Switzerland, for the Committee on Public Information. Palmer Cushing, who aceompanied Mr. Smith, will assume the duties of Treasurer of the European organization. He was formerly connected with P. W. Chapman and Company, investment bankers, and for many years has been connected with companies on Wall Street. During the War he was with the French Army and after the signing of the Armistice negotiated many business deals for the United States Government. Ts SECOND delegation to be An example of the value of moving pictures as a_ historical record was seen in Ottawa on the anniversary of the Battle of Langemarck, April 22nd, when a collection of pictures showing the presentation of colors to the 38th Battalion of Ottawa, the training of the unit in Bermuda, the departure of the battalion to England and other details were screened publicly. These Pictures were taken early in the war. * * * Mr. Cohn of A.B.C. announces that stars and scenes of importance and interest have been secured for forthcoming issues of Sereen Snapshots. Original from Page Five