Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-Oct 1922)

Page scan 00058 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 #:
00058
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. Page Nine COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH COMPANY COMPLETES PLANS TO GET BEHIND VITAGRAPH’S “MY WILD IRISH ROSE” HE, Columbia Phonograph Company, through its branch service division has completed plans for the energetic work it expects to do behind the forthcoming Vitagraph release, “My Wild Irish Rose.” As previously announced, Witmark & Sons, the music publishers, are also planning extensive work along the same line. The plans of both companies anticipate close co-operation of their branches with those of Vitagraph, attractive window dressings, special souvenir editions of the music and records. Columbia’s offerings are very attractive. They include Chauncey Olcott in one record, and a beautiful quartette rendition of the old melody. “My Wild Irish Rose” lends itself particularly well to a music tie-up. The picture was screened with the utmost care so that it breathes the sentiment of the title. There are scenes in which the haunting sweetness of the old song seem to fairly spring from the silver screen. “My Wild Irish Rose” presents many possibilities for exhibitor exploitation at a minimum cost. MEN OF BIG CALIBRE BACK OF SAULT STE. MARIE FILMS, LTD. RNEST SHIPMAN, the Canadian film producer, has taken the stand that unless the leading citizens of a community become identified with new Canadian producing units, he will not function in connection with it; as no business can be greater than the calibre of men back of it. In the States the industry fell into the hands of many undesirables and big interests who have lately stepped in, are now spending millions to clean house. In Canada the industry is in its infancy. It should be started right and kept clean. Mr. Shipman says, “T have the market and about one third of production cost to invest in each separate Canadian Producing unit that is organized on solid business lines, with the leading citizens of the community in control.” This policy has been thoroughly demonstrated at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where the producing company is composed of Major P. B. Wilson, Vice President Spanish River Pulp & Paper Co.; W. C. Franz, Pres. Algoma Steel Corporation ; Col. C. H. L. Jones, Gen. Mgr. Spanish River Pulp & Paper Co.; J. D. Jones, Gen. Mgr. Algoma Steel Corporation ; George A.’Montgomery, V. P. & Gen. Mgr. Algoma Central and Hudson Bay Railway; John A. Huseey, Mgr. Huseey-Ferrier Co.; James Lyons, Pres. Board of Trade; C. W. Goodwin, Crown attorney; and F. J. Buchanan, broker. Alan Sullivan’s inspired story “The Rapids,” a story of the Sault is scheduled for the first production, and the adaptation by Faith Green, who adapted all the Ralph Connor stories for the screen, is already in the hands of the continuity writer. William Colvin, general manager for Ernest Shipman will reach the Sault early in June to pick locations, local types, etc., and pave the way for the coming of the director and an especially picked company of professional players. About two months will be consumed in the making of this feature, which will make its initial bow to the world by simultaneous screen Showings at New York City, Ottawa and the Sault. “The Four Horsemen” Plays Loew’s Ottawa At Popular Prices “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” has been booked for a repeat run of one week at the Loew Theatre, Ottawa, starting May 22. The feature is to be offered at regular prices with the usual programme of pictures and vaudeville. Joe Smith, one of the star players of the Ottawa Football Club, has been taken on the strength of the Loew Theatre staff under the new manager, Capt. Frank Goodale, formerly of the United States Balloon Corps. READ THE REVIEWS BACK COVER Google Wallace Reid Paramount’s “Across the Continent” Wallace Reid in another Byron Morgan automobile story, “Across the Continent,” is another Paramount release for June 4th. Speed, pep, thrills and plenty of action constitute the new Wallace Reid picture, “Across the Continent.” The star handles his role in the same breezy manner which made him so popular in his previous automobile pictures. The theme of the story is a transcontinental race, in which Reid drives the poor man’s car, the well known flivver. Many exciting incidents occur and obstacles are met with before the little Dent car dashes to a victorious finish in Los Angeles, after racing across the continent. Byron Morgan wrote both the original story and the scenario especially for Mr. Reid. Theodore Roberts and Mary MacLaren head the list of supporting players, which also includes Betty Francisco, Lucien Littlefield, Walter Long, Guy Oliver, Jack Herbert and Sidney D’Albrook. Capt. Frank Goodale Intro duces New Draw-ThemIn Stunt in Loew’s Ottawa The popular pastime of Capt. Frank Goodale, manager of Loew’s Ottawa Theatre, these days is picking names from the city directory. He is staging a stunt each week during the hot weather which consists in selecting one hundred names at random from the local directory and having these listed in the theatre’s house organ. Those who spot their own names in the publication are entitled to a double pass for any performance during the current week. The keen-eyed persons do not even have to go to the theatre to obtain their passes as Capt. Goodale mails them when he has received notification by telephone that somebody has seen his or her name in the list. Lent Betty His Car—Betty Grew Blither Than Ever Miss Betty Blythe, the well-known screen star, who was a guest in Toronto recently, personally called at the Filmcraft Studios to thank Blaine Irish for his generosity in having placed his car at her disposal for the entire week of her stay. “Tt is the only chariot for me,” said the fair lady as she stepped into the stunning yellow roadster which Mr. Irish had just secured from the factory the day of the star’s arrival in Toronto.