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Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jul 31, 1948)

Page scan 0003 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jul 31, 1948
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jul 31, 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:
April 11, 2024
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Page 6 CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Vancouver News By JACK DROY HE Little Theatre Association of Vancouver plans to build a $100,000 Little Theatre Playhouse in Vancouver’s west end. The Theatre, planned for use of cultural and political groups, will have a seating capacity of 500. It is hoped that the theatre could be rented out at least 200 nights of the year vt -presentathe-~ i atile ah neatre groups are using the York Theatre, a moving picture house for their stage attract.ons. The Theatre is away out in the east end of the city which is too far from town to get the crowds. * * * Frank Cristou of the Lux Theatre in Banff is keeping up with the popular resort's extensive building program and is busy modermeing his theatre front. The Lux, which is Banff’s only movie house, enjoys consistently good business at this ttime of the year when the town is packed with tourists. Frank gets early releases for the summer. ca x * Calgary counted up a record Stampede gate this year, and visitors from all over the American continent attended. Vancouver's Kitsilano Boys Band had the honor of leading the parade which preceded the world’s greatest outdoor show. Jack Randall, Strand manager, was present at the Stampede, and he reports that Henry Nathanson, M-G-M Canadian president, was a visitor en route to Banff. Henry was busy looking up his many friends in show business in the cow-town and renewing old acquaintances. x * s On the sick list here are Joe Millman, veteran manager of the F-P Kitsilano Theatre, who ts in the General Hospital recuperating from an abdominal operation. Art Gilbert, an M-G-M employee, is also hospitalized for a foot operation. Agnes Gray, Odcon-Hastings cashier, is back home after a major operation. All are on the -way to recovery, it’s reported. THEATRE FOR SALE 15 miles from Montreal, Northern highway, entirely modern, air conditioned theatre, 440 seats, built on new American plans. Good opportunity, price $51,000. Cash $31,000. If interested, call at Passau Realties, 7411 St-Hubert, or telephone CR. 8532 in Mostreal, P.Q. Andy Digney, former owner of the Oak Theatre at Burnaby, which he sold to Odeon, has struck the jack-pot with his Digney Speedway at Burnaby near Vancouver. All Andy has to worry about is accomodating the crowds who want to see his auto show. Five thousand paid customers attended the opening. Rochester of radio fame was the star guest at the first meeting. * * Film row men are glad to see Willard Adamson back on the job again after a serious operation when he lost one of his legs. Willard is a cheerful chap and is taking things in stride. i zs sz Tragedy befell an ex-usherette of the Strand Theatre, Doreen Thorp, 22 year-old who died as a result of escaping gas in her tiny apartment, which she shared with another girl who was absent at the time. Doreen was on the staff of the Strand Theatre for over a year and only resigned recently to accept another position. The funeral of the popular girl was attended by many friends in show business. Y MEMBER CANADIAN PICTURE PIONEERS} ow vet A PROUD POSSESSION DS OunoiwasteR -SOUND EQUIPMENT ~ , The Gelden Voice ef the Silver Sereep Built for To-Day’s Modern Theatre To Meet the Demands of To-Day’s Progressive Exhibitor IMMEDIATE DELIVERY WRITE WIRE TELEPHONE PERIGINS COMPANY LIMITED 277 VICTORIA ST. 2027 BLEURY ST. TORONTO MONTREAL July 31st, 1948 All Calgary Records Broken By E-L “Northwest Stampede” “Northwest Stampede”, Eagle Lion’s Cinecolor outdoors romance, which was world-premiered at the Grand Theatre, Calgary, Thursday, July 15th, broke all existing records for opening day receipts, it was announced by theatre officials. Among the outstanding box office films outgrossed by “Northwest Stampede” are “The Jol SOI. OLOly fe. sbest..Veats..0b. our Inives ne Heccandel and. Great Expectations”’. Coming from and going on vacation are Bill Bailee, F-P Art Shop boss; Al Mitchell and Bill Myers, Odeon-Hastings ; Ernie Sauer and Harry Lawrence, Lux Theatre; Ann Thompson of the Dunbar; Jeanne Lewis, Orpheum; Charlie Backus, U-A, and Edith Krakonchuk, Strand The atre. x -e x* Jack Burdett, Stanley Theatre manager, will marry a Vancouver girl on July 31st. Bill Turner, Paradise assistant manager, announced his engagement to Margaret Connolly of Pacific Air Lines. Ruth Holm of the Plaza staff will marry a Vancouver boy in September. Perry Wright, manager of Empire-Universal, pulled a surprise on film row when he married Ora Griffin of Montreal. * s s Phyl Dixon, office manager for J. Arthur Rank 16mm. Ltd., has resigned to be a housewife, and is replaced by Mary Dixon, Sam Lambert, manager, announced. x x s “The Home Town Paper”, a film story of the Vernon News and the typical Canadian weekly newspaper's place in the average town, has been entered, by the National Film Board, in the Edinburgh Film Festival this summer. he film has received wide acclaim in newspaper circles throughout the continent, and it is hoped it will win sufficient recognition at this important film exhibition to considerably increase outside knowledge of the Canadian scene. The entire film was shot at Vernon, B.C. AVAILABLE Theatre manager. French Canadian Bi-lingual. 35 years of age. Five years experience. Can provide excellent references. PAUL BERGERON, La Tuque, Quebec. ONTARIO GOVERNMENT ALLOWS THEATRES 22% RETROACTIVE COMMISSION ON AMUSEMENT TAX COLLECTIONS. SIMPLIFIED FORMS IN PREPARATION.