Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Apr 1923-Apr 1924)

Page scan 000676 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Apr 1923-Apr 1924
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (April 1923-April 1924)
Leaf #:
000676
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System, Global Cinema, Early Cinema, and Canada
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
New York Public Library
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 31, 2025
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ee ———— -but Pleasing and satisfies patrons. I TORONTO, CANADA. tat Page Forty-one Tame he ee a A a eS | i xhibitor’s Reports | | ee ee ee ee et ee ee em de ee ee ee ed et ne Name of Picture: “Lawful Larceny.” Star: Naldi-Nagel. Exchange: Famous-Lasky. Condition of Film: Good. General Remarks: Excellent in every respect, should draw well. Don’t be afraid to advertise this one. J. Singerman, Passe Temps, Joliette, Quebec. Name of Picture: “Isle of Lost Ships.” Star: Sills. Exchange: First National. Condition of Film: Good. General Remarkss A. dandy, why some came twice to see it. Book it and boost it. You can’t go wrong. J. Singerman. Name of Picture: “Masters of Men.” Star: All stat. Exchange: Vitagraph, Inc. Condition of Film: Good. General Remarks: This picture is all that they say it is, and it will make money for anyone that boosts it, and it can be bought at a reasonable price. It is one of the few pictures that I have played that have come back the second night as strong as the first. Harry Boyse. Name of Picture: “Midnight Cabaret.” 3 Star: Larry Semon. Exchange: Vitagraph. Condition of Film: Al. General Remarks: Semon’s comedies are all the same—see one see them all—they are all good and that 1s about all that can be said about them. Draw fairly well. H. R. Walker. Name of Picture: “Enemies of Bee at change : Regal. Condition of ie Good. General Remarks: An elaborate production finely acted, although long held the interest throughout. Griffin, Sarnia. _ Name of Picture: “The White Rose,” Pen _ Star: Mae Marsh. Exchange: D. W. Griffith. Condition of Film: Good. General Remarks: Not a big picture Played it at $1.00 top, which is too much. Should not be played at more than 50c. top. Used stands, sixes, threes, ones cards. G. A. Stuart, Empire, Saskatoon. Name of Picture: ‘“Adam’s Rib.” Stars: Anna Q. Nilsson, Elliott Dexter, Milton Sills and Pauline Garon. Exchange: Famous Lasky. Condition of Film: Good. General Remarks: A well made and well acted picture. Possibly a little drawn out on the pre-historic part. Used twenty fours, sixes, threes, ones, cards and heralds. Patrons seemed to like it and business was fair in City of 30,000. G. A. Stuart. Name of Picture: “Dollar Devils.” Star: Cullen Landis, Eva Novak. Exchange: Hodkinson, through Educational. Condition of Fila: Good. General Remarks: Better than a program picture, in fact as good as some so-called “specials.” Just the thing for a small town, but good enough for any town, and with such a combination on it. Landis draws well here anyway. Pleased 95 per cent. D. W. Tucker, Masonic Hall, Louisburg. Name of Picture: “The Face on the Barroom Floor.” Star: Henry B. Walthall. Exchange: Fox. Condition of Film: Good. General Remarks: Not a new subject, but satisfactory in every way, if you have not already played it you © can’t go wrong. Name of Picture: “The Common Law.” Star: Corinne Griffith, Elliott Dexter, Milton Sills. Exchange: Warner Bros. Condition of Film: Good. General Remarks: One of the best. Cannot go wrong on this picture. Well acted, well photographed and directed. Good story. Used stands, sixes, threes, ones, cards. Business good. \ G. A. Stuart. Name of Picture: “The Pride of Polomar.” Star: Forrest Stanley and Marjorie Daw. Exchange: Famous Lasky. Condition of Film: Good. General Remarks: Exceptionally liked, some patrons went as far as to say it was the best they ever saw here. E. L. MacLachlan, Watrous, Sask. = M.P.T.O OF CANADA THOSE WHOM THE DicEsT HATH JoINED TOGETHER LET No ¥ “Bieo’ PuT ASUNDER 61 A ROBIN ? 1T LOOKS LIKEA sparrow! (Copyright Canadian Moving Picture Digest.) Before Edy Biares Read The Digest Advertising, Rages,