Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-Oct 1922)

Page scan 00057 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 #:
00057
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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Page Eight CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST PARAMOUNT RELEASE “THE BACHELOR DADDY” -MEIGHAN ARAMOUNT announces as its release for May 28, Thomas Meighan in “The Bachelor Daddy.” This is a story by Edward Peple, author of “The Prince Chap,” which Mr. Meighan starred in some time ago for Paramount. Olga Printzlau§ wrote the scenario and Alfred E. Green directed. The picture is said to have a genuine heart interest theme—a man’s love for five motherless children who have been entrusted to his care by a dying friend. He brings the children from Arizona to his home in New York City, to the disgust of his intended bride and to the delight of his private secretary. As the story develops, blind love is awakened with surprising results, it is said. The five children, ranging in age from two and a half to nine, are among the most accomplished youngsters appearing on the _ stage. Their antics on the train bearing them to New York in care of their alto gether inexperienced foster father keep audiences in gales of laughter. Little Charlotte Jackson, who was with Meighan in “The Prince Chap,” is the oldest of the flock. Then come the DeBriac twins, Barbara Maier and tiny Bruce Guerin who, although he hasn’t yet cut all his baby teeth, ‘reveals a remarkable aptitude for acting before the camera. Mr. Meighan’s leading woman is Leatrice Joy, who was in “Ladies Must Live” and had one of the four principal roles in Cecil B. DeMille’s “Saturday Night.” Maude Wayne, former Mack Sennett comedienne. who had important roles in “Behold My Wife” and “Moran of the Lady Letty,” has the part of the disagreeable fiancee, and Adele Farrington, Laurence Wheat, of stage fame, and J. F. McDonald handle the principal character roles. Fine photography and locations characterize the produc tion. Well-Known Actor In Fox Production “Without Fear” A well-known actor in the cast with Pearl White in the William Fox production “Without Fear,” is Charles Mackay. Mackay on the stage has been with William A. Brady, Mrs. Henry Harris, George Tyler, Charles Frohman and Klaw and Erlanger productions. No doubt many motion picture-goers will remember him in “The Velvet Paw,” a Tourneur photoplay ; “The Unpardonable Sin,” “That Oakland Affair,” “The Woman of Lies,” “Me and Capt. Kidd,” “The Poison Pen,” and “The Steel King.” Mackay was educated in New York University. He hails from Coytesville, New Jersey. New Canadian Moving Picture Company, Capitalization of $100,000, “Talking Moving Pictures” Scheme A new moving picture company has been organized in Canada having for its purpose, among others, the handling of “talking moving pictures.” This fact is revealed in the announcement at Ottawa of the incorporation under a Federal charter of the Crescent Films, Limited, with headquarters at Montreal. The new company has a capitalization of $100,000. The company is also authorized to distribute films, lease theatres, etc. The directors have not been named. Go Contract For New Film Building Goes To Carter, Halls & Aldinger The contract for the new film exchange to be erected at the corner of Ellice avenue and Hargrave street, has been awarded to Carter, Halls and Aldinger, of Winnipeg, the figure being $170,000. This does not include several sub-contracts or the cost of the site and the total amount of the investment will be around ‘$300,000. The site is close to nearly all the large theatres, one block from the Capitol, and only two blocks from the Lyceum, Garrick, Allen, Province, National, Rialto and Gaiety theatres. “where are about 12 film exchanges in Winnipeg and all of these will ultimately find a home there. The first to occupy the new building will be the Famous-Lasky and the Regals. Important Conference Allen Interests Held At Winnipeg, Man. There was an important conference of Allen interests held in Winnipeg on May 16, with the shareholders of the Allen theatre building, represented by J. B. Anderson, of Edward Brown and Co.’s brokerage office. Ben Sternberg, treasurer of the Allen ‘Enterprises, Toronto, was present, as well as Bernard Allen, the president; H. J. Allen, of Calgary, and Ben Bloom, the Winnipeg director. It was decided to carry on during the summer with a number of novelties. gle Nearly 14 Weeks’ Run For Educational Comedy “Schoolday Love,” an Educational ampbell Comedy, has just closed a most notable run at Miller’s Theatre, Los Angeles, where this two-reel children and animal comedy ran for thirteen weeks and five days in conjunction with “The Silent Call.” Few if any pictures have ever had as long a run in a regular motion picture house. “Schoolday Love” was shown during the entire run of the longer picture. Doreen Turner and Coy Watson Jr. are featured in “Schoolday Love,” with a dog, a monkey, a bear and a monkey. The comedy was supervised by William S. Campbell. Vitagraph Publicity Dept. Merged Brooklyn Studio Vitagraph has completed arrangements for the housing of its entire publicity organization in its great Brooklyn studios. The action is taken as a part of a general plan to more closely co-ordinate the production and distribution units. The Brooklyn studios of Vitagraph occupy an entire city square in extent, and are the last word in modern equipment, embodying many features exclusive with this company. The change will not affect Vitagraph Exchange, which occupies an entire floor at 1600 Broadway. “The Black Bag” Finished Herbert Rawlinson Star “The Black Bag” has been completed at Universal City. It is one of Louis Joseph Vance’s most famous mystery novels, produced as a Universal special attraction starring Herbert Rawlinson. Stuart Paton directed it. Anglo-Canadian Corporation Releasing Many Successes Glen Kerr, speaking for the AngloCanadian Pictures Corporation, is another exchange manager who has no kick coming on conditions in Montreal and province. He is releasing shortly “The Chinese Puzzle” at the System theatre and “The Girl Who Won” at the New Grand. “Burn ’Em Up Barnes” is a Torchy Hines Comedy which Glen claims is one of the best of its kind and it is being booked solid, after a very successful private screening at the Strand last week. Other Anglo-Canadians in sight are Jane Novak in “The Golden Trail” which will be followed by the picture, “Garryowen” fresh from triumphs in the Old Country.