Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Feb 21, 1948)

Page scan 0001 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Feb 21, 1948
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Feb 21, 1948)
Leaf #:
0001
Language:
English
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, Early Cinema, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Media Magazines Project, 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:
July 11, 2024
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Page 2 CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Maritime News By A. L. FAIRWEATHER HE main topic of conversation among all connected with theatre interests is the fires in two theatres and chiefly the heroic conduct of manager Lloyd Conrad of the Kent Theatre at Moncton, N.B., who staged a fire drill and sent over four hundred children to safety from the burning Odeon Theatre. It was a Saturday matinee and the fire, which started in the basement, was sending smoke on the stage. Due to practice drills and the quickness and resourcefulness of Mr. Conrad, an ExNavy man, and the calmness of his staff, the children filed out quietly and there was no panic. Commendation of the manager’s action was heard on all sides and several of the Maritime newspapers published editorials praising him in the highest terms. The fire burned for six hours. A. I. Garson of Saint John, Maritime representative for Odeon, states that the Company will re-build. A near casualty was operator Donald Nelson who had difficulty in escaping from his smokefilled booth. Praised also were the staff, including usher Robert Geddes, usherette L. Dupuis, cashier Miss D. Dupuis, assistant cashier Miss L. Haley. The Mayor of Moncton said that the clearing of the theatre was “a marvellous piece of work” and Mr. Conrad remarked that the practice fire drills “certainly paid off this time’. The second fire took place at Kentville, N.S., when the F. G. Spencer theatre, the Capitol, was gutted by a fire which started from the explosion of an oil burner. Damage was estimated at $180,000 and about 10,000 feet of film was destroyed. Another theatre, the Empire, in Kentville, operated by the Spencer Company has _ been opened and is operating. Gordon and Gerald Spencer immediately went to Kentville to look over the situation. Manager George Fielding stated that the theatre will be rebuilt as soon as possible. Fortunately the fire occurred before the time of performance and only employees were in the building. They were able to escape. x * Frank C. Owens, chairman of the New Brunswick Censor Board was elected to the Publicity Committee of the N.B. Cancer Society following the annual meeting of that organization. * * © A. E. Smith, manager of M-G-M at Saint John, reports that “Gone With The Wind” is having a sensational run in the Maritimes, being held over at every dating. An especially good attendance was at the Capitol Theatre, Moncton, and the same is true of all situations. ‘Green Dolphin Street” played for a full week at the Capitol at Halifax, N.S. February 21st, 1948 Deep sympathy is expressed for Mrs. Horace Coles in the loss of her husband, a veteran of the First Great War, who passed away at the Lancaster Military Hospital. Mrs. Coles has been on the staff of the Strand Theatre, Saint John, for over twenty years and is very popular with the patrons. Floral tributes were sent from the Strand Theatre staff and from the F. G. Spencer Company Ltd. as well as from many friends. Sympathy is felt for Mrs. Coles and her daughter Mary, in their grief. ** © Bowling is flourishing in Saint John among the theatre and film employees who are now on the second section of their matches. A party is planned with Walter R. Golding of the Community Theatre, West Saint John, as host. * * x Saint John Exchanges losing films in the Moncton and Kentville fires were M-G-M, Paramount, R-K-O, Warner Bros., Columbia, Empire Universal, Eagle-Lion, International Films, Alliance and United Artists who was probably the heaviest loser with two features. A print of the Royal Wedding was destroyed at the Capitol, Kentville, N.S. Some of the Exchanges lost only a trailer or shorts, but a number of features were burned in both theatres. We wish to thank our many friends for their sympathetic attitude and their offers of co-operation in conjunction with the recent fire at our new Studio. Contrary: to exaggerated press accounts, not one of our employees were injured, and due to the fireproof nature of our building, damage was held to a minimum. We are proud to announce that after a three-day interval, we are again in 100% operation. Film Laboratories of Canada 310 LAKESHORE ROAD TORONTO, 14. Audio Pictures Limited