Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Apr 12, 1952)

Page scan 0005 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Apr 12, 1952
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Apr 12, 1952)
Leaf #:
0005
Language:
English
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, Early Cinema, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Greig Dymond in memory of David Dymond, 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:
May 23, 2024
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Page 6 CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Tevrento and District BILL PRESS “Il Trovatore”, the magnificent Italian opera film, opened engagements on March 29 at both the Elmwood Cinema, London, and the Cinema at Hamilton. At the latter theatre, the musical picture followed two weeks of “The Wooden Horse”. At London, Ont., the engagement of “Il Trovatore” on the Elmwood screen coincided with the one presentation of Verdi's opera in the Convocation Hall of the University of Western Ontario by the London Opera Workshop Society. The spring and summer season in the theatre field made its start Saturday, April 5, when the first of the drive-ins in Ontario swung wide the gates for the initial film performances of 1952 in the open air. It virtually means a drive-in season of more than six months. Manager Mel Jolley of the Famous Players’ Century Theatre, Hamilton, had a pleasant stunt in connection with the showing of “His Kind of Woman” when he presented nylon stockings to 12 lucky women in the audience. Station CHML, Hamilton, presented a Saturday morning radio program, “The Jane Gray Show”, at the Capitol Theatre. Two film shorts, a color cartoon and news weekly, were added. Famous Players Canadian Corp. staged another ‘extensive and effective promotional drive for gift books of admission tickets, this time for the Easter Season. This followed the circuit’s campaign for the sale of tickets as St. Valentine gifts. 50 ae Ht o ith ‘ — The Vanity Theatre, Windsor, staged a Saturday matinee “Kiddie Karnival” which had many program features, including a bicycle as a main award, more than 200 other prizes and screen entertainment with Abbott and Costello in “Buck Privates Come Home”, “Canyon Passage”, a chapter of the serial “Captain Video”, color cartoon and a comedy. Exhibitors can look forward, in a couple of weeks, to the start of Daylight Saving for 1952, the actual date being April 27. Summer time will continue in practically all cities and towns until Sept. 28. Warner Pathe Can. News Hire New Cameraman Phillip Pendry was born in London, England, and in 1942-44 was an assistant cameraman for the J. Arthur Rank Organization and Two Cities Films, at Denham and Pinewood Stu, dios, after which, from 1944-47, he was in the armed services as a Sergeant in No. 6 Commando Unit and during the latter part of this period was a photographer with the British War Crimes Commission, B.A.O.R. From 1947-48 Pendry was employed by the J. Arthur Rank Organization covering the Olympic Games. From 1948-50 he was in Italy and the Middle East free-lancing on Productions and Newsreels. During 1950-51 he was employed by Associated Screen News in Montreal and Toronto. Phillip Pendry replaces Felix Lazarus who is now devoting his attention to industrial productions. George Altman (ieft) chairman of the Scrap Metal and Copper Salvage Drive, accepts the first contribution on behalf of the Variety Club Heart Fund (Tent 28) from Douglas Y. Rosen, general manager of International Fiim Distributors Ltd. All Canadian theatre managers are requested to do their share in helping to raise funds so that Variety Village may continue to give “the little boy who has two strikes against him the opportunity to become a self reliant citizen through Variety Club’s Vocational Guidance School.” April 12, 1952 THE CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Entered as Second Class Matter RAY LEWIS Editor-in-Chief e Address all mail to the Publisher CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST COMPANY, LIMITED 21 Dundas Square Toronto Telephone: WAverley 8696 Cable: Raydigest Established 1915. Publication weekly. Subscription: $5.00 yearly — Correspondents — A, L. FAIRWEATHER........ Saint John, N.B. BRUCE PEACOCK.................... Regina, Sask, JACK DROY 2.0005. 2uisu ccc Vancouver, B.C. WILL McLAUGHLIN................ Ottawa, Ont. BIGE (PRESS 22a oe Toronto, Ont. Maritime News By ALICE L. FAIRWEATHER Death removed a figure well known to Saint John and Maritime Theatre people when Andrew (Andy) Phillips of Saint John passed away. “Andy” was associated with theatre interests for more than thirty years and was especially well known as treasurer of the Imperial (now the Capitol) Theatre under the management of the late Walter H. Golding. Mr. Phillips was born in Saint John and was early employed as treasurer of the old Victoria Rink where he was a friend to hundreds of skaters of that day. He then went to the Nickel Theatre, also as treasurer, where Mr. Walter H. Golding was manager. Then to the Imperial, owned and operated by the KeithAlbee interests. Mr. Phillips remained as treasurer when the Imperial was taken over by Famous Players Canadian Corporation, until his retirement. He was greatly interested in sports, was a member of the Kiwanis Club, and Fishing Club. In religion he was a member of the Exmouth Street United Church. His wife, Mrs. Evelyn Phillips, was also associated with the Capitol Theatre for many years. The burial took place in Saint John and was attended by many theatre and film company representatives..Deep sympathy is expressed to his widow. The Strand Odeon, Saint John, had an excellent run of six days on Distant Drums (Warner Bros.) which included a midnight showing. Another success was Close to My Heart (Warner Bros.) which was tied up with a beautiful baby contest, prizes being contributed by local merchants who used window displays. Another tie-up is planned for The Man in the White Suit, with which Tip Top Tailors will co-operate, prizes being offered for a guessing contest in which articles of clothing being worn by the star, the favourite Alec Guinness, being offered. James Clowes is manager for the Strand Odeon.