Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 30, 1954)

TELEMETER FOR CANADA With the Telemeter system now in operation in Palm Springs, California, Famous Players’ plans for the development of Telemeter in Canada are emphasized by the election of W. C. Thornton Cran as president of two subsidiary companies — Trans Canada Telemeter Limited and Telemeter (Ontario) Limited. The directors and officers of the two companies are all executives of Famous Players Canadian Corporation Limited; John J, Fitzgibbons, vice-president; R. W. Bolstad, Treasurer and Angus MacCunn, Secretary. John A, Pouliot is executive electronic engineer. Famous Players has a 25 year franchise for the licensing of Telemeter in Canada. ; Mr. Cran, the new president of the two Telemeter companies, has had a wide experience in the fields of commerce and electronics. As joint managing director of Broadcast Relay Service (Overseas) Ltd. of England he negotiated licenses and formed subsidiary companies in 12 countries for broadcasting or wired music operations. Recently he returned to Canada where he formed Rediffusion Inc. in Montreal. Born in England, Mr. Cran qualified as a chartered accountant (U.K.) in 1930 and his first position was as resident partner with a firm of chartered accountants in Kobe and Tokyo, Japan. He has been a member of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants since 1941. Mr. Cran was secretary and comptroller of Broadcast Relay Service Ltd. and Radio & Electrical Developments Lid. from 1934 until 1940 when he came to Canada. During the years 1940 to 1945 he formed the Small Electric Motors (Canada) Ltd. at Leaside Ontario and the Semco Instruments Ltd. He purchased and reorganized Rogers Majestic Ltd. and Rogers Radio Tube Ltd. and acted as chief executive of this group until the business was sold to Philips (Holland) in 1945. Next year, Mr. Cran returned to England as executive director of Philips Lamps Ltd., in London and in 1947 he became associated with Broadcast Relay Service (Overseas) Ltd. returning to Canada to organize and direct Rediffusion Inc. in Montreal. CANADIAN CAMEO CONTEST M. Barager, booker for Empire-Universal Films Ltd. in Calgary, started the New Year off right. He received a substantial cheque as top man in the 1953 Canadian Cameo contest. Calgary and Winnipeg bookers ran a neck and neck race throughout the several months of the contest. Winnipeg was leading most of the way, but lost out to Calgary in the stretch. The contest was conducted to stimulate bookings of the 25 Canadian Cameo short subjects currently being distributed by Empire-Uniyersal for Associated Screen Studios, CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST D. P. MacDONALD DIES IN SYDNEY A prominent theatre man and a familiar figure in the business and community life of Sydney for the past thirty years —Mr. D. P. MacDonald, 74, died at his residence on January 14th. Owner of the ‘Paramount’ and ‘Vogue’ theatres, two of the largest film houses in Eastern Canada, Mr. MacDonald had been ailing during recent months and shortly after Christmas underwent a major operation in the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md. Mr MacDonald was born at Little River, Cape Breton, and began his business career as a grocery clerk in his home village. From Little Narrow he came to Sydney at the beginning of the Steel Plant boom at the start of the present century and for some years was employed in the grocery business. His first business venture was in the year 1900 when with his brother, he opened a shoe store under the name of ‘MacDonald Bros.’ which is still a well-know stand. In the 1930's he entered the theatre business when he purchased the old Palace Theatre from the late Len R. Acker, and changed the name of the playhouse to the ‘Capitol’ theatre. He later became associated with Famous Players and personally supervised the business for them. Out of respect to Mr. MacDonald's memory, the theatres remained closed until Monday, January 18th, the day of the funeral. Besides his widow, Mr. MacDonald is survived by his aged mother, now 101 years of age and a daughter and stepdaughter. VANCOUVER PIONEERS HOLD ANNUAL | MEETING The Vancouver Canadian Picture Pioneers Division held their Annual Meeting, with election of officers on Jan. 17th, at the Barn Supper Club. CAPITAL AND STRAND KISS ME KATE IN VANCOUVER M.G.M.’s highly successful musical, Kiss Me Kate, will play the Capitol in 2-D and the Strand in 3-D, Vancouver. IT PAYS TO BE DUMB The contract between the Screen Extras Guild and Major studios, Hollywood, raises the rate of payment of “Silent Bit Players” from $40.00 to $50.00. It pays to be dumb in Hollywood, COLUMBIA INSTALLS COLOR PROCESS AT STUDIO Columbia Pictures has installed, at its own laboratory, Hollywood, Beachwood Drive, equipment to process Eastman Color Negatives and positive prints. JANUARY 30, 1954 ASSOCIATED APPOINTS DIRECTOR OF PROD’N Appointed Director of Production by Paul Nathanson, who recently acquired control of the company, Gordon Sparling heads up the production department of Montreal’s Associated Screen Studios —the largest producers of theatrical, commercial and TV motion pictures in Canada, For thirty years, Sparling’s name has been associated with much of the best movie production in the Dominion. Graduating from the University of Toronto, he distinguished himself early in the days of the original Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau, and then joined the production staff of Paramount Studios in the first days of the “talkies.” As a young director of exceptional brilliance, he returned to his native Canada to produce many high-quality films under the ASN banner—the most notable series being the “Canadian Cameos,” of which he has made more than 80 during a period of some 21 years. Sparling's appointment is another indication of the vigorous steps being taken by Associated Screen Studios to continue supplying all that is best in production and laboratory facilities for every phase of the motion picture industry, and in particular the new medium of films for television. GARRICK’S FINE ORGAN DEPARTS FOR CINEMASCOPE The Garrick, Winnipeg's fine organ, a Wick’s electric action, three manual and pedal organ with 165 stops, including percussion and traps advertised for sale to make room for the installation of CinemaScope. Columbia Pictures Corp. Acquires 50 Percent Canadian Shares Columbia Pictures Corp.—Harry Cohn, president and Jack Cohn, executive president, acquired 50% of the stock of Columbia Pictures of Canada Ltd. It is reported that the stock acquired was that of Henry L. Nathanson, the Jules Laine estate, Arthur Cohen and Paul L. Nathanson. Both Nathansons, it is reported, will be replaced at the next Board of Directors meeting. Officers of the Canadian Franchise holder at this time are: Pres. — Louis Rosenfeld; VicePres. — Henry L, Nathanson; Sec’y —Jules Allen; Treas. — Paul L Nathanson; Gen. Sales Manager— Harvey Harnick.