Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jun 1921-Apr 1922)

Page scan 000734 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 #:
000734
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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TORONTO, CANADA. Page Seven Educational to Launch Spring Campaign For Canadian-Made Camera Classics attended the three first releas es of Camera Classics comes the announcement of the fourth and current edition of Filmeraft’s onereel wonder pictures. Simultaneous with the release of the new subject will be launched a Spring campaign on behalf of the Filmeraft product by Educational Films Ltd. This prominent distributing organization, confident of the good impression that the forthcoming releases will create for Filmcraft, believes that the time for additional effort is when these’ clever Canadian short subjects are enjoying the first flush of success. Consequently a very extensive campaign will be carried on, not only in Ontario and the east, but in Manitoba and the Western Provinces. Exhibitors will be advised of the release dates through the Educational offices in ‘Toronto. Effective one-sheets of a distinctive design have been designed for the theatres showing Camera Classics; and these will be furnished by the exchange. ‘Theatre owners will be ad C LOSE on the success which has Great Success Attends Showing Fox Special, “Queen of Sheba” Great success attended the showing of the famous spectacular Fox production “The Queen of Sheba” at the St. John Opera House recently. ‘This wonderful picture ran here for four days and on all sides were heard praises for the beauty of the settings and the magnificence of the acting. ‘The lovely singing of Miss Kathryn Irwin Gallivan added greatly to the effectiveness of the production. ‘The next big attraction here will be "A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court.” English and French Titles Now Presented in Quebec A comparatively large number of features now being presented in Quebee have bilingual titles because of the large percentage of French-speaking people in that Province. Paramount features, such as “The Sheik’s Wife.” “The Law and the Woman,” starring Betty Compson, and others have all titles in both English and French. vised of the date of release for the fourth edition of the Filmeraft short subject, and marked copies of the ‘Toronto Star Weekly and the Manitoba Free Press, carrying the display advertising and the announcements, will be mailed to exhibitors. In this way theatre managers will hive up to date news, on the current editions; will know how the Classics are taking in the centres all through the country; and, will be in possession of full particulars of an unbiased nature when the booker calls on them. The Star Weekly and the Free Press will carry detailed write-ups of each release, thus affording exhibitors particulars regarding contents of the subjects incorporated in each issue. Many exhibitors have been under the impression that each edition is identical with the first in the number and type of subjects incorporated. ‘This is not the case, for each new release of Camera Classics introduces some novelty that has not hitherto been featured, and the programs vary from three to four subjects—a_ different compilation being chosen for each issue. Seven Theatres in St. John Show Canuck Advertising Films The attractive animated motion picture advertising films of the Canuck Film Company is being shown in seven St. John theatres and in practically every theatre in the Maritime Provinces. It has taken very well on account of its novelty and the cleverness of the designs. ‘The Queen Square Theatre which has not up to the present time shown advertising is now running the reels of the Canuck Film Company. Latest Christie Completed Is “A Hickory Hick” ‘A very rural comedy is the latest Christie to be completed featuring Bobby Vernon. Although the characters are very “hickory” most of the action takes place in a city where Bobby Vernon is honeymooning with his country bride, played by Charlotte Stevens, the little beauty contest winner from Chicago who is making her first appearance as a leading lady in this picture. The comedy was written by Robert Hall and directed by Harold Beaudine and Bobby Vernon. Google Film Exchange Building At Last To Be Erected In Winnipeg To Cost $200,000 The movement to erect a film exchange in Winnipeg to house the 14 exchanges located here, has assumed practical shape, and = contracts have been made with all the exchanges and kindred interests to occupy the structure. which will he erected on the corner of Ellice Avenue and Hargrave Street in the centre of theatre activitics in Winnipeg. The building will cost $200,000 and will meet all the suff regulations in the Winnipeg by law affecting film exchanges. No fire has ever taken place in a film exchange, a tribute to the managers and their staffs. Work on the new building will start this month. Harry Tate's London Follies Company Visits Mack Sennett Studios, Los Angeles During their week's engagement at the Mason Opera House, Los Angeles, the London Follies Company, starring Harry Tate, journeyed out to the studios of the Mack Sennett Comedies, The full company, numbering fifty-four people, none of whom have ever been in the United States before, registered surpris¢ and deep interest when they saw for the first time, moving pictures in course of production. All attention was focused on Mabel Svormaad, while the whimsical little star worked through a scene in her forthcoming picture, ‘‘Suzanna.’’ Sylvia Breamer Of Stage And Screen Fame Is Now With William Russell William Russell in the Fox picture “Money to Burn,” is fortunate in his leading woman, Sylvia Breamer. Miss Lreamer is a most competent actress, and a young woman of charming personality. A native of Australia, she had five years of stage experience there in American successes. In this country she supported Grace George in two successiul plays before entering pictures. On the sereen, she has been with Triangle-Ince, ‘Tourneur, Arteraft, J. S. Blackton, prior to her engagement by Tox. Agnes Avres has started work at the Lasky studio on her new Paramount picture by Beulah Marie Dix. “Borderland” is the title and Paul Powell is directing. ‘The theme of the story is said to be prolific of much dramatic action and affords Miss Ayres one of the best parts she ever had.