Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 1, 1954)

Page scan 0005 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jan 1, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 1, 1954)
Leaf #:
0005
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, Early Cinema, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Picture Pioneers, 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 18, 2024
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Ray Presents (Continued from Page 3) AYOR Archie Mason was [c elected chairman of the Canadian Industry Council, David Griesdorf was re-elected © Vice-chairman. Re-elected, also, was Rueben Bolstad, Sec’y-Treas. and Arch Jolley, as Exec-Sec’y. The committee heads were re-elected and are as follows: Box-office promotion, J. Arthur Hirsch; Legislation, Mayor A. J. Mason; Intra-Industry, Jack Chisholm; Finance and Organization, Morris Stein; Resolutions, F. Gordon Spencer; Television, H. C. D, Main; Public Relations, Clare J. Appel. Len B. Johnston, pres. British Columbia Exhibitors Assoc. reported, that the provincial government, at the coast, planned to impose a tax on the installation of new equipment installed in theatres. Now, we have heard everything. An exhibitor, instead of closing his theatre, because of poor business, MAYOR ARCHIE MASON Cheirman, Canadian Industry Council re-equips it, giving the public betfer service, continuing to pay the many faxes which he has to pay, ‘and adding to the prosperity of the merchants in his community centre, for this service, it is proposed the exhibitor should be further taxed. Why not tax the exhibitor when he removes a broken chair, and replaces it with a new one? B. C, exhibitors tell your story to the public. ARCUS Loew's Theatres Limited declared an extra dividend of $1.00 to be added to the quarterly dividend of $1.00 for the final three months of the year, Famous Players Canadian Corp. Limited declared an extra dividend of 20 cents per share, to be added to the regular quarterly dividend of 30 cents payable Dec, 24th, 1953. CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Canadian Motion Picture Industry Council's Annual Meeting, was among a week of Film Events, in Toronto, which Events had _ their opening meeting, November 23rd, and finished off with the Grey Cup Game Event, on Saturday, which was a special inducement for a large film delegation from all over the west to come to Toronto. ARIETY Club, Tent 28, Toronto, honored Jack Cooke, responsible for Variety's Annual Baseball Night, at the Maple Leaf Stadium. Last June, $52,000 was raised for Variety Village's program of rehabilitating handicapped children. The Jack Cooke Appreciation Night was held in the Variety Club Rooms, Prince George Hotel, Toronto, on Tuesday, November 24th. Reuben Bolstad retires as Chief Barker and William (Bill) Summerville Jr. is inducted as Chief Barker, Variety Tent (28) Toronto. A, W. Perry leaves for UniversalInternational Coast Meeting. The President of Empire Universal Films Ltd. will meet with top executives of the company, and will see four of the company’s big pictures screened, National Commitice of the M.P.E.A. Association of Canada, passes a resolution, opposing the practice of producers and distributors “releasing pictures at advanced prices in the present arbitrary manner and further it is the considered opinion of the national association that no picture should be removed from general release in Canada to be played at advanced admission prices until its merit has been established by consultation with a Committee of this Association.” ARAMOUNT?'s product announce ment looks back to a fine line of hits in 1953, and follows through for 1954 with a similar hit parade. “The public is never wrong’ states Adolph Zukor, Chairman of the Paramount Board, as he tells about “My Fifty Years in Motion Pictures,” written by Dale Kramer. Mr. John A. Davis, DeputyChairman of the J. Arthur Rank Organization Limited, London, England, and Managing Director, is the guest speaker at the Empire Club's Luncheon, Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Thursday, November 26th. Bob Eves has been appointed Western Division Supervisor, Famous Players Canadian Corp. Mort Margolius, takes over Bob Eves former position, as supervisor of the Toronto suburban theatres for Famous Players. . S. CHAPLIN extends thanks to C the Canadian Film Industry for its support of Community Chest Red Feather Campaign, of which Charles Chaplin was chairman of the Motion JANUARY 2, 1954 Picture Division. The many friends of Fred Trebilcock will now find the genial Fred at Famous Players Tivoli Theatre, Toronto, as manager. Perkins Electric Co. Ltd. adverlise immediate delivery on new invention equipment. De Luxe Laboratory, New York, is licensed to process Technicolor prints. TEVE Rolston, secretary, Vancouver Division, Canadian Picture Pioneers, presents a check to the Benevolent Func of $1,000. Joseph Burstyn, well-known’ U.S. distributor of foreign pictures dies, enroute to England by plane. Front cover page of The Digest, Dec. 12th presents the newly-appointed National Film Commissioner, Dr. A. W. Trueman, as he addresses members and guests, at the Motion Picture Exhibitors Luncheon Meeting in Toronto. John Schuberg, Canada’s oldest theatreman, age over 80, is reported ARCH JOLLEY Exec.-Sec’y, Canadian Industry Council seriously ill in Hollywood Hospital, Westminster, B.C. John was honored in 1952, by the Canadian Picture Pioneers. As I write the finale of the year's Digest Journey, word has been brought to me, that John Schuberg is dead. A safe Homeward Bound Journey, John, into the Haven of Eternity. HE Stanley Kramer Company ceases its operations. 55 Famous Players theatres to play 20th Century-Fox CinemaScope production, HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE, M.G.M. to have a 30th Jubilee Campaign commencing January Ist, 1954, to April 29th, 1954. RCA shows TV recorded on magnetic tape at Princeton, New Jersey, on 12-inch screens and in color. Producer Lazar Wechsler visits Toronto, latest production, HEIDI, for U-A. Eugene O'Neill, dies after years (Continued on Page 8) ae eee ape ree A ee