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 #:
00040
Language:
English
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, Early Cinema, and Global 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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Associated Producers Send H. M. Owens To Orient as Special Sales Representative ed Producers, Ine., in the Ori ent, and to establish American methods of film distribution in Japan, China, the Phillipine Islands, and India, Harry M. Owens, a special sales representative, will sail from San Francisco for Japan on June 2, according to an announcement issued from Associated Producers, Ine. te REPRESENT the Associat Owens will make his headquarters with the Oriental Film Co., in Tokio, and will remain in the Orient for at least three months, or as much longer as is necessary for the completion of his work. The decision of the Associated Producers to dispatch a representative to Japan was reached as the result of negotiations just closed between them and the A. H. Woolacott Co., a noted importing and exporting firm. A deal was consummated whereby the Woolacott company is to have the exclusive Oriental rights to all of the Associated Producers pictures released during the _ first year, ' “Mickey,’’ released by Regal Fi lms, majority of the theatres at which it ha: A. H. Woolacott, and a number of representatives of Japanese film interests who are in Los Angeles on a special mission in connection with the negotiations have decided that “Lying Lips,’’? Ince’s spectacular drama, will be the first production to be released, probably about July 1st. They were tremendously impressed with the scope and action of the picture and predicted that it would rank as one of the most sensational productions ever presented in the Orient. Other productions will follow the release of ‘‘Lying Lips,’’ and it is expected that the Oriental Film Co., through further negotiations being carried out by the Woolacott people, will receive sufficient other features to make possible the release of one picture a week during ‘the entire year. Owens will represent the Associated Producers, and will devote his time to modernizing the distribution system and in furthering an extensive sales and exploitation campaign throughout the Orient. THE PICTURE YOULL NEVER FORGET four times. Digitized by Google is playing return dates at the s already shown two, three and Wallace Reid Destroys $30.C00 In “ The Affairs of Anatol” ECURING $30,000 worth of S furniture for a single interior setting and then smashing that furniture before the camera produces photoplay realism but at a well-nigh prohibitive cost. Yet that is what Cecil B. DeMille did in his Paramount production, “The Affairs of Anatol,’’ which will soon be shown on the screen. The setting in question serves as a background for a part of the story portrayed by Wallace Reid, Wanda Hawley and Theodore Roberts. It is an ultra-luxurious apartment and Howard Higgin, production manager for Cecil B. DeMille productions, was instructed to spare no expense. The result was an attractive suite —designed by Paul Iribe—furnished with approximately $30,000 worth of furniture. This included a valu ‘able set of Louis XV chairs, a mag nificent carved photograph case of unique design, a grand piano, lamps, mirrors, tables, a desk and a lounge. At the climax of this episode, Wallace Reid was instructed to run amuck, smashing everything breakable in the set. The orders were comprehensive and Reid obeyed them to the letter. Not one stick of furniture remained in its original shape and position when the vandalism was complete! Using the small pieces of furniture as bludgeons, Reid shattered everything in sight while the camera clicked just out of range of his blows. Mirrors, lamps, chairs, phonographs and piano were demolished one by one. As a conclusion to the scene, the husky star seized the huge overstuffed divan and hurled it bodily through the French doors at one end of the set. Fox pictures for May include “Beyond the Price,’’ with Pearl White; Tom Mix in ‘‘A Ridin’ Romeo,’’? which he wrote; William Russell in ‘‘Colorado Pluck,’’ Shirley Mason in ‘‘The Mother Heart,’’ Harold Goodwin in “Hearts of Youth,’’ Buek Jones in ‘‘Get Your Man,’’ and Clyde Cook im‘‘The Guide.’’ , eo es @ * David H. Thompson has been named as production manager for Bayard Veiller’s producing unit at the Metro studios. Mr. Thompson formerly was production manager at the Metro studies. He will take up his new duties immediately. Page Twenty-One Original from NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY