Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 31, 1948)

Page scan 0004 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jan 31, 1948
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 31, 1948)
Leaf #:
0004
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System, Global Cinema, Early Cinema, and Canada
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Picture Pioneers, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
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 14, 2025
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January 3Ist, 1848 CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Lawson Elected New President Of Canadian Picture Pioneers The Canadian Picture Pioneers held their Seventh Annual Meeting at the King Edward Hotel, Toronto, January 22nd. Following the registration of members, the business sessions opened with an address by the president, Oscar Hanson, who reviewed the past year’s activities, covering membership in Ontario, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver, and further reported that the district branches had strengthened their association, and had shown every evidence of being powerful branches of the national organization. The total number of members of Canadian Picture Pioneers is now 433, broken up into district branches as follows: Ontario, 194; Montreal, 36; Vancouver, 53; Winnipeg, 59; Calgary, J1; St. John, 22; U.S.A., 18. Members of the Canadian Picture Pioneers who passed away during the past year include: Mr. Wm. Edward, Toronto; Mr. James Foy, Oshawa, and Mr. Victor Armand, Vancouver. The president asked for a standing tribute in their memory. Mr. Hanson thanked the officers, the board, and members, for their co-operation. The Treasurer’s Report, as prepared by George Beeston, assistant-treasurer, was as follows: Receipts during 1947, $5,826.59; Disbursements, $3,062.69 ; Cash on hand as of December 3Ist, 1947, for General Fund, $2,763.90. The Treasurer’s Report in connection with the Benevolent Fund, stated: Bond holdings, $16,764.95; Contributions to emergency cases including sundry expenses in connection with floral and fruit remembrances to members who had been ill, $777.15; Receipts $7,268.84; Cash in bank as of December 31st, 1947, $464.95. (Not including coupons from victory bonds, not yet deposited). The Secretary’s Report followed. Wm. Summerville Sr. moved a vote of thanks to the secretary for the report submitted, seconded by Ben Cronk. HON. J. EARL LAWSON President The Secretary’s decision not to stand for re-election to the Board of Directors was a surprise to the members, as this involved the election of a new secretary, since the Board of Directors elect their. officers, President, VicePresident, Secretary-Treasurer, from members of the Board. New Board of Directors The explanation of the secretary’s decision is incorporated in the Secretary’s Report and requires no further explanation, however, following the election of the Board of Directors, and the officers, Hon. J. Earl Lawson, President; Ben Cronk, Vice-President; Charles Mavety, Sectetary-Treasurer; the past president advised that she would carry on with the secretarial duties until the election of the new secretary was more definitély decided. Charles Mavety accepted the appointment of Secretary-Treasurer until the Board of Directors had an opportunity to further stirvey a secretarial appointment. The new Board of Directors elected for the current year, are as follows: Maurice Doyle; Bill Redpath; Sam Sternberg; Len Bishop; Bill O’Neill; James Sturgess; Ben Cronk; Earl Lawson; Oscar Hanson; Charles Mavety and Clare Appel. The buffet supper was served, followed by the induction of the new members. The following new members were addressed by John J. Fitzgibbons, C.B.E. Curley Posen, Norman ‘Tanner, Leo Haag, Hugh Burns, Irving Schulman, Furgus Martin, Lawrence Geering, Norman Jackson, Tom Callender, Arthur Silverstone, CHARLES MAVETY Secretary Page § Ronald Darby, Frederic Saunders, Frank Gilbert, John Heggie and Harry Bailey. Special Duty For Pioneers Mr. Fitzgibbons introduced by the Hon. J. Earl Lawson, injected a serious note, emphasizing the distinction of being a member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers and stressed the importance of friendship, good fellowship, fraternity and good-will between inembers. “Being a Pioneer imposes a special duty on those who are Pioneers. Because of their long association with this industry, they, like other Pioneers, stand as a symbol and must set an example by their conduct”, said Mr. Fitzgibbons. Western Justice The induction of the new members took the form of a court room playlet called ‘““Western Justice’. The Hon. J. arl Lawson was “His Horseship, the Judge”; Charles Mavety, sheriff; David Ongley, defendant, Len Bishop, prosecutor; Bill Reeves, the hangman and Ben Cronk, the registrar. The new members were interrogated and cross-examined as to their conduct. The jury was, also, challenged, but “The Judge” decided that being mere mortals, there were none better to choose from. As for the new members, The Judge sdid, whereas the other members called out, “Hang Them’, The Court was moved to let “the poor critters” live hoping they would ap-’ preciate The Court’s leniency and mend their ways. Following the Court proceedings, a cowboy musical was presented, followed by a little snack consisting of Venison Steaks, donated by Harold Babcock, who had shot the critter on the hoof, a roast ham donated by Mrs. Oscar Hanson and a roast turkey donated by Ray Lewis. There was plenty to wash down the solids, Joe Garbarino being in charge of liquid refreshments. BEN CRONK Vice-President