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 #:
000283
Language:
English
Collection:
Global Cinema, Hollywood Studio System, Early Cinema, and Canada
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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ed in the largest volume of business for Fox productions since the jntroduction of Fox Pic tures in Canada. : e e e Fra week of Sept. 17th. turn Mr. Devaney of the Fox Film has returned from Windsor and St. Thomas, Ont. having placed 100% Fox Serviee with Ed. Glasseo of the Empire, Windsor and Messrs. Minchall. & Boyd of the Star, St. Thomas. Mr. Devaney also placed 100% Fox Service with Mr. Sullivan of the King George, St. Catharines, Mr. P. Greenless Princess, Woodstock. F. C. Astels Bijou, Cobalt and John Blanchet, Royal, North Bay. (on Mr. J. A. Gagnier of Fox Montreal Branch has closed all Fox Service for all of George Nichols Montreal houses including, Strand, Moulin Rouge, Papineau, Regent, Belmont and the new theatre the Plaza when this theatre opens. eee W. S. Jones of Fox Winnipeg Branch. has placed All Fox Service with Allen Theatres, Regina. e* 8 ® R. W. F. BARRETT, GenerM al Manager of Fox Films, has with his recent visits to Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal now covered every Fox Branch in Canada. Mr. Barrett reports that no changes have been mude in the various Branch ‘personale, several names have, however, been added to the sales force. Mr. Thos. Davey becomes associated with sales departments at Calgary and Vancouver. Mr. J. Huber becomes attached to sales department Winnipeg, Mr. Gordon Harvey to Toronto Mr. Lague, Montreal. An increased allotment of prints will be made to each Canadian Branch office of Fox Films, plans to enlarge the Vancouver office are already under way. eo e@ @ ISS Hettie Gray Baker. productions Editor of Fox Films visited Toronto, week of Sept. 25th. Miss Baker’s stop at Toronto is part of a schedule outlined for her in connection with her work, _which will entail a visit to every province in Canada where Fox Films are being distributed. Miss Baker’s work will bring her in contact with the various censor-boards operating in Canada and the United States for Page Two Go Toronto News the purpose of better ascertaining just exactly what the Censor Boards are expecting in the way of pictures. Since Miss Baker edits all Fox productions, previous to their release, a personal talk with the various Censor Boards cannot but prove advantageous to both the (Censor Board and the Fox Films Corporation, for editing of pictures will naturally be made with the Censor angle in view. In addition to the business aspect it will have it moral effect, giving the Censor Board a clearer understanding of the persons engaged in the Motion Picture Industry. Judging by Miss Baker they must come to the conclusion that there are women of intelligence, education and breeding in the Motion Picture Industry and that their association with our business has not made them less than they were. Naturally this brings to our mind Mr. Laemmle’s invitation for the various censor boards to visit Universal City. It was a case of six for Universal but six for the Censorship Board also, not forgetting that everyone interested in the Moving Picture Industry indirectly benefited by this “Universal Close-Up.’’ Miss Baker’s visit will have an equally beneficial effect. ° e e R. VINCENT McCABE has M been appointed Divisional Superintendent for Canada for the Associated First National and Associated Producers’ productions. Mr. McCabe’s many Canadian friends will be happy to learn that he is still ‘‘one of us.’’ e e Lt “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’’ closes a four week’s engagement at Massey Music Hall. Reecipts held un remarkably well. R. HUNTER, whe was formerly associated with the Associated Producers as gencral manager for Canada, is to have charge of the distribution of Warren Pictures through the Regal Exchange. * * R. MAURICE DAVIS, for merly general manager of Equity Pictures will assume the post as Regal representative for Quebec and Maritime, specializing in the distribution of Warren and Realart productions. gle ble bill week of Sept. 26th. Constance Binney in ‘‘The Magic Cup’’ and Hope Hampton in ‘‘Love’s Penalty.’’ A great deal of the action in ‘‘The Magie Cup’’ takes place in a pawnshop and Constance Binney has every opportunity to display her versatility. ‘‘Love’s Penalty’’ created a reputation for itself in the various important American cities in which it played previous to its Toronto showing and the impression created here was likewise favorable. Th Strand opened with a dou T is rather interesting to note that Mrs. Mary Carr who plays the “‘mother’’ role in William Fox production ‘‘Over the Hill’’ is the mother of six really and truly children. Three girls and three boys. Four of Mrs. Carr’s children play with her in ‘‘Over The Hill.’’ No wonder ‘‘Ma Benton”’ registered so big in the part. As Mrs. Carr so naively and modestly explains, ‘‘It was just transferring my household duties to the sereen in ‘‘Over The Hill.’’ Regal are soon to release ‘‘Camille’?’ with Nazimova. Already a great deal of interest is being manifested in regard to this picture which has been heralded as superfine. e.6©@ e OEW’S Yonge St. Theatre pulled off a scoop when Alice Brady appeared in a picture, “The Land of Hope’’ for the week of Sept. 26th. It so happened that Alice Brady played the Royal Alexandra in ‘‘Forever After’’ a play which ran for about a year in New York. This enabled Mr. Bernstein, manager of Loew’s theatre to arrange for a personal appearance of Alice Brady at his theatre during the week. * * . William Fox's super-feature ‘‘Over the Hill’’ opened at Allens’ mond St. Theatre, Week of 26th. Tnercased prices. YMi aulvlle Sept. LSIE FERGUSON in ParaE mount picture ‘‘Footlights”’ played Regent week of Sept. 26th. Coming to the Regent for week of Oct. 2nd. is Cecil DeMille’s masterpiece, ‘‘The Affairs of Anatol’”” with Wallace Reid, Gloria Swanson, Elliott Dexter, Bebe Daniels, Monte Blue, Wanda Hawley, Theodore Roberts. Agnes Ayres, Polly Moran, Theodore Kosloff, Julia Faye, Raymond Hatton in the east. which naturally leaves us too speeehless for further comment.