Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 1, 1954)

Page scan 0008 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 #:
0008
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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JANUARY 2, 1954 CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST MGM’s Caesar—Best Film For 1953 Hollywood’s film version of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar has been chosen the best picture of 1953 by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, it was announced. Henry Hart, chairman of the board’s committee on exceptional films, said the M-G-M film was chosen because “‘it was not merely an able transfer of a stage play to the screen, but an unusually skillful portrayal of a historic event.” The film, which starred James Mason, Deborah Kerr, Marlon Brando, Louis Calhern and Greer Garson, headed a list of the committee’s choice for the top 10 pictures of the year. Following Julius Caesar, the board selected Paramount’s Shane for the number two spot. Other selections, in the order chosen, were From Here To Eternity, Martin Luther, Lili, Roman Holiday, Stalag 17, Little Fugitive, Mogambo, and The Robe. As the best foreign film of the year the board chose A Queen Is Crowned. Second place went to Moulin Rouge; third to The Little World of Don Camillo; fourth to Strange Deception, and fifth to Conquest of Everest. Jean Simmons was selected the year’s best film actress for her work in Young Bess, The Robe, and The Actress. English star, James Mason was voted the year’s best actor for his appearances in Face to Face, The Desert Rats, The Man Between, and Julius Caesar. ~_— PRAIRIE NEWS By BRUCE PEACOCK } Roxy Theatre, at Canora, Sask., operated by the Regal Amusement Co., of Regina, has been sold to Dr. Paul Kowalishin and C. Hochman, of Canora. It is understood fhe deal inyolyes the proposed new drive-in at Canora. The Roxy was built in 1936, replacing the Royal, built in 1911. President of Regal Amusement Company is I. Reinhorn, who operates the Roxy in Regina. E. C. Williams has added an electrically operated, gold colored screen to his Gary Theatre in Indian Head, Sask. The screen can be operated from the projection room, the box-office and from two points in the stage area. Newly-opened suburban theatre in Edmonton, Alta., is the Jasper, a 528seater built at a cost of $100,000 by William Rueb and Wallie Klak. Mr. Rueb has built theatres in Wetaskiwin, Devon, Leduc and Trocku during the past seven years and has had some part in the management of them. Mr. Klak has been associated with Mr. Rueb in the theatre business for two years. Theatre has a “cry room” and a panoramic screen, George Stevens was named the year’s best director for Shane. In the realm of outstanding documentaries, the board selected Walt Disney'’s The Living Desert, the first feature-length picture of his true life adventure series. FILM DAILY POLL Audrey Hepburn and Jose Ferrer today were named top movie stars of the year in the annual poll of critics by the Film Daily. Miss Hepburn, a screen newcomer, was also labelled top “find” of the year because of her performance in Roman Holiday. Ferrer was cited for his acting in Moulin Rouge. Citations for best supporting performances went to Frank Sinatra for bis straight dramatic role in From Here to Eternity and to Gloria Grahame for her portrayal in The Bad and the Beautiful. Fred Zinnemann won the nod for the ablest directing and Daniel Taradash for the best screen writing, both for From Here To Eternity. JOHN SCHUBERG Vancouver's first showman is dead, the man who _ introduced “sound” pictures to B.C. 55 years ago, John Schuberg, in his 80’s, passed away after a long illness in Hollywood Sanitarium, New Westminster. Schuberg was Canada’s oldest showman and showed the first pictures in this area. The feature pictures he liked to relate were Newsreels of the Spanish-American War. He was a life member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers. He was one of five Canadians still living who haye seen motion pictures grow from a flickering, uncertain novelty to a billion-dollar entertainment industry. His lasf activity in the Motion Picture business was as a partner of the Strand Theatre, now a part of the Famous Players chain here. Prominent old timers in show business and brother members of the Canadian Picture Pioneers were pall-bearers at the funeral. They were Maynard Joiner, Earl Hayter, Harry Wolfe, Bill Jones, Art Grayburn and Howard Boothe. He was honored lasf year at the Golden Anniversary of moving pictures last November at Toronto. The funeral was well attended by a large crowd of amusement and film exchange personnel to honor Canada’s oldest exhibitor. i a Ee a i i ee” a eee Cees ee ae oe x = — Pies PAGE NINE ~~, YANCOUVER NEWS By JACK DROY Two Famous Players theatres, the Orpheum and the Cinema, had special booths for the sale of Christmas Gift Tickets in downtown locations and report that business was brisk. B.C. government decision to put a 5 percent amusement tax on all British Empire Games tickets was received glumly by B.E.G. general manager, who hoped the amusement tax would be wiped out entirely. But he said that “We should be grateful we don’t have to pay the full 171% percent tax which theatres in B.C. have to pay.” Alf Shackieford, a Famous Players partner in four local houses in Lethbridge, Alberta, and president of the Alberta Theatres Assn., reelected for a fifth term as mayor of Lethbridge. Walter Lilley of the Port, Port Coquitlam, was re-elected alderman of Port Coquitlam, B.C. Projectionists local 348 elected the following officers for 1954: President, Doug Calladine; Vice-Pres., W. McCartney; Secretary, George Thrift; Business Agent, Les Walker; Recorder, Ray Wardrop; Sgt. at Arms, Gordon Sutherland; Delegates to IATSE convention, Les Walker, Frank Smith, Sr., and Douglas Calladine, all of Vancouver. Film Exchange Union B71 elected Marvin Proudlock, MGM, President; Business Axent, R. J. Hayter; and George Hislop of TwentiethFox, secretary, for 1954. Harry Hargreaves, former program booker at the Opera House in Blackpool, England, is now a member of the Orpheum floor staff in Vancouver. Bob Holm, former Alberta theatre owner, now projectionist at the Delta Drive-In at Richmond, B.C., is a new member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers (Vancouver branch). Holm joined the Motion Picture biz at Stettler, Alberta, in 1927. The provincial tax hungry government will realize about $17,500 from the Games to be held in Vancouver July and August of next year. This is based on an estimated $350,000 ticket sale for all events. Bette Bzawy Strand cashier, was married to Ralph Seymour of Vancouver. Arthur Gilbert, short subject booker at MGM for the past 27 years, passed away suddenly in the MGM office. He was 52 and a member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers. Anne Thompson, manager of the Odeon-Park and her staff, ptt on a top-rate Christmas party at the Smiling Buddha night club in Chinatown, Burnaby Film Council graduated its first class of 16, mm projectionists, 22 enthusiasts representing 15 community organizations passed their nine-weeks’ course,