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Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-Oct 1922)

Page scan 00054 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
May-Oct 1922
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-October 1922)
Leaf #:
00054
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:
July 26, 2023
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TORONTO, CANADA. HODKINSON TO RELEASE BIG FEATURES “THE LIGHT IN THE CLEARING” has an all-star cast and it contains plenty of action, interest and entertainment. It has good exploitation possibilities. “THE LIGHT IN THE CLEARING” will play all the key cities in Canada around the first of June. Next in order will be Myrtle Reed’s second story for Hodkinson release “AT THE SIGN OF THE JACK O’LANTERN.” This is a thrilling story by one of the best known novelists of the day. The cast includes such well-known players as Earl Schenck, Betty Ross Clark, Wade Botler and Victor Potel. Next in order will be “FRENCH HEELS” marking Irene Castle’s return to the screen after an absence of some time. Miss Castle wears some beautiful gowns and gives a demonstration of the dance which made “the Castles” famous. The phenomenal success of this picture in the States leads us to believe that it is destined to clean up with Canadian exhibitors. Negotiations are now pending for an entire circuit to run this: picture in Canada. The next will be “OTHER WOMAN’S CLOTHES” from the story “THE LUXURY TAX” by Ethel Donoher. This is a very good title to bring ’em in and will appeal to the heart of every woman. The cast includes Mabel Ballin, Crauford Kent and Raymond Bloomer, all of whom are well known to the moving picture public. “FREE AIR” which ran in the Saturday Evening Post and was written by Sinclair Lewis, author of ‘Main Street,” is another Hodkinson release. The title offers big possibilities for exploitation and the story is said to be one of the fastest moving of its kind ever produced. Hodkinson will shortly release Irvin V. Willat’s picture “FIFTY CANDLES” which ran serially in the Saturday Evening Post and which was written by Earl Derr Biggers the WITH BIG TITLES author of “The Seven Keys To Baldpate.” The cast includes the beautiful Marjorie Daw who has endeared herself to the moving picture patrons by the enactment of the many roles which she has had in big pictures, lately released. Bertram Grasby appears opposite Miss Daw and does not need much of an introduction. Not only is he an old-timer of stage reputation but he made his debut in moving pictures several years ago and has a part which particularly suits him in “Fifty Candles.” The story itself is very fine, abounding in mystery, interest and should prove a sure-fire box office attraction not only for its natural advertising and exploitation possibilities, but because of the fact that the story is familiar to countless numbers through the Saturday Evening Post. The director, Irvin V. Willat, knows how to make a mystery story and it is confidently expected that “FIFTY CANDLES” will prove a winner on the Hodkinson Program. “THE LIGHT IN THE, CLEARING” from the story by Irving Bacheller, whose books are widely read and who enjoys the reputation of writing real honest-to-goodness_ stories of every day life is another Hodkinson release. ‘I. Hayes Hunter is the producer and it will be remembered that he was the man who conceived the production “EARTHBOUND” which proved such a tremendous success. The majority of the scenes are laid in and around Yellow Stone National lark and the picture has some of the most beautiful shots ever seen. ‘The trade papers were unanimous in their approval of this picture and the success of its pre-release showings has far exceeded expectations. The paper and advertising accessories on this picture call for no little praise for the advertising department which has certainly taken great pains to put this in such a shape that it will draw them into the boxoffice. Famous-Lasky Film Service Hold Convention in Toronto Famous-Lasky Film Service are holding a convention of salesmen and branch managers in Toronto—where the sales policy for the new year will New British Picture Shows Garrick, Winnipeg The new British picture, “The Amazing Quest of Mr. Bliss,” had its first showing in Canada at the Garrick, Winnipeg, the week of May 15, and was given a hearty endorsement of all the press and a large patronage. be mapped out in detail. & O gle* from the Hopkins studios. Page. Five Three Two-Reel Educational Comedies Endorsed by Board Three two-reel comedies released by Educational were picked by the Board of Photoplay Endorsers of Indiana in a group of pictures selected from all the subjects reviewed by it this year as particularly = recommended. These pictures are “No Parking” and “A Barnyard Cavalier,” Christie Comedies, and ‘Torchy’s Frame-Up,” a Torchy Comedy featuring Johnny Ilines. Neal Burns is featured in “No Parking,” with Helen Darling and the popular baby and dog team, Jane Hart and “Laddie.” “A Barnyard Cavalier” features Bobby Vernon, with Viora Daniel. Order-in-Council Regulates Pictures In Federal Parks The Canadian Government has passed an) Order-in-Council — which provides for the regulating of Federal Parks in the Dominion with regard to moving picture theatres. The enactment provides a license fee of $10 per year for moving picture houses in the National parks. An annual fee of $1 per year is also required for each cinematograph projection machine used in any of the parks. Projection machine operators are required to pay an annual fee of $1. The new law is not intended to produce revenue for the Government, but merely to bind the control of places of amusement. Incidentally, the Federal Government's fees for theatres and operators are far lower than those imposed by Provinces and cities on theatres and operators within their control. Music Publishers To Tie Up With “My Wild Irish Rose” M. Whitmark & Sons, music publishers, are preparing an elaborate exploitation tie-up with the new Vitagraph special “My Wild Irish Rose.” Plans at this time include a special souvenir edition of the song, “My Wild Irish Rose.” Handsome window displays, with special decorative material, and a concerted effort on the part of the entire organization. The letter to Witmark branch offices says: “We are rushing through a special souvenir edition of ‘My Wild Irish Rose’ as well as a flash streamer. You know what we have done so far with ‘Smilin’ Through’ and it is only getting started. No reason why we should not be able to accomplish the same thing with ‘My Wild Irish Roegwie