Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Mar 6, 1954)

Page scan 0003 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Mar 6, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Mar 6, 1954)
Leaf #:
0003
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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CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST iid Teronto and District By BILL PRESS Jack Chisholm got away from Toronto, in his transfer to the Associated Screen News head office in Montreal, without the accolade of former associates and friends here, literally in their hundreds. Toronto Varicty Tent No. 28, of which he is a Past Chief Barker, caught up with Jack and his wife, however, when they were guests of honor at a social gathering of Barkers and their ladles Friday night, Feb. 26, in the Variety clubrooms, with food and fun “on the louse.” Chisholm, International Press Guy, was in Toronto for the third annual graduation night for Variety Village on the preyious night at the Royal York Hotel. Famous Players Canadian Corp. declared a dividend of 37% cents for the first quarter of 1954 on each of the outstanding common shares, the payment to be made March 26 to stockholders of record March 11. The dividend is at the yearly rate of $1.50. With the stock at $20.50 recently, this is equivalent to a yield of slightly less than 7% percent. The question is: Where did Manager Barry Carnon go when he put out the “Ladies Only” sign at the matince of “The Sinner” at the Hyland Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 24. The reason for the exclusion of all males was an intimate Stage presentation, “Foundations in FaShion.” If you don’t know what “foundations” are, you wouldn’t be interested, anyway. H. C. D. “Dick” Main told this writer some time ago how happy he was to have his parents at the Simcoe Theatre, Sutton, The other day there was quite a family celebration when his father, A. G. Main, manager of the theatre, observed his 74th birthday. Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Main are looked upon the oldest active couple in theatre management in Canada. Manager Ernie Smithies of the Famous Players’ Capitol] Theatre, Kingston, conducted a special advance screening for clergymen and other religious representatives of “Martin Luther” prior to the Opening engagement March 1. Favorable comment was published in the WhigStandard as a result of the private showing of the controversial picture. Mrs. James R. Nairn, president of the Toronto branch of the Can,adian Women's Press Club, is actively engaged in preparations for the Golden Jubilee of the organization with a function scheduled for June 2. Awards totalling $400 will be presented to Canadian women writers. Although she said she was “scared stiff’ when a gunman demanded the contents of the till Feb. 22, Cashier Audrey Deby of Shea’s Theatre saved a considerable portion of the night’s receipts through her presence of mind. She handed over a number of $1 and $2 bills after which the yegg took to his heels. Manager Len Bishop said the loss totalled $55, the cashier having kept the large banknotes out of sight. The latest member for the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Onfario is the Empire Theatre, 400 seats, at Thessalon in the North Country. FAREWELL OAK STREET A CANADA CARRIES ON RELEASE “My wish is that everyone could see it. It does an excellent job of depicting how couples with small children can be helped, through Dominion-provincial-municipal housing projects, to find adequate housing at a reasonable cost.” —HIS WORSHIP ALLAN LAMPORT, MAYOR OF TORONTO. SEE THIS FRANK, DRAMATIC STORY OF HOW A SUB-STANDARD AREA OF TORONTO WAS REBUILT, GIVING NEW HOMES AND NEW HOPE TO 1,300 FAMILIES, BOOK NOW — THRU COLUMBIA TERRE ee MARCH 6, 1954 THE CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Entered es Second Cless Metter RAY LEWIS Editor-in-Chief °e Address all moil to the Publisher CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST COMPANY, LIMITED 21 Dundas Square Toronto Telephone: EMpire 8-8696 Cable: Raydigest Established 1915. Publication weekly. Subscription: $5.00 yearly — Correspondents — BRUCE PEACOCK................. Regine, Sesk. JACK DROY.............. Vv B.c. WILL McLAUGHLIN =, Maritime News HELEN CROWLEY After 41 years in the Motion Picture business, Mr. Frank J. Fitzgerald, Saint John, can speak very interestingly regarding the changes that have taken place in this now great Industry. Mr. Fitzgerald has literally grown up with the Famous Players “Capitol” Theatre on King Square. At the time of its formal opening in “1913”, at that time called the ‘Imperial’, he was Stage-Manager having come there from the old Saint John ‘Nickel’ where patrons were charged five cents a head. Mr. Fitzgerald was Stage-manager until 1929 when the ‘Imperial’ was renamed the ‘Capitol.’ He is still there, spry as ever, after more than forty years. At times, he will reminisce regarding the hallowed days of the ‘Imperial’ — the top vaudeville, opera and silent movie palace of New Brunswick. Mr. Fitzgerald feels very proud of the modern revamped ‘Capitol’ which can now compare with the most deluxe houses anywhere. Among the famous Stars he can recall who played this theatre are Harry Lauder, Gracie Fields, Edgar Bergen and Ethel Barrymore. He also remembers the day that Walter Pidgeon, then a pianist and singer, appeared at the ‘Nickel.’ Mr. Fitzgerald recalls that in 1929’ the ‘Imperial’ was the first theatre in the Maritimes to start ‘talkies’. Its first Sound movie was “The Desert Song” with John Boles. Mr. Fitzgerald started in Show -business when only 16. Very active, he is remembered by movie patrons who have been attending the ‘Capitol’ since the days they were children. To the theatre staff of 25, he is a combination, instructor and father-confessor. From his 40 years spent in the ‘Imperial’ and ‘Capitol’ theatre, he has learned to look ahead with optimism, but is happy that he was around to watch the evolution of the theatrical business and see it keen nace with ever-changing times. It has 3-D pictures now and may soon be showing CinemaScope,