Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Feb 6, 1954)

> <—— _ | rT Third Annual Communion Breakfast. Seated at the head table are Icft to right: Walter Kennedy; Rev. George J. Cherrier, O.B.E.; Ernest Rawley; The Very Rev. B. T. Kyte; Clare Appel; Rey. E. J. Gleason, C.S.P.; J. J. Fitzgibbons, C.B.E.; Jack Hyland and Jack Fitzgibbons. Third Annual Communion Breakfast The Sheraton Room in the King Edward Hotel, Toronto, was the scene of the Third Annual Communion Breakfast of the entertainment industry (Toronto area) on Sunday, January 3\st. Mass was celebrated in St. Michael’s Cathedral at 9 a.m., and was attended by over 250 members of the Catholic faith in the entertainment industry. At the breakfast which followed the celebration of the Mass, the principal speakers were ithe Very Reverend Bernard T, Kyte, P.P., rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral; John J. Fitzgibbons, CBE, President of Famous Players Canadian Corporation and Reverend Edward J. Gleason, C.S.P. Mass was celebrated by Reverend George J. Cherrier, OBE, one of the chaplains of Variety Club. Father Kyte spoke of the tremendous influence of the entertainment industry. The industry, he said, could be a great force for good or evil. He brought to the gathering the sincere good wishes of His Eminence, James Cardinal McGuigan, and his blessing. “He hopes that your industry will be blessed, directed and guided by God,” he said. Introducing J. J. Fitzgibbons, the toastmaster, C. J. Appel said: “He is a man who has been honored by our government; honored by our industry and a man who was the guiding spirit in the building of Variety Club’s Variety Village. He is a man we are proud to call the leader of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry.” Mr. Fitzgibbons urged his audience to participate in the Christopher movement. This organization, he said, had scores of pamphlets on religion which were ayailable to everyone for the asking. He volunteered to forward all requests to the proper authorities. “There is controversy raging over the question of censorship in the United States,” he said. “I can assure you that the heads of responsible companies in Hollywood don't want any part of a code that will turn freedom of speech and presentation into license.” Mr. Fitzgibbons paid tribute to the many stars and producers in Hollywood who have done so much to keep the motion pictures on a high level. “I am very proud of many of the pictures we have presented in our theatres,” he said. “I don't have to name them—you know the pictures I mean, as well as L do.” Music was provided by the St. Mary’s Boys’ Choir under the direction of Rey. Brother Cyril, F.S.C. The committee responsible for arrangements was headed by John J. Fitzgibbons Jr. and Clare Appel and included Winston Barron, Gerald Collins, Roy D' Augustine, Maurice Doyle, Jack Hyland, Walter Kennedy, John Niosi, Ernest Rawley and Charles Sweeney. Introducing the committee, Mr. Appel paid special tribute to J. J. Fitzgibbons Jr., who, he said, had been largely responsible for arranging communion breakfasts in Toronto, London, Montreal, Hamilton and other centres. MYERS ATTENDS FOX SALES MEET Peter Myers, Canadian General Manager for Twentieth Century-Fox, attended an important two-day meeting at the home office on Thursday and Friday of last week, convened by A/ Lichtman, director of distribution. The territorial sales chiefs met to outline sales plans for the coming year in a series of round table discussions led by Mr. Lichtman, W. C. Gehring, executive assistant general sales manager, Edwin W. Aaron, Western sales manager, and Arthur Silverstone, Eastern sales manager. Discussion at the meeting included sales plans for CinemaScope productions such as “Hell and High Water,” “Night People,” and ‘Prince Valiant,’ merchandising plans for Panoramic Productions “Three Young Texans,” “Siege At Red River” and “Gorilla At Large;’” discussion of the presentation of CinemaScope pictures via proper screens and with stereophonic sound; and_ exploitation plans now being drafted for the remainder of the year. NOLAN JOINS GOETZ Joseph J. Nolan, former vice-president of RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., and one of Hollywood’s veteran major studio executives, will join William Goetz Productions, Inc., as vice-president, reporting to Goetz at Columbia Studio last week, Nolan originally joined the accounting department of RKO in New York City 34 years ago, and rose from the ranks to become vice-president, moving in 1934 to the studio, where he supervised star contracts. He resigned in 1949 to take a world tour. Farewell luncheon tendered by the Toronto Film Board to Russ Simpson at the yee ng for his throat—a Sunbeam electric razor, presente G Rooms, Presentation—somethi few well chosen words, by Abe Cass, ty Club after 9 n. Front Row LEFT TO RIGHT: Y. Beatty, J. Labow, A. Cass, R. Simpson, C. Appel, H. Alle eiber Bock row LEFT TO RIGHT: M, Diamond, J. MacPherson, A. Iscove, G, Cass, I. Allan, “en Bishop: Photograph taken by *°