Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jul 10, 1954)

Page scan 0007 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jul 10, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jul 10, 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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/ 1 PAGE EIGHT CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST JULY 10, 1954 Jaro Studios Adopt Vista Vision With the announcement by Mr. John Davis, Managing-Director of the J. Arthur Rank Organization, of enthusiastic support for the VistaVision process, the famous Pinewood Studios will become the first film production centre in Britain to adopt the new Paramount system. The system, just demonstrated in London, shows a picture of high definition and fine quality—without any distortion on any sized screen. No special installation is needed in the theatre. Britain’s first VistaVision films will go into production at Pinewood in the late summer. Studio executives are already working on plans to change to VistaVision with the minimum delay. Mr. Davis says: “We have decided in favour of VistaVision because it gives a better picture than any other system we have seen. “It is a system which means that all our films can be shown in this improved pattern, and in any theatre, and without requiring our customers to make a large capital outlay. “We shall make our films using special cameras, but it will not cost any theatre One cent extra to show them.” NFB APPOINT SECRETARY Appointment of Pierre Juneau as Secretary to the National Film Board and Special Assistant to the Commissioner, has been announced by Dr. A. W. Trueman, Government Film Commissioner. Juneau's appointment follows the decision by Jan MacNeill to devote himself entirely to the production phase of Film Board work. Before joining the NFB in 1951 as Secretary to the Board, MacNeill was for several years prominent in the Canadian newspaper and magazine fields. As Secretary, Juneau, 32, will serve the Board’s governing body of nine, meeting every three months, and, as special assistant, will be filling the post of French Advisor, formerly a separate position. Juneau, a Montrealer, joined the National Film Board in 1949 and since has been district representative and assistant regional supervisor in Montreal, chief of the international division in Ottawa and until recently served for two years as assistant U.K. and European representative in London. DONALD M. GOVAN One of Canada’s first motion picture stage and set designers, Donald M. Govan, passed away Saturday, June 26th in his 66th year following a heart attack. A native of Tayvallich, Scotland, Mr. Govan, apprenticed in cabinet making and antique furniture before coming to Canada in 1925. Since joining the staff of Associated Screen News in 1931, Mr. Govan has been responsible for the building of many of the sets used in the production of Canadian Cameos, features and industrial motion pictures. He leaves one daughter, Mrs. John T, Skinner, and three sons, Fred, Donald and Duncan, all of Montreal. TOPS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS The Famous Players Theatre Managers’ Association of British Columbia will reach the high point in their organization in June when a hospital unit of a boys’ camp is opened. The organization is made up of 15 honorary members and 15 active members headed by Charlie Doctor, manager, Capitol theatre, Vancouver. Dick Letts, Strand Theatre, Vancouver, is vice-president and Wally Hopp, International Cinema, Vancouver, is secretary-treasurer. All were recently reelected. Main objective of the organization is to give some small assistance to community work such as the Vancouver Boys’ Club Association. They assist the four Vancouver units of the association, and besides the hospital unit, on which they have made an initial payment of some $800, they plan projectors, and possibly screens for the local clubs. “In helping this movement we feel we are contributing a little toward the defeat of hoodlumism, vandalism and juvenile delinquency in general. Theatres seem to suffer probably more than any other business from their condition,” comments Charlie Doctor. The association was formed in January, 1946, and the boys raise their money through an annual ball and the odd stag. The boys say they have a lot of fun out of it, besides being able to do some good work for the community. Digest of Trade KNOCK ON WOOD PARAMOUNT — Dena Technicolor Musical Comedy — 103 minutes Stars: Danny Kaye, Mai Zetterling. Producer and Director: Norman Pan ama and Melvin Frank. Motion Picture Herald: “, . . HilarIOUS eee Boxoffice: “...A riot of laughs from start to finish...” Exhibitor: “. . . Bound to register in the better money .. .” Showmen’s Trade Review: “. . . Danny is at his amusing best—and that’s good enough .. .” Variety: “. . . Crowd-pleasing escapism... that makes for pop. appeal at the box office...” MYERS APPOINTED IFD SPECIAL REP. Joseph Myers, veteran sales representative and exchange executive of the industry’s major distributing companies, has been appointed special sales representative of Jnternational Film Distributors Limited, it was announced last week, Speaking of Mr. Myers’ appointment, Douglas V, Rosen, general manager of 1.F.D. stated: “With the rapid expansion enjoyed by this company in the past nine months, alone; the acquiring of new product from the top studios of France, Germany, Italy and Sweden; our distribution of the top product from the studios of Associated British-Pathe and London Films from England and our taking over for Canadian distribution of the entire schedule of Allied Artists pro JOSEPH MYERS ductions makes it imperative we appoint a sales representative of Joe Myers’ proven ability and great experience — and understanding—with exhibitors and their problems.” Serving for many years as Calgary branch manager with United Artists and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Joe came east in 1941 and accepted a position as booker and buyer in Odeon Theatres’ head office. A few years later he assisted in organizing Allied Theatres (Ontario) and became that company’s chief booker. In 1947 Joe was appointed sales representative of Eagle-Lion with headquarters in the Toronto branch. In 1951 he went to the States, and until quite recently, was a crack salesman with Warner Bros. out of their Chicago office. In his more than thirty years’ experience in the motion picture industry, Joe Myers has made and kept a host of friends and they will wish him well in his new appointment. He is a popular member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers.