Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jun 1921-Apr 1922)

Page scan 000100 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jun 1921-Apr 1922
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jun 1921-Apr 1922)
Leaf #:
000100
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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H. S. Locke, Librarian for Toronto Speaks Influence of Movies on Children T a meeting of the Canadian A Authors’ League, Mr. H. G. Locke, Librarian for Toronto, touched upon the question of Moving pictures in relation to children. Mr. Locke stated that he had no fear of the effect of Motion Pictures upon children. He was much more afraid of their effect upon grownups. Later when interviewed in reference to this point Mr. Locke stated that they had an attendance of 400,000 children at their libraries last year. Nineteen of their staff devoted themselves exclusively to children’s work and they report that the children’s story hour is of much more interest to children than Motion Pictures. Children generally attend Motion Picture theatres because their parents desire to go. Children are bored by ‘‘love-scenes’’ and dislike harrowing incidents. Mr. Locke states that it is a dreadful waste of time and energy to endeavor to pass laws or introduce bills making Motion Pictures safer for children. Some few years ago in the section of the Davenport library two small Motion Picture theatres opened and made a special appeal for a children’s trade with pictures uninteresting to children. Mr. Locke stated that the story hour for children at the library became so popular that these Motion Picture theatres eventually were forced to close. Meanwhile we note that the reformers are after us again. Almost Digitized by Gor gle daily there appears a derogatory statement in the press in reference to Motion Pictures. It appears that no meeting is free from some speaker who feels he is qualified to talk upon the Motion Picture question. When speakers of Mr. Locke’s type make Motion Picture comments we are bound to respect their opinion, since they are in a position to furnish statistical backing. As for the effect of Motion Pictures on grownups, that is quite another matter. The great interest in life is the preservation and perpetuation of child life. Start there with all reforms and ideals and the grown-ups will have ideals and need no reforms. Claire Hague, general manager Canadian Universal Film, states that the Jewel combination offer far exceeded expectations in booking and that it was necessary to order new prints of the subjects in the combination offer. “THE SHULAMITE’’ Gloria Swanson started this week on ‘‘The Shulamite’’ for Paramount with Mahlon Hamilton as leading man. The cast also includes Russell Simpson and Lillian Leighton. ‘‘The Shulamite’’ was scenarized by J. E. Nash from the play and novel—the former by Edward Knoblock and Claude Askew, the latter by Alice and Claude Askew. Priscilla DEAN Reputati on’ Its a Universal NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY ARTHUR LEVEY IN CHARGE OF FOREIGN SALES DEPT. ENERAL Manager Al LichtG man of Associated Producers, Inc., announces the appointment of Arthur Levey to assume charge of the foreign sales department. Mr. Levey comes to Associated Producers with vast experience in the motion picture industry all over the world. His association with the screen covers a period of eleven years. Best known as an exporter and pictorial representative in America for the Associated Newspapers, Ltd. (Lord Northeliffe Press), Mr. Levey is an expert in foreign film conditions. In 1916 he organized the Overseas Distributing Corporation in partnership with John R. Freuler, Samuel S. Hutchinson, and Sam _ Fields, through which company he established foreign distribution for the entire programme and output of the Mutual Film Corporation for the territory of Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, India and Straits Settlements. Besides exporting he was also active in importing foreign films, among which were included many of the most successful British productions. Following fourteen months of serviee with the American Infantry in France, Mr. Levey went to London where he succeeded in interesting Lord Northcliffe in a plan to cem ent the friendship of America and Great Britain as a result of which ‘“‘The Lord Northcliffe Mission’’ was organized and sent to America. Through Levey ’s efforts the ‘‘AngloAmerican Unity League’’ was formed recently with the purpose of fostering better understanding between England and America. Edna Murphy and Johnnie Walker, who made theif bow to screen fans in the renowned ‘‘Over the Hill,’’ and followed this up with ‘‘Fantomas,’’ have been promoted to stardom, and are hard at work under Director Edward Sedgwick, in a costarring venture carrying the working title, ‘‘Live Wires.”’ Other Fox stars now in the throes of picture making at Hollywood are Tom Mix, Eileen Perey, William Russell, Shirley Mason and Buck Jones. Original from Page Nine