Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Feb 28, 1948)

Page 8 « Prairie News » By BRUCE PEACOCK HE Gaiety Theatre, Leduc, Alta., was destroyed by a coal gas explosion and fire Feb 9th. Damage was estimated at between $150,000 and $200,000. ‘The theatre, in the oil boom town, was officially opened last fall. More than 30 volunteer fire fighters from Edmonton, 20 miles away, fought the blaze for several hours in 20-below zero weather. The explosion, which blew out the front of the building, occurred a short time after the owner, Cecil Pyrc, and his family left the building. Complete destruction of the theatre caused the loss of all the theatre equipment and the Pyric living quarters on the second storey. Also lost was Mr. Pyrc’s real estate office. Mr. Pyrc is an ex-airman. * * Reconstruction of the Crescent Theatre at Red Deer, Alberta, ts nearing completion. The house was destroyed by fire some months ago. Famous Players are partners m this theatre with Morris Beatty; they also operate the Capitol at Red Deer. <n e Fire at Coleman, Alta., Feb. 16th, destroyed six buildings in the downtown section, including the Palace Theatre and the community hall. The theatre loss was estimated at $35,000. Insurance totalled $12,000. ‘The community hall was valued at $20,000 and was covered by $10,000 insurance. Estimated total loss was $116,000. *x* OK Ok At Moose Jaw, Sask., a letter to the editor of the local newspaper complained about women wearing their hats in theatres. Women of the Royal Purple Lodge unanimusly decided that in future they would remove their hats in theatres. a Likelihood of an 890-seat theatre being built in. the North Hill district / of Calgary in the near future was voiced by Harry Kohn, Calgary the-/ atre official. Mr. Kohn reported that Rosedale Theatres Ltd., owner of the, and Westmount’ Theatres, Ltd., owner of the Plaza, | Crescent Theatre, had bought up their leases from Odeon and Odeon control ceased to exist Jan. 3ist. Les Litch continues as manager of both houses, 4 ~ The Booth Film Service of Calgary have secured the distributing rights for Alberta and Saskatchewan for Telefilm of Holly wood. Head office will be on Calgary film vOW. * * * : People at Indian Head, Sask., are wondering just how old their Gary Theatre is. Owner Ted Williams, who has been renovating the place, came across a sheaf of advertising bills behind a row of boards. The bills, dated 1904, advertised a Christmas concert, possibly the first show in the building. The Gary was formerly known as The Auditorium. the Saskatchewan ambulance service, was given its prem Theatre, Regina. | Department of Public Health. * * * f Isadore Shaker has leased his | CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST February 28th, 1948 « Capital Story » By WILL McLAUGHLIN HEATRE, attendances suffered a slight setback during the past two weeks, due to sub-zero temperatures which not only hit a record low for Ottawa and district but threatened to bring about a power shortage through heavy freezing in water basins above the power plants on the Ottawa and Gatineau Rivers. Shortage of fuel oil was also a source of worry for several theatre managers using burners to heat their buildings. But nature has a way ‘ of stepping in when things seem at their worst, and a four-day thaw arrived over the week-end to ease what could easily have become a serious situation for theatre operators. # eS & Speaking of severe Winter conditions reminds us to tell about a card we received from Ray Tubman depicting a banyan tree in Miami's famed coconut grove. The popular Capitol Theatre manager and district supervisor for Famous Players is enjoying the first real vacation he has had in years, one gathers from the following message; “Hello, Bill! This is even better than Quyon in the Summer. We are really enjoying ourselves and having a good rest in the sunshine”. Max Belkin, Warner Bros. Calgary salesman, has resigned and will go into the hotel business in the Crows Nest Pass district of Alberta. No successor has been appointed to date. «_ *. + “Wings of Mercy”, a film based on government’s air , f ere at a special showing in the Rex / The picture way made by the National Film Board in\ co-operation with the Saskatchewan/ Broadway Theatre at Saskatoon to the Odeon circuit. Shaker operates theatres in Alberta and Saskatchewan, with headquarters at Hanna, Alberta. FOR SALE SIMPLEX PROJECTORS complete with 3-point stands, upper and lower magazines @ MAZDA LAMPHOUSES AND REGULATORS 8 R.C.A. SOUND EQUIPMENT 8 CHARLES F. MAVETY 277 VICTORIA STREET TORONTO, ONTARIO While tenants of shops and apartments are still in possession, work is proceeding on the construction of the Odeon Theatre at the corner of Bank and Slater Streets. Steel work on the auditorium has been completed and it is expected that the walls and roof will be finished long before leases expire on the Bank Street shops and apartments which when demolished, will leave plenty of space for the theatre’s main entrance and lobby. *“ * x Young members of the Junior Film Club crowded the Technical School Auditorium for the semi monthly program of motion pic tures. Among those who attended was Lady Kingsmill, honorary president, who commended the club committee members for their efforts im bringing Ottawa’s younger children a series of entertaining programs suitable to their vears. * hw x David Coplan, son of the late Sol Coplan of Ottawa, and now director of United Artists in the British Isles, was here for several days visiting relatives. Dave, who has a host of friends in his native town, was asked by the press for his personal views on the current film situation in England. He is quoted by the Journal as saying: “United Artists is not worrying about the film market in Britain because the situation looked most promising at the present time. Negotiations between the British Gov , ernment and the American film indus try were being carried on at the mom ent and a favorable decision was expecPLES SUOTE «. ‘that, in association with English inter Dave forgot to mention ests, he had produced two features for release through U-A in the Old Country. x * Ok Also in Ottawa last week was Arthur Gottlieb, president and managing director of Film Laboratories of Canada and Audio Pictures, who was registered at the Chateau Laurier. Mr. Gottheb told newspaper interviewers that his firm would be promoting Canada’s “Vacation’s Unlimited” program in the United States by producing Canadian travelogues and animal life subjects in associ ation with the National Film Board. *x* «we * William Orr Robinson Stewart, doorman at the Elgin Theatre, dropped dead while taking tickets during a matinee performance last week. Called to the theatre by manager Ernie Warren, Dr. W. E.. Cowan conferred with coroner Dr. W. T. Sheriff, who declared death to have resulted from natural causes. The late Mr. Stewart was 60 years old and a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for 33 years prior to his retirement in 1944.