Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Feb 21, 1948)

Page scan 0003 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 #:
0003
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 4 CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Toronto and District By BILL PRESS N one of the most colorful functions of the official season in Ottawa, the investiture at Government House of recipients of war-time awards for meritorious service, President J. J. Fitzgibbons of Famous Players Canadian Corp. received the decoration of Commander of the Order of the British Empire from His Excellency, Viscount Alexander of Tunis, Governor-Generalzot Canada: The gold medal was presented to President J. J. Fitzgibbons in recognition of his outstanding work in support of the war effort as head of the National Motion Picture War Services Committee, which included every exhibitor from coast to coast, and as an official of the different Victory Loan campaigns. His citation was read as he stepped forward to receive the decoration from Viscount Alexander as the representative of His Majesty, the King. cx ste —saine— ceremoiye. Lo VV" Brockington; KiC,,-and f. 5. Dunean of Toronto, both directors of the board of Odeon Theatres of Canada Limited, received the decoration of Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George which is the highest recognition available to Canadian civilians. ‘These awards were made in appreciation of outstanding service to the war cause. At a future date Jack Arthur of Famous Players is to receive the decoration of Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services during the war which included the production of shows for the armed forces and the organizing of entertainment for the troops in training. x Ok Ok Following up its big selling drive for ticket gift books for Christmas, Famous Players Can adian Corp. made a special play with the booklets as remembrances for St. Valentine's Day. Newspaper advertising and posters were used for the promotion. x Ok Ok Mrs. Stephen Proctor, the former Evelyn Lillie, who was manager of the Village Theatre, Toronto, for some years, doesn’t seem to be able to stay away from show business. She has recently become manager of the International Cinema. Incidentally, this theatre has booked the Paramount News for day-and-date showing with the downtown houses. During the engagement of “Tawny Pipit”, the theatre lobby had a photographic display of birds. ee i A number of theatre men have had a special treat in connection with the screening of a film in which J. J. Fitzgibbons makes an appearance. The picture was made in New York priniarily for a television demonstration. J. O. Sarginson, a newcomer to show business, has been appointed manager of the Aron Theatre, Campbellford, following its opening by Duncan Campbell, Alliance booker, who spent 10 weeks in Campbellford. A local resident, Sarginson spent 5% years with the Canadian Army Intelligence. The Canadian Paramount newsreel has been added to the Aron bill-of-fare and has been very well received. Be . Syd Blumenstock of the New York home office of 20th Century Fox was in town in advance of “Gentleman's Agreement’ which has been placed on the booking list for the Tivoli and Eglinton The atres. x * x The next monthly meeting of Toronto Tent 28 of the International Varety Club, which will take place at Malloney’s Art Galleries, on Tuesday, February 24th, has been designated “Conn Smythe Night”. Featuring a tribute to Connie Smythe, in appreciation of his contribution to the recent hockey night staged at Maple Leaf Gardens, the meeting will be attended by many outstanding figures in Tor-" onto sports life. * * x The Algoma at Sault Ste. Marie, a Famous Players’ theatre, worked up a full page of co-operative advertising in the Soo Daily Star for the engagement of “Fiesta”. The theme of the page was “A Mexican bull tosses Esther and vou are tossed some good CNG a Paty eee oy Charlie Querrie’s unit of the Famous Players’ circuit, the Palace Theatre on Danforth Avenue, Toronto, has been temporarily closed for an extensive renovating and refitting job. Not so long ago the Palace broke out with a handsome new front but now the operation is on the interior. * Ok Ok According to local equipment dealers, plans are under way for the opening of two more drive-in theatrcsein the Toronto district in the early spring. FOR SALE SIMPLEX PROJECTORS complete with 3-point stands, upper and lower magazines © MAZDA LAMPHOUSES AND REGULATORS @ R.C.A. SOUND EQUIPMENT e CHARLES F. MAVETY 277 VICTORIA STREET TORONTO, ONTARIO February 21st, 1948 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 ~ COMPANY, LIMITED 277 Victoria Street Toronto Telephone: WAverley 4929 Cable: Raydigest Established 1915. Publication weekly. Subscription: $5.00 yearly — Correspondents — A. L. FAIRWEATHER ... Saint John, N.B. J. J. CONKLIN......... Winnipeg, Man. BRUCE PEACOCK.. ...Regina, Sask. JACK DROYGa ....Vancouver, B.C. WILL, McLAUGHUING......22.2...-: Ottawa, Ont. BILE PRESS ence fue eres Toronto, Ont. The exodus of capable theatre managers from ‘Toronto continued with the departure of Ralph Wilson for Detroit after resigning from the direction of the Circle Theatre to which he was transferred last fall from the Belsize. He was accompanied to Windsor by Neil Talling of the Bedford Theatre, — the latter returning to his post here. Fred Leavens, who was recently transferred from the Family Theatre, Toronto, to the Grand at Sudbury, Ont., has been brought back to take over the management of the Circle. Before his departure, Ralph Wilson was presented with a brief case by the 20th Century Theatre Managers Club in which he had been an active official. ss Kee Myer Nackimson, R-K-O Winnipeg branch manager, and formerly a salesman in the Toronto office, was in town recently attending an R-K-O sales meeting. * * * The premiere of “October Man” will take place on March 11th at the Toronto Fairlawn with the opening performance under the auspices of the Young Men’s Section, Toronto Board of Trade. ’The, proceeds are: to she turned over to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Toronto, and to a welfare fund in Britain. x ok ok Sam Kaplan of the firm of Kaplan and Sprachiman, well-known theatre architects, has returned from a trip to the Maritime Provinces where he looked over Famous Players theatre projects, including Halifax and St. John. ou A strong protest against the proposed amusement tax for Ontario and the municipalities came to Premier George A. Drew in the form of a lengthy telegram from the United Auto Workers Union at Windsor, Ont. The wire pointed out that the organization has more than 51,000 members in this Province. x * * A war guest in Canada where she completed her education, later getting a position in the Dominion Civil Service, Miss Rona Anderson, now of Edinburgh, Scotland, has been announced for an _iportant role in Arthur Rank’s “Sleeping Car To Venice”.