Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jun 1921-Apr 1922)

Page scan 000721 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 #:
000721
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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CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Goldwyn Having Finished Current Productions Preparations Made For New Features Present Season ITH its productions for the WW current season practically all completed, Goldwyn — Pictures Corporation is already far along in its preparations for big new photo plays for the present season. Pro duction chiefs from the studios at Culver City, Calif., have been in New York for various periods of time consulting with executives here about the new season and the type of pictures to be made. Paul Bern closed some important new deals for original scenarios and screen rights to plays and_ novels while he was in New York, and Casting Director McIntyre engagea a number of new players for important roles in new pictures, in accordance with Goldwyn’s announced intention of finding new screen faces. Among the important pictures which will receive early production are Rupert Hughes’ “Bitterness of Sweets,” which the author wil! adapt from his short story of that title and upon which he will get to work as soon as he has put the finishing touches to “Remembrance” which he wrote, directed, titled and edited. Gouverneur Morris, author of ‘The Penalty,” “Ace of Hearts,” and twe big pictures now completed, but not yet released, “Yellow Men and Gold” and “Whims of the Gods,” has written a new original screen story under the temporary title of “Always Warm and Green.” Peter B. Kyne’s story, “Brothers Under the Skin,” will be filmed as will Kathleen Norris’ new _ novel, “Sis,” not yet published. Charles Kenyon and Katharine Newlin Burt have both turned over to the scenario department original screen stories which have been purchased. Mr. Kenyon’s is called “Fame,” and deals with the life of a grand opera prima donna. Mrs. Burt’s story is another western drama, ‘The Summons,” and, in the opinion of editorial officials, is her best work for the screen, A big production of Hall Caine’s masterpiece, “The Christian,” is alsc under way. Three stories by Carey Wilson have been purchased by Goldwyn, and it is expected that two of them will go into early production. “The Glorious Adventure,” British Production, Receives Much Praise Digitized by Goc gle Municipal Moving Pictures, Bergen, Norway, Give City Net Profit of $157,048 ERGEN, Norway, a city of B slightly less than 100,000 popu lation, has seven moving picture theatres, six of which are open seven days in the week from 5 to 11 p-m. and one only on Saturday and Sunday evenings between the same hours. They have a combined seating capacity of about 4,000 and films are run from three to four times daily. The standard price of admission is Kroner 1.25 (at normal exchange, 35 cents), which price is sometimes raised to Kroner 1.50 and Kroner 2.00 (40 and 53 cents) for special pictures. The moving picture houses are all municipal and are operated directly by the municipality, through a municipal bureau, with a director at its head. (Address: Chefen for De Kommunale Kinematografer, Bergen, Norway). For the last fiscal year, ending June 30, 1921, the gross income of the Bergen municipal moving picture houses was Kroner 2,465,527 ($660,761) and the operating expenses were Kroner 1,879,527 ($503,713), leaving a net profit to the city of $157,048. At a recent meeting of the city finance committee this balance was transferred as follows: to the general city fund, $107,200; to the Kinematograf fund, $13,400; to the Bergen Symphony Orchestra, $21,440; to the Bergen museum, $4,020; to the Museum of Fine Arts, $4,020; to the Society for the Blind, $2.680; to the Bergen Historical Association, $536; and to the City school fund for beautifying public school buildings, $2,680. About $1,000 still remains for future distribution. Fully seventy-five per cent. of the films shown in Bergen are of American origin. A year ago, American pictures made up ninety per cent. of the total but Swedish, Danish and German films are growing in favor and a few good Norwegian films are also being produced and are enthusiastically received. EDWARD KNOBLOCK, well-known London dramatist: ““The Glorious Adventure”’ is very rich and beautiful. The color is most effective and adds very greatly to the appeal of the photoplay. The ensembles are impressive in their lavishness and arrangement. It is a most remarkable picture that ought to have a great success. Lady Diana will surprise every one with the excellence of her acting. Original from NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY