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Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-Oct 1922)

Page scan 000185 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 #:
000185
Language:
English
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System, Global Cinema, Early Cinema, and Canada
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 SUCCESS OF “NERO” AT LYRIC LEADS FOX TO LEASE TWO THEATRES ONTRACTS have been signed whereby William Fox — leased from the Shuberts for the coming season two of their most important theatres in New York for the presentation of feature motion picttres. The first lease signed was for the Lyric Theatre. on which Mr. Fox had a summer lease which would terminate ina few days. Owing to the success of “Nero,” the screen spectacle now playing at the Lyric, Mr. Fox obtained a new lease which will carry him through the coming winter season. He will extend the run of “Nero” until! Sunday. September 3. and on Monday, September 4, Labor Day, he will present at the Lyric for the first time on any sereen a new photoplay entitled “A Little Child) Shall Lead Them.” It was written by an anonymous screen writer, who is announced simply as “Mr. X.,” just to whoop up the excitement. This photoplay was directed by J. Searle Dawley. The second playhouse leased by FANS LITERALLY Mr. Fox is the Forty-fourth Street Theatre. The Fox company will take possession of that house on Monday, August 14, and will present for the first time in New York a screen presentation of Alexander Dumas’ famous romance “Monte Carlo” for an indefinite engagement. Following the engagement of these two features Mr. Fox plans to present at these theatres during the season the following photoplays: “If Winter Comes,” picturized by Harry Millarde from A. S. M. Hutchinson's story of the same name; “The Town That Forgot God," written by the anonymous “Mr. X” and directed by Harry Millarde, and a screen production of Wright Lorimer’s play ‘The Shepherd King,” staged by J. Gordon Edwards in Egypt and Palestine. “Silver Wings,” with Mary Carr, which Mr. Fox is now presenting at the Apollo Theatre, will continue at that house until Sunday, August 20, when the Fox lease on the theatre will expire. STORM LEADING AND SMALL THEATRES IN OTTAWA pee people of Ottawa, Ontario, gave remarkable evidence of ‘show hunger” during the week of August 7 when thousands of photoplay fans literally stormed several of the leading local theatres. The houses were filled to capacity for a number of the matinee performances during the week and a quette was in evidence in front of two or three theatres for evening shows. Loew's (tlawa Theatre enjoyed the heaviest summer business in a long, long time while the Imperial, Regent and Centre Theatres played to capacity houses almost every night. The line-up of patrons in front of Loew's Theatre was well-nigh sensational considering the general situation that has prevailed for weeks. It was a real comeback to genuine business and a return to the good old days when crowds ‘ generally waited outside of every house. Cool weather aided the situation but the exhibitors were of the opinion that better days were now at hand to stay. After the experiences of the week, the local theatre men now look forward with confidence to business activities for the fall) and winter months. € The film attraction at Loew's ‘Theatre was “For the Soul of Rafael,” starring Clara Kimball Young. The Imperial presented “The Bonnie Brier Bush” and “Manager Harry Brouse used the pipers’ band of the 38th Ottawa Regiment and a Scottish dancer, Miss Jessie Howden, to good effect. The Kilties’ band paraded the streets behind a motor car which carried banners announcing the picture. The band concluded its parades by marching straight into the theatre and onto the stage for a musical prologue for the feature. ‘his stunt aroused marked enthusiasm, On the Monday night, the people stood four deep at the rear of the orchestra seats and lined down the outside aisles, the house being absolutely packed. At Allen’s Regent Theatre, “Channing of the North-West,” starring Eugene O’Brien. brought out big crowds, the theatre staff being extremely busy handling the capacity audiences. Rex Beach's “The Iron Trail” also crowded the Centre Theatre. The smaller houses, Francais, Princess, Fern and Rex, also had crowds that caused the proprietors to rub their eyes with wonder. The big business at all theatres proved to he I rare treat for the exhibitors. Moving Picture World, Jan. 21, 1922. “DETERMINATION” Big LeeBradford Production Has Enough Thrills for Two Pictures. REVIEWED BY CLARENCE 1... LINZ “Determination” contains enough thrills to supply several photoplays, but in its present eleven-reel length it is too long. However, the feature is being cut down to eight reels, its presentation in’ Washington, D. C., heing merely a preview showing for the purpose of ascertaining for LeeBradford the exact extent of its public appeal. ‘This writer is confident that when the proposed eliminations are made to shorten the picture that it will not only be a stronger attraction, but incidentally will find a welcome public awaiting its general exhibition in this country. This is the picture that Washingtonians financed under Capt. Stoll, who also wrote the story, but who deserted the task before it was completed. However, further capital was enlisted and the production, which was more than a year in the making, was finally completed. The task of cutting it was apparently a gigantic one, but this work was so skilfully handled that the production bids fair to be one of the most talked-of State rights pictures in the market. “Determination” played in Washington for two weeks to splendid business. This business was done during the two worst show weeks of the yeir. Christmas and New Years. The story is essentially a character study, intended to depict the activities of a man who has devoted his life and fortune to the uplift of humanity. In this connection are shown hopeless drug addicts, Fagans, ‘“‘fences,” “stools,” pickpockets, confidence men and women who make up the residents of Whitechapel, the vice-ridden section of London. Glimpses also are given of Parisian underworld life. Lyceum Theatre, Winnipeg, Lining Up Strong The Lyceum Theatre, Winnipeg, has bought ‘Foolish Wives,” “Human Hearts” and “The Storm” for showing this autumn. It is also believed that five Metro specials have been bought including “The Priscners wi Zenda” and “Broadway Rose.” These will be added to “Orphans of the Storm,” “Theodora,” the new Fairbanks, Pickford and Chaplin super specials to be shown at this house. For Early Showing the Lyceum Books Some Winners The Lyceum, Winnipeg, has booked for early showings: Arliss in “The Rulitig Passion”; Rex Beach’s ‘Fair Lady”; Lon Chaney in “The Trap”; “My Wild Irish Rose” and ‘Too Much. Business.”