Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Mar 27, 1954)

Page scan 0003 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Mar 27, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Mar 27, 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 MARCH 27, 1954 Teronto and District By BILL PRESS You should see the new “calling card” of Jack Chisholm which gives his address in Montreal along with the telephone number which is designated as a smoke signal emerging from the top of the home tepee. Jack himself is shown astride an ass (donkey) as he travels Highway No.2 from Toronto, the animal carrying a wafer bottle on which appears a “VY” for Variety. Struggling behind on foot is Mrs. Chisholm as she drags the household effects on a sled. The card reads: “Welcome New Wigwam—Heap Big Chief Chisholm and Squaw”. Negotiations have been completed by Gabriel Szovertfy, Hungarian resident of Toronto, with RKORadio for the rights to his 23minute film “The Iron Fence,” it is announced. The picture, which was made around Toronto last summer, is to be lengthened. John J. Fitzgibbons, president of Famous Players Canadian Corp. for the past 13 years, is being congratulated on the completion of his 50th year in show business. When he was 14 years of age he became assisfant projectionist at the Bijou Theatre, Meriden Con., where he was born. giant screen EVERY ANGLE “‘ASTROLITE”’ IS SUPERIOR @ BRILLIANCE @ POLARIZATION © COLOR RENDITION @ SOUND TRANSMISSION DOMINION SOUND see ASTROLITE” Only two features were graded Adult Entertainment during February by the Ontario Board of Moving Picture Censors. They were “Hot Ice” and the British picture, “The Heart of the Matter.” Two attracfions which are enjoying holdovers in many situations throughout Ontario are the revived “The Best Years of Our Lives” and the new release “The Glenn Miller Story”, both of which are in two dimension. It is interesting to note that the Glenn Miller picture is playing at advanced prices, $1 top. _~ Prairie News BRUCE PEACOCK Construction of two new theatres are planned for Rocky Mountain House, Alta., this year. John Williams will build a $45,000 theatre this summer and a Winnipeg company, operating a chain of drive-ins, is seeking a location for a $75,000 outdoor theatre. Stanley and Joe Zaba have started construction on a drive-in theatre at Wolseley, Sask., the Twi-lite. Isador Reinhorn and his son, Leonard, entertained government and civic officials and other guesfs at a preview of “Royal New Zealand Tour” in the Roxy theatre, Regina recently. 5° 15° Astrolite gives maximum return of projected light energy. Bonded layer construction provides very durable, lightweight damage-resistant and scratch-proof surface. Will not deteriorate nor change composition. Amazing brilliance lasts indefinitely—fabric can be washed to remove surface dirt and dust. EQUIPMENTS LIMITED HEAD OFFICE: 4040 St. Cotherine Street West, Montreal. BRANCHES AT: Halifax, Soint John, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, 0S-54-2 Hamilton, London, North Bay, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver. THE CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Entered as Second Class Matter RAY LEWIS Editor-in-Chief e Address all mail 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 Regina, Sask. JACK DROY Vancouver, B.C. WILL McLAUGHLIN Ottawa, Ont. BILL PRESS Toronto, Ont. HELEN CROWLEY Saint John, N.B. -Mawritimne News HELEN CROWLEY Mr. Bruce C. Carruthers who passed away recently in California at the age of 52 was well known to many in the motion picture field in which he spent 18 years as a technical advisor, actor and extra. He had jusf finished work on “Rose Marie,” the M. G. M. CinemaScope picture and was technical adviser for the version of the same picture made in 1935. The deceased was a native of Prince Edward Island and received his carly education in Charlotte town. He joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Western Canada and served as a Corporal for seven years. After a long absence, Mr. Carruthers visited his native Province about two years ago and Mr. George Walters, Manager of the ‘Prince Edward’ theatre Charlottetown had the privilege of meeting him and they spent an interesting evening chatting about . . . Hollywood. Among Mr. Carruthers’ surviving relatives is a sister Mrs. Bonnell, wife of Reverend Doctor J. S. Bonnell, Pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, of New York City. Mr. Murray Ellman (B & L Head Office) is promoting the Saint John Chess games and is a very active worker in this Club. “The Glenn Miller Story” played the ‘Strand’ Theatre, Saint John, N.B., (Odeon Circuif) recently for eleven days when it established a record in attendance for this theatre. It is doing the same in Odeon’s “Casino” Theatre, Halifax, N.S., where it is currently playing. The “Casino” recently installed new Lamps and a fwenty horsepower generator. WANTED JUNIOR STENOGRAPHER FOR IMMEDIATE POSITION Good wages, five-day week. State age and experience, salary expected Apply ALLIANCE FILMS LIMITED 21 Dundas Square, Toronto EMpire 8-8696