Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jun 5, 1954)

Page scan 0007 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jun 5, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jun 5, 1954)
Leaf #:
0007
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 | RICTURE DIGEST PAGE EIGHT — teen Se sisted “SUNE 5, 1954 Allied Bee Sin Huston To Contract A new major source of product for the industry is assured with the announccment by Steve Broidy, President, Allied Artists Pictures Corporation that John Huston, famed creator of top hits and Academy Award Winner has been signed to an exclusive producer, director, writer, contract. Broidy revealed as well, that a contract is being drawn for producer, director, writer, services of Billy Wilder, who won three Academy Awards, Additionally negotiations with producer, director William Wyler are expected to be complete shortly. Wyler holds two Academy Awards. First Huston Production to launch the new association is Rudyard Kipling’s classic “The Man Who Would Be King.” Broidy stated that the deal was initiated by Harold J. Mirisch, vice-president of company who with G. Ralph Branton also an Allied Artists vice-president, were associated in financing and Western hemisphere distribution of Moulin Rouge a John Huston Production. Broidy said, “We are proud that these great creative talents who among them have won seven Academy Awards are aligning themselves with Allied Artists. The public is seeking outstanding pictures such as made by these three who represent the kind of boxoffice man power sought by every major company. As a result of the progress during the past three years in our production operation under the guidance of Walter Mirisch, Executive Producer, we are now able to take on this new operation. “Addition of these new important pictures is a logical development of the advancement we have made in distribution and production during this period. We will augment the Huston and anticipated Wilder and Wyler pictures with a greatly expanded high caliber production program. Superimposing the grossing potential of this new product upon the profitable production and distribution performance of Allied Artists can only result in our opinion in further progress for the company and assurance of a major contribution to outstanding entertainment on the theatre screens throughout the world”. VANCOUVER NEWS t By JACK DROY Neither Charlie Doctor, this year’s _ Winner of the Quigley Award, nor Ivan Ackery, Orpheum manager, last year’s winner, will have another chance to win the movie industry’s top prize for outstanding promotion. The lads are too good, and after all Quigley wants some new winners, so exhibitors get busy you now have a chance. Al Margolin of the Walt Disney organization was here working on publicity for “Living Desert” with Strand manager Dick Letts, and with Orpheum's Ivan Ackery on “Rob Roy”. Both pictures opened on May 24th. Herb Stevenson, Prince George theatre owner back from a four month world four. Famous Players theatre managers, promoted a movie and stage show Sunday midnight at Wally Hopp’s Interna tional-Cinema, proceeds in aid of the Vancouver Boys Club, J. D. McCaughey, former manager of Benograph is now factory representative for B.C. and Alberta, for Bell & Howell of Canada, He will headquarter in Vancouyver. Ivan Ackery an Englishman is going Scotch for a week, will wear kilts and go on a Scotch diet (liquid) for the engagement of “Rob Roy”. Ivan said Bagpipes will be checked in the outer lobby. The Belmont ozoner being built by a company headed by Attorney-General Maynard of the Alberta Government near Edmonton, Alta., will open in June. It will hold 500 cars. Equipment is being installed by Perkins Electric Vancouver office. Frank Goddard, Canada’s oldest doorman now over 80 is hospitalized for surgery, he is a veteran of the South African war; replaced at the Odeon Vogue by Byron Briton. Victor Tombs is in charge of the Capitol for the next six weeks while Manager Charles Doctor will be away in the Eastern U.S., to pick up his Quigley Award. George Thrift, secretary of local 348 projectionist union was appointed a delegate to the National Convention. Prairie News BRUCE PEACOCK New regulations for theatres and public halls, including a provision against drive-in theatres being built within two miles of each other, have been announced by the Saskatchewan department of Labor. Better heating systems will be required in theatres and halls, particularly those being built or renovated. Changes have been made in the grading of operators. First class operators may run any projection equipment, second class operators may run equipment in towns, villages or hamlets in theatres with 500 seats or less and third class operators may operate equipment using incandescent lighting only. Operators 65 years of age and over must produce an annual certificate of medical fitness. All licenses for theatres and public halfs must now be paid on a yearly basis, except where the theatre is in a viilage or hamlet. Formerly quarterly licenses were issued. The new regulations also call for an annual report by owners and managers instead of the quarterly reports previously required. The theatre at Theodore, Sask., has been purchased for $25,000 by Leon Wasilishen, former poolroom operator at Wynyard. The theatre, with a capacity of 280, was owned by N. Butchko, of Ituna, who aiso owns a theatre in that town. "DIGGERS OF THE DEEPS'! » WIDE-SCREEN |} J 5 STORY OF CANADIAN COALFIELDS AND THE MEN WHO RISK THEIR LIVES DEEP IN THE » SEAMS OF CAPE’ BRETON IN COLOR _ COLUMBIA t¢. “BOOK NOW -—