Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-Oct 1922)

Page scan 000331 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 #:
000331
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 Sixteen CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST CAMERON ANNOUNCES THIRD EDITION | OF MOVING PICTURE PROJECTION HERE are eleven hundred pages and five hundred illustrations in a Flexo Leather bound third edition of James R. Cameron’s text-book on motion picture projection, This has just come off the press and is recognized as the standard authority on the subject of projection with an introduction by S. L. Rothapel. “Motion Picture Projection” written in simple style and deals with motion picture projection from “A” to “Z,” and the vast array of information is profusedly illustrated. The book is used and indorsed by the following organizations: U. S. War Dept., Washington, D.C.; U. S. Army Dept., Washington, D.C.; U. S. Navy Dept., Washington, D.C.; U.S, Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.; U. S. Treasury Dept., Washington, D.C.; U.S. Public Health Dept., Washington, D.C.; U. S. Dept. of Education, Newark, N. J.; U.S. Dept, of Education, New York; U. S. Dept. of Education, Chicago, is Il.; U.S. Dept. of Education, Detroit, Mich.; Dept. of Education, Boston, Mass.; Dept. of Education, Philadelphia, Pa.; Dept. of Education, Montreal, Canada; Dept. of Kducation, St. Paul, Minn; State ducation Association, Pennsylvania : State College, Iowa; University of Kansas; Dept. of Commercial Economics, Washington, D.C.; Alabama Polytechnic Institute; Rankin School of Mechanician Trades, St. Louis, Mo.; Dakota Agriculture College, North Dakota; Darlington Seminary, Westchester, Pa.; American Library Association; Dept. of Visual Instruction, Detroit, Mich.; National Committee on Conservation, Chicago; U. S. Soldiers Home, Washington, D.C. ; Libraries throughout the World; Mound Consolidated Schools, Mound, Minn.; New York State Educational Society ; Methodist Episcopalian Convention Committee ;; American Institute of Cinematography, Chicago, III, etc., ete. a Ti Look, who’s here / Eddie Barry, Helen Darli Harry Gribbon in the firs ARROW BROADWAY COMEDY BOOKED OVER THE BIG CIRCUITS EVERYWHERE Released thru Canadian Exhibitors’ Exchang: Mgr. Capt. Frank Goodale, Loew’s Ottawa, Exploits “Manslaughter” with “Safety First” Cards. A Safety-First campaign was waged in Ottawa under the direction of Capt. Frank Goodale, manager of Loew's Ottawa Theatre, during the presentation of “Manslaughter” at the Loew house. Newspaper publicity was secured in which references were made to the timely value of the picture while one outdoor stunt during the week was the attaching of Safety First warnings on the steering wheel of every parked automobile in the downtown district. ‘Whese-eards D y O Dow't Forget The read: “Safety First—Do you realize it may mean a conviction of MANSLAUGHTER if you run down a person through reckless driving? — Drive Carefully.” There was no reference to the theatre on these cards but the title of the picture was there. G. A. Smith, of Toronto, exploitation representative of the FamousLasky Film Service, Limited, wrote letters to the Ottawa newspapers asking for editorial references on the campaign against reckless automobile driving. In response to this request, the automobile editor of the Ottawa Journal ran an appropriate story on the automobile page of that paper. le NEW oleman Electric Company for General Mgr. W. W. O’Fenety Popularizes Gaiety Theatre Frederick with good Pictures The Gaiety at Fredericton, under the capable management of W. W. O’Fenety, continues to be deservedly popular and showes the very best pictures attracting always good crowds. oe —_—__. Calgary Daily Herald Reviews “Head Over Heels” At the Allen Theatre yesterday, Mabel Normand again demonstrated that she has forgotten none of the humorous acrobatic tricks with which, she delighted her friends in such pictures as “A Perfect Thirtysix,” “The Slim Princess” and others. The photoplay is the Goldwyn production, “Head Over Heels,’’ which had a long run as a musical comedy. Miss Normand appears as a foreign acrobat who has been engaged for an American tour, but is hopelessly mediocre. Her attempts to prove her ability to her managers give Miss Normand the opportunity to revel in those antics that made her famous. However, when she finds that she is a failure, her romantic temperament gets the best of her, and she turns to pugilistic means to convince her detractors of her worth. Despite her artistic failure, the imported “star” makes a genuine conquest. But to reveal how this came about would be to spoil the enjoyment of those who will laugh at Mabel Normand _ this week and chuckled over her performance long after she has left the Allen Theatre.—Calgary Daily Herald, Friday, Sept. 22nd. Famous Players Get Shea’s Hippodrome, Toronto Regent For Stock The Famous Players Corporation have leased Shea’s Hippodrome, and in two or three weeks the attractions now playing at the Regent will be transferred to the much larger theatre. An endeavor is being made to secure the Robins Players to play “stock” at the Regent for the winter. FOR SALE. — Motion Picture Block, in the thriving City of Peterborough. Theatre seats nearly 600; Gold Fibre Screen, 2 Simplex Machines ; 4 flats and store in the front, now brings in a revenue of $200.00 per month. For particulars apply Schneider Bros., 367 George Street, Peterhorough, PUBLIC LIE r UBLIC LIL e Supplies. RK Theatr