Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Apr 17, 1954)

Page scan 0003 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Apr 17, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Apr 17, 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 23, 2024
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PAGE FOUR Goyernment and opposition members in the Ontario Legislature gave approval to the recommendation of Harry D. Nixon of Brant County for an amendment to the new Theatres Act which provides for written approval of a municipal council for a new drive-in theatre site before a provincial license can be issued by the Theatres Inspection Branch. Dr. S. F. Leavine, member for Waterloo North, endorsed the move by Chairman O. J. Silverthorne for tightened censorship control for moving picture advertising. Dr. Leavine asked for strict enforcement of the regulations. Perkins Electric Co. has installed an RCA Dynalite Screen in the independent Allenby Theatre on Danforth Avenue, Toronto. At Brantford, the 15th anniversary of the College Theatre was featured by the introduction of the RCA Dynalite Screen, the program comprising “Blowing Wild” and “Marry Me Again.” Jack Arthur has been on the traditional spot in connection with plans for the grandstand show at the 1954 Canadian National Exhibition because of the jurisdictional dispute between two unions, both affiliates of the International Federation of Labor. Arthur gave an ultimatum to the Toronto Musicians Union and the American Guild of Variety Artists that they must resolve their differences before May 1 or he will have to produce a different type of show, perhaps a Canadian rodeo performance. The Musicians haye refused to play for AGVA artists, Warner Bros. has bought distribution rights for all countries except Canada of the Associated Screen News’ short subject, “Circus On Ice,” a color picture of the Toronto Skating Club ice reyue. In Canada the Canadian Cameo releases are distributed by Empire Universal Films. The Brantford Theatre Managers Association conducted its fourth annual benefit show in aid of Variety Village School on Sunday evening, April 4, at the Famous Players’ Capitol ‘Theatre where Bill Burke presides. All five theatres in Brantford cooperated with enthusiastie support for the project in which many artists contributed to the excellent program. Joseph Sardo, proprietor of the Westdale Theatre, Hamilton, and Mrs, Sardo haye been blessed with the arrival of a baby daughter in the Mount Hamilton Hospital, their first child, The happy mother is the former June Cockrane. Teronto and District By BILL PRESS CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Lovely Luise Rainer of screen renown was a visitor in Toronto to officiate as guest speaker at a gifts tea at the Park Plaza April 8 under the auspices of the Women’s Division of the United Jewish Appeal. ~ Prairie News BRUCE PEACOCK A pioneer Edmonton theatre operator and resident of the city for 46 years, Alex Entwisle, 88, died March 28 after a short illness. He was born in England and came to Canada in 1905. Mr. Entwisle was first employed in Edmonton in the projection room of the city’s first theatre, the Bijou. In 1920, in partnership with his sons, Clarence and Arnold, he began the acquisition of several theatres, starting with the Dreamland, then the Princess later in the same year. Following the purchase of the old Monarch theatre, the partnership joined with Famous Players Canadian Corporation in 1930 to buy the Empress, and the Strand in 1931. A fifth, the Garneau, was added in 1941. Mr. Entwisle retired from active participation in the theatre business in 1946, leaving the operation to his son, Clarence. His other son, Arnold, died in 1952. Provincial Labor Minister C .C. Williams officiated at the opening of the new Lyric Theatre in Outlook, Sask., March 19. House is owned and operated by A. C. Barteluke. Theatre, 40 feet by 92 feet, is of frame construction with a woodtruss type roof. A crying room is featured. Maritime News HELEN CROWLEY CinemaScope is being installed in the B&L Circuit at Madawaska, Maine — the Manager there is Mr. Clifford Bowes, formerly Booker with Columbia Films at Saint John, N.B. Another town to advertise the advent of Cinemascove is Florenceville, New Brunswick — the proprietors are the Green Brothers. This theatre is scheduled to open with Cinemascope during Easter week. All F. G. Spencer Company Ltd. theatres will be closed as usual on Good Friday. The weekly Bowling in which about forty members from the local Film Exchanges and Theatre staffs have been participating during the Winter months will come to a close next month. Instead of prizes, trophies haye been donated. Sometime during June a moon-light sail up the Saint John river is being planned after which the party will assemble at the Yacht Club for a dance. This Bowl APRIL 17, 1954 OO ee THE CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Entered as Second Class Matter RAY LEWIS Editor-in-Chicf 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 ceseeeseee Wancouver, B.C, WLLL McLAUGHLIN ..... Ottawa, Ont. BILL PRESS Toronto, Ont. HELEN CROWLEY Saint John, N.B ing League first instituted by the late Walter R. Golding, Manager of the ‘Community’ theatre at West St. John has proved very popular each year, and this get-together is looked forward to each week with enthusiasm. PROMOTIONOTES There’s , No Business in SLOW Business A mammoth “Heidi” coloring contest for boys and girls, started last week, in the Toronto Evening Telegram, \aunching one of the biggest promotional camPpaigns ever undertaken in Toronto. The contest, which will run for three weeks, is tied in with the release of United Artists’ “Heidi” and “White Mane” at four Toronto theatres, the Odeon Fairlawn, Humber, Danforth and the Savoy. The campaign for the two United Artists releases has been prepared by Wannie Tyers of Odeon, Al Perley of Biltmore Theatres and George Heiber, Toronto branch manager for United Artists. The coloring contest prizes are, an alr trip to Switzerland for 10 days, all expenses paid, for two persons. The trip to Switzerland is the Grand Prize at the end of the contest. In addition there are 39 daily prizes, making a total of 702 prizes to be given away during the three weeks, the contest will run in the Telegram, Amongst the daily prizes will be Bulova wrist watches, Swiss Chalet Music Boxes, “Heidi”. coloring books, “Heidi” story books as well as guest tickets to the three Odeon theatres and the Savoy. Three thousand poster cards, plugs on 6 radio stations, banners on 25 trucks. displays in over 600 magazine dealer outlets and 60 Loblaw Supermarkets will advertise the contest; and for the bang up of the campaign, the four theatres will insert (something which we believe has never been done before in Toronto) a full page ad on “Heidi” and ‘Whit? Mane” in the Toronto Evening Telegram the day before opening.