Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 23, 1954)

Page scan 0006 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jan 23, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 23, 1954)
Leaf #:
0006
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 23, 1954 CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Welcome Pioneer Initiates Tom Daley, Secretary-Treasurer, of The Canadian Motion Picture Pioneers, advises, that the following members of our Industry, will be initiated, at the 13th Annual Meeting, of The Canadian Motion Picture Pioneers, Wednesday, January, the twentieth, as members of The Pioneers. Crystal Ballroom, King Edward Hotel, Toronto. Having duly applied for membership, and having fulfilled the necessary requirements of eligibility, namely, twentyfive years of active motion picture service, and having been approved by the Membership Committee and the Board of Directors. As a Founder of The Canadian Motion Picture Pioneers, I welcome my old friends, new members and Pioneers. May your services in this Industry continue to be fruitful, may you be healthy, happy, helpful and prosperous. I am certain, that our President, Nat Taylor, our other officers, directors and members join me in extending this welcome and good wishes to you. The following will be initiated: Fred Trebilcock, Manager, Tivoli Theatre, Toronto, Ont.; Harry W. Braden, United Amusement Co., Hamilten, Ont.; Harold P. Braden, United Amusement Co., Hamilton, Ont.; Harvey H. Harnick, Sales Manager, Columbia Pictures, Toronto, Ont.; Morris Rittenberg, Orpheum Theatre, Toronto, Ont.; Fred G. Doney, Manager, Royal Theatre, Guelph, Ont.; Jules Wolfe, Purchasing Agent, Famous Players, Toronto, Ont.; Wm. N. Thornberry, Projectionist, Century Theatre, Hamilton, Ont.; Wm. Adams, Projectionist, Capitol Theatre, Hamilton, Ont.; Roy Miller, ManagingLincoln Theatre, St. Cathar Director, LARRY GRABURN Columbia Pictures Corporation last week announced the appointment of Larry Graburn to the post of West Coast assistant to Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., Columbia Vice-President in charge of Advertising and Publicity. ines, Ont.; R. W. Bolstad, Vice-President, Famous Players, Toronto, Ont.; Ralph Dale, Vice-President, National Theatre Services, Toronto, Ont.; Jack D. McCulloch, Iroquois Theatre, Petrolia, Ont. Wm. K. Trudell, Supervisor, Famous Players, London, Ont.; Dave Gordon, Cardinal Films, Toronto, Ont.; Robt. J. Martin, Cameraman, Associated Screen News, Montreal, Quebec; Henry A. Harvey, Pictorial Display, Toronto, Ont.; Peter M. Grant, Pictorial Display, Toronto, Ont.; Edward L. Harris, Sales Manager, Sterling Films, Toronto, Ont.; Hugh W. Usher, Projectionist, Savoy Theatre, Hamilton, Ont.; Ray Tubman, Supervisor, Famous Players, Ottawa, Ont.; Russell Simpson, O’Brien Circuit, Renfrew, Ont.; Dave. E. Daniel, General Manager, Dominion Sound, Toronto, Ont.; Jack Clarke, Manager, Loew’s Theatre, Toronto, Ont. R. W. BOLSTAD Vice-President, Famous Players, Toronto, Ont. ~~. PRAIRIE NES By BRUCE PEACOCK Interpretation of the word “exhibi{ion” as opposed to “performance” was the main factor in bringing about dismissal in police court of a charge against the Grand theatre, Calgary, of a breach of amusement act regulations. The theatre was charged with failing to comply with a section of the act following the Sunday presentation of the play “Gigi” Oct. 25. Defence counsel Robert H. Barron, son of J. B. Barron, theatre owner, argued that the section of the act named in the charge deals strictly with the issuance of theatre licenses, and states that no license shall be issued subject to its conditions. These prohibit the exhibition on Sunday of movies. He contended that the word exhibition applies to such entertainment only, and that a play, or other “live type” presentation, is a performance, not an exhihition, PAGE SEVEN HARVEY H. HARNICK Sales Manager, Columbia Pictures, Toronto Ont. RALPH DALE Vice-President, National Theatre Services, Toronto, Ont. EDWARD L. HARRIS Soles Manager, Sterling Films, Toronto, Ont.