Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-Oct 1922)

Page scan 000247 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 #:
000247
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 Ten CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST THE DIGEST EDITORIAL GETS ADDITIONAL SEVEN THOUSAND CIRCULATION September 16th, 1922. Dear Mr. Lewis. As it is only possible for us to make a success of “AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS IN CANADA” through the assistance of our contributors and the cooperation of Departments, it will, I am sure, be pleasing to you to read a letter which I have received to-day from the Southern Power Company, Limited, a copy of which I attach for your information. Our publication seems to be gaining every day the approval of the thinking business man, and our monthly issue has increased to over 7,000, purely through direct request. Please, therefore, accept the hearty thanks of this Department for your splendid co-operation and my sincere hope is that you will continue the good work in the way of contributions towards our publication as you have done in the past. Yours sincerely, NORMAN 8S. RANKIN, Special Publicity Agent. Ray Lewis, Lsq., Editor, Canadian Moving Picture Digest, ‘Toronto, Ont. The September issue of the “Agricultural and Industrial Progress In Canada” contained the editorial, ‘“Canadian Moving Picture Industry” which was published in The Canadian Moving Picture Digest issue of July 15th.—( Ed.). Christie Cartoon Ads Meeting With Success The new type of newspaper advertising on the series of Christie Comedies has met with instantaneous success, according to Educational’s branch managers. This new accessory is an ad. mat on the comedies for use in regular theatre advertising displays, embodying the idea of the comedy characters in cartoon form which appear on the subtitles of all the Christie Comedies. These comedy art titles were evolved and are regularly created on all the new Christie Comedies by Norman McLeod, and the public everywhere knows the little Christie cartoon characters whose antics parallel the evolutions of the plots. First use of these, tied up in theatre advertising, was suggested by Milton Il. Feld, manager of Frank L. Newman's “Newman Theatre” at Kansas City, Mo. Google Southern Canada Power Company, Limited Montreal 14th September, 1922. Norman Rankin, Esq. Kditor of Publications, Canadian Pacific Railway, Montreal. Dear Sir :— On my frequent trips to the States, I have shown some American bankers, who are very much interested in Canadian industrial and power possibilities, copies of your Bulletin. These gentlemen have been very much interested in the Bulletin, and if it is not too much trouble, they would undoubtedly appreciate being put on your mailing list. I am also suggesting other names of influential people who, if they are not already on your list, would be glad to keep in touch with conditions so clearly outlined in your periodical. 1 take this occasion to particularly compliment you on your September issue, which, to my mind, is quite the finest thing of its kind I have seen. I showed this issue to Mr. Nesbitt, of Nesbitt, Thomson and Company, and he asked me to get a number for distribution to his organization. They are interested not only in Bulletin but also in your very fine Investors’ Index supplement. (Signed) S$. SCHWARTZ, Industrial Engineer. WHEN BUYING PICTURES EXHIBITORS READ THE DIGEST ADVERTISEMENTS. Larry Semon To Appear In A Canadian Story Larry Semon, Vitagraph star, has just finished his comedy and is reported as having started on a story which is Canadian. Mgr. Kraker, St. John Opera House, Boosting Monte Christo The St. John Opera House is giving much publicity to the picture Monte Christo, which they are showing this week. Manager Kraker. who is alert for the best in pictures, went to New York especially to see this picture which he pronounces a magnificent film. Queen Square, St. John, continues to draw large crowds with musical fe Business In Winnipeg Reported To Be Booming Business in) Winnipeg for early September is excellent, and as none of the picture theatres closed this summer the profits coming in at present are very welcome. John Welch Receives Hodkinson Appointment For West Mr. Plowright, general manager for Canada, Hodkinson Attractions. has appointed Mr. John Welch as special Hodkinson — representative, Winnipeg to Vancouver. Wedding Anniversary Guests’ Stunt Here’s a sure-fire novelty idea that’s bound to tickle the home folks. Announce in your ads before the engagement of “T’he Fatal Marriage” and run a news story if possible stating that on the opening night you will admit all couples whose wedding anniversary falls upon that day. Ask them to bring documentary proof of some sort—the wedding certificates— anything in fact that will establish proof. This stunt will stir up a lot of local interest. People will talk about it. Call your opening night WEDDING ANNIVERSARY NIGH T—Make it a real event. Pauline Garon, Star of “The Man From Glengarry, Makes Appearance At Imperial, Ottawa Pauline Garon, star of “The Man From Glengarry,” which has been produced in Ottawa by Ernest Shipman, made personal appearances at the Imperial Theatre, Ottawa, during the week of September 11th, when the attraction was ‘Reported Missing,” in which she was co-starred with Owen Moore. Prize Contest Introduced By Princess on “Winners Of The West” The Princess Theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, boosted interest in the Universal serial, “The Winners of the West,” to a considerable extent by the conducting of a historical and geographical answer contest among patrons of the theatre during the weeks that the subject was presented. Sets of questions were submitted in tabulated form from week to week, and the prize of a new bicycle was offered for the best answers. Announcement was made on September 15th that the wheel had been won by Joseph Carl Singer, a pupil in the Ottawa Collegiate Institute, who is 13 years of age.