Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Oct 11, 1947)

‘Toronto and District CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST * By BILL PRESS THe action by Mrs. Freda Kstrien _and her husband against the Metropolitan Theatres Limited, operating the Metro Theatre on Bloor Street West, Toronto, following an alleged fall in the theatre lobby last winter, was dismissed by Mr. Justice G. A. Gale. His Lordship commented, after evidence had been heard that plaintiff was wearing shoes with four-inch heels, she must abide by the consequences in doing so. Farlier in the action, Mr.’ Justice Gale dismissed the 12-man jury on the motion of defendant’s counsel on the ground that the question of insurance had been brought into the case. Maurice Ezrin, lawyer for plaintiffs, asked that the trial proceed before His Lordship alone. The plaintiffs had charged neglect on the part of the theatre, saying that Mrs. Estrien had slipped and fallen because of slush on the lobby floor because of which she had been incapacitated for 10 weeks. 4. “kik Jack Roher’s Peerless Films, which has the Astor franchise in Canada, has moved into new quarters at 5975 Monkland Avenue, in Montreal.. » x % The annual meeting and luncheon of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario will be held on Tuesday, October 21st, at the Vanity Fair, King Edward Hotel, Toronto. Registration will. be at 10 a.m., the business meeting at 10.30 a.m., and the luncheon -at 1 p.m. It is expected that several prominent Government officials will be head table guests. All reservations should be sent to Arch Jolley, at the association office, at 21 Dundas Square. * Ok Ok Theatres at St. Catharines have been enjoying a rush of outstanding attractions and resulting competition has been keen. Among the engagements were “Dear Ruth’ at the Lincoln; “I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now” at the Capitol, followed by “Duel in the Sun” ; “Carnegie Hall’ at the Palace and “The Jolson Story” at the Park. x oe xk _ The late Hon. W. D. Ross of Toronto, a former director of Famous Players Canadian Corp., and one-time Lieut.-Governor of Ontario, left an estate valued at $2,398,228.49, according to the probate of the will. He had a substantial interest in Theatre Properties (Hamilton) Limited, owner of the Palace and Capitol in Hamilton, which he had sold to Paul L. Nathanson several years ago. gifts, the income from the estate was left for life to the widow, to be divided equally among five children at her death. xk x H. C. D. Main of Foto-Nite, Toronto, was in Eastern Ontario around October 1st in connection with new accounts. : ae Apart from have been Neighborhood theatre managers m some sections of Toronto heaved a sigh of relief when the various softball finals in city parks were concluded. Through the installation of floodlights by the Playgrounds Department, the ball season was extended and, in addition, the tunes of games were later in the evening so that they conflicted with performances at nearby theatres. : * oe Ok An unique stunt, which can be used by theatre managers wherever the picture plays, was engineered by Tony Beacon, Eagle-Lion publicity director, and Howard Elliott, manager of Odeon’s new Fairlawn Theatre, to publicize “The Magic Bow” which had a successful two weeks engagement there recently. Capitalizing on Paganini’s reputation as a great lover, Beacon got Bud Wyshniosky, a young Toronto violinist, to parade up and down Yonge Street, during the noon hour traffic, dressed up in| the uniform of the Na poleonic armies, playing romantic pieces as he strolled along. He was followed by a bevy of beautiful Arthur Murray dance teachers. The gals who joined in the gag were Susan Jarrel, Ruth Ann Rasholte, Diane Nicholas, Vicki Patch and Mary Rogers. The stunt proved a natural and greatly aided the success of the picture. * * * To commemorate the first anniversary of the Kino Theatre, Norman Clavir got out a very attractive eight page paper, complete with ads, which gave the highlights of the past year’s pictures and the future program. *x* * * “ At the B & F. Theatres Managers Association meeting and luncheon at the King Edward Hotel on Wednesday, October Ist, the following officers were elected for the coming year. ‘Ted Smith, York Theatre, President; Bill Collins, Bellevue Theatre, Treasurer ; Tommy Waterfield, Scarboro Theatre, Secretary, and Murray Sherriff, Relief Manager, Publicity Director. * Ok x Another double bill combination which is making the rounds of chain and independent houses in Ontario consists of “The Shape of Things to Come”? and “The Man Who Could Work Miracles’, both of which are re-issues. x Ok Ox The Blackstone stage show played the Savoy, at Hamilton, for one day, with performances at 4.30 and 8.30 p.m., after filling a two-weeks’ engagement at the Royal Alexandra, Toronto. Incidentally, the latter theatre cancelled the week’s premiere of a new show and substituted a picture, reportedly because of the wage cost. of a 14-man stage crew which would The technicolor picture, which stars of musical shorts, among which are _ required for performances. _ The Canadian Moving Picture Digest Entered as Second Class Matter : RAY LEWIS Editor and Publisher BERT H. WILKES Associate Editor Published by CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST j COMP. , LIMITED 277 Victoria Street Toronto Telephone: WAverley 4929 — _ Cable: Raydigest : Established 1915. Publication weekly. Subscription: $5.00 yearly — Correspondents — uber A. L. FAIRWEATHER............ Saint John, N.B. jt JoJeSCONREIN 6) (sss .chicct-ecssates Winnipeg, Man. — BRUCE PEACOCK.....................Regina, Sask. § JACK DROY...........................Wancouver, B.C. fWILL McLAUGHLIN...................Ottawa, Ont. — BILL PRESS... ceeccecseceeneene Toronto, Ont. — M-GM’s technicolor epic, — “Gone With The Wind” having _ played, on a continuous performance schedule, to capacity crowds, —_— bowed out after a five weeks engagement at Loew's Theatre, Toronto. * *k x* Ken Soble’s Tour for Talent has returned to the stage of the Palace The— atre, St. Catharines, for weekly pres_ entations on Monday night, for which auditions are held at the theatre. Manager Al Sedgwick of the Palace, recent-. ly concluded a series of balloon contests for prizes at his Saturday morning | Odeon Movie Club which aroused con-— siderable interest. a | x Ok Shama The. American Federation of — Labor sponsored a free concert of the Hamilton Civic Orchestra, Sunday night, Sept. 28th, at the Odeon Palace. *k Ok x Samuel Goldwyn’s ‘The Best Years Of Our Lives” is now in its four week, at advanced prices, at Odeon’s new Fairlawn Theatre. The surprise picture is “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now” in its sixth week at the Eglinton and Tivoli Theatres, Toronto. — June Haver and Mark Stevens, seems — to appeal to the public who continie to make it box-office. a = At the Kino Theatre, “Open. City” has returned and is playing. its second week at popular prices. — Norman Clavir reports good busineSS. x Ok Ok ES s “New Wine” the Astor release which which is based on the life o: Schubert, has been held over for a se ond week at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. On the same bill are a selection Sur “Aida” featuring the National Phil— harmonic Symphony Orchestra, and — “Dance of the Hours”, a beautiful musical scenic from Ponchiellis I, Gioconda. These aid in making a w rounded program. fee Bee eee Quebec Productions Corp. is reported to have given up the planto make a picture based on the Canadian novel, “Two Solitudes’, —