Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May 1926-Apr 1927)

Page scan 000849 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
May 1926-Apr 1927
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May 1926-April 1927)
Leaf #:
000849
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:
August 07, 2025
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Page Fourteen Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer With Short Subjects A News Reel Also For Good Measure. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have launch ed their Short Subject policy which will include a News Reel to be produced by the Hearst News Service, Inc., one thousand feet of news-reel twice a week. In connection with the Short Subject programme there is an affiliation with Hal Roach which brings “the gang” into the MetroGoldwyn-Mayer fold as “Their Babies.” In commenting upon the Short Subject and News Reel Presentation, Mr. Nicholas Schenck, First Vice-President of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is quoted as follows: “The addition of the M-G-M News Reel and M-G-M Short Subjects to our elaborate feature picture and road show enterprises has been made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in response to constant pressure from theatre owners who have felt that the M-G-M standard of production must eventually be broadened to cover every type of screen_ entertainment. We have been moved to act by the conviction of hundreds of exhibitors that their audiences whose patronage at the box-office has established the entertainment superiority of MetroGoldwyn-Mayer features will welcome the opportunity to see in one theatre a complete program of MetroGoldwyn-Mayer quality throughout.” The quote is from the Exhibitors Daily Review. In addition to “Our Gang,” the comedies offered under the M-G-M trademark will be ten comedies featuring Charlie Chase, ten featuring Max Davidson, six western comedies and six other comedies with wellknown stars. HAROLD LLOYD ARRIVES Harold Lloyd and his wife, Mildred Davis, one of Hollywood’s best known film couples, have arrived in New York City. Lloyd, who recently completed production upon “The Kid Brother,” the comedy photoplay which is now taking the country by storm, will begin preparations for his forthcoming vehicle while in the Eastern metropolis. Actual production will not begin, however, for several months. Also while in New York, the Lloyds will attend the premiere of Paramount’s “Too Many Crooks,” the picture which marks Miss Davis’ return to the screen after an absence of four years. Google CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST DOLORES COSTELLO ILLUMINATES BROADWAY WITH HER NAME When “The Third Degree,” one of Warner Bros. feature pictures opened at the Paramount Theatre recently, Dolores Costello, the daughter of the one-time screen idol, Maurice Costello, enjoyed the distinction of seeing her name in electric lights on Broadway in two pictures at the same time. This unusual happening falls to a young woman who had her name in electric letters for the first time at the premiere showing of “When A Man Loves” at the Selwyn Theatre. Miss Costello, however, is not the only player to have the distinction of being featured in two films at the same time on the Great White Way, inasmuch as John Barrymore also has that honor in being starred in “Don Juan” at the Warner and in “When A Man Loves” at the Selwyn. “STARK LOVE” HITS BROADWAY HARD “Stark Love,” Paramount’s photodrama of the natural life of America’s hidden race, the mountaineers of North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky, is having its Broadway premiere. It is declared by critics to rank with Robert Flaherty’s “Nanook of the North,” and “Moana” and with “Grass.” James Cruze, the director of “The Covered Wagon” and “Old Ironsides” has been quoted as saying that “Stark Love” will rank among the first five pictures of any year. Option on Bob Custer’s Contract Not Exercised By F.B.O. After careful and serious consideration, F. B. O. has decided not to exercise the option on Bob Custer’s contract, with the result that the young western star will finish the pictures scheduled for this season, including “Terror of Bar X,” “Crashing Hoofs,” “Bulldog Pluck” and “Galloping Thunder,” and upon their completion, sever his connections with the company. “Tell It To The Marines” “Tell It To The Marines” means more than just a phrase to Eddie Gribbon. He plays the expert troubleshooter in Lon Chaney’s latest. starring vehicle of that title. Gribbon, as the hard-boiled marine, is the pal of William Haines, the fresh young rookie from Kansas City. The latter is always drawing down the wrath of Lon Chaney, his sergeant, upon himself and it is Gribbon who comes to his rescue and extricates him from his troubles. The Season’s Sensation Is “McFadden’s Flats” It Features Charlie Murray and Chester Conklin. “McFadden’s_ Flats,’’ the Asher, small and Rogers First National special featuring Charlie Murray and Chester Conklin, which was held for the third week of its New York engagement, is the fourth picture to remain at the Mark Strand for more than two weeks since the theatre was opened thirteen years ago. The others to share the honor with “McFadden’s Flats” were “Monsieur Beaucaire,” “The Gold Rush” and “Girl Shy.” In order to accommodate the public, the starting hour was advanced from noon to 10.30 a.m. And business was terrific during the remainder of the first week, it is reported. It was held over for a second week. and in its third proved such an exceptional draw that it was only through pressure of bookings that it was taken off. Sensational success for the picture is reported from many other key cities of the United States, indicating that the screen version will rival the great record of the old stage piece, which, it is figured, has been seen by more persons than any other footlights attraction with the exception of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” “McFadden’s Flats” is now in its third week at the Adams, Detroit, and a fourth week is thought necessary to handle the tremendous crowds who crowded for admission at the picture's premiere. The Brooklyn Strand, for the second time in its history, departed from its rigid change of every week policy by holding the Charlie Murray-Chester Conklin feature over for a second week. ROXY BOOKS P. D. C.’s “FIGHTING LOVE” “Roxy” has booked “Fighting Love,” a P. D.C. picture starring Jetta Goudal, for the new Roxy Theatre. _ It will be played there among the first half-dozen pictures seen in that house. This is a production of the De Mille Studio, and was directed by William K. Howard. It is a story of the Italian Foreign Legion in Africa, and stamps Miss Goudal as one of the leading emotional actresses of the screen. The supporting cast is headed by Victor Varconi, Henry S. Walthall and Louis Natheaux. Mr. Rothafel was extremely enthusiastic when the picture was screened for him. It will be distributed in Canada through Regal Films Limited.