Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jul 17, 1954)

Page scan 0006 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jul 17, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jul 17, 1954)
Leaf #:
0006
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Global Cinema, Hollywood Studio System, Canada, and Early 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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JULY 17, 1954 Jay Presents (Continued from Page 5) Family of Ray Lewis Exceedingly sorry and deeply grieved to learn of the passing of my dear friend Ray. Want to join with your many friends and relatives in expressing my heartfelt sympathy and condolence in your great loss, most sympathetically, Budd Rogers. Max Chic, Associate Editor Canadian Moving Picture Digest Accept my deepest sympathy on loss of your very fine and brilliant associate, Ray Lewis. Please extend my sympathy to her family. Austin C, Keough, Paramount. Dear Mr. Smith: Needless to say the passing away of your mother caught everyone surprised. Her friendships and contacts were far and wide, as far and wide as her multiple interests, and curiosity in all matters big and small. But bard, poet and musician as she was, she also would say in the words of Tennyson: “Let there be no moaning for me. . out to Sea...” We all know and realize that her noble character only shed prestige and some ray of ennoblement on the whole picture industry; and numerous admirers of her good works will around the world, grieve the loss and extend to her family their heartfelt sympathies. . when my barge sets Jules J. Nayfack. Miss Ray Lewis Associates Dear Relatives and Associates of Miss Ray Lewis May we, during this hour of bereavement, extend our CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST ABOUT MRS. LESLIE PAGE SEVEN hand of strength and spirit of understanding to you. The good and benevolent spirit of Miss Lewis will be ever with us. Regretfully, her personal self has gone to an untimely eternal rest. Heartfelt condolences. Sincerely, B. B. Kreisler. May I add my deepest sympathy to the scores of letters and telegrams you are undoubtedly receiving from all over this continent on the passing away of your mother. Ray Lewis, as I will always remember her, was not just a wonderful lady but a really grand person. I say it this way because although she was a lady in all respects she was definitely considered a very definite part of our Industry that is, of course, predominately men. Again, Jay, please accept my deepest sympathy and my wife joins with me in this. Yours very sincerely, F. H. Fisher, JARO. Dear Jay It was with deep regret that I learned of the death of your Mother. Ray was not only a grand person, beloved by everybody who knew her but in my personal opinion exercised an excellent influence on the welfare of the motion picture business in Canada. In the many years that I spent in Canada, I was fortunate in being able to see your Mother frequently and discuss the manifold problems relating to our Canadian business, in all of which her advice and counsel were most helpful. I console with you in your sad loss, a loss which will be felt by all of her friends and the entire Canadian motion picture industry. Kindest regards. Sincerely, Wolfe Cohen, Warner Bros. International. ance by Miss Booth that is nothing less than brilliant . . .” ° PARAMOUNT Digest of abi eo be Le ist Exhibitor: “. . . a personal triumph Stars: Shirley Booth, Robert Ryan. foc Bootes Trade eeidee ah shear Boxoffice: “. . . fine human interest. . .” P Film Daily: “. . . a remarkable picture Showmen’s Trade Review: “s+ + do Tess one of the season’s most notable ¢xcellent business . . . > sentimental experiences.” Variety: “. . . in for a good money Reviews Hollywood Reporter: “...a performrun...” THE RAINBOW JACKET a “WAR ON WANT™ efit ahaha: el ibe CANADA IN THE FOREFRONT NFB RELEASE = Heyening: Newst S522 econo OF FIGHT TO RAISE LIVING THRU PICTUS, FEE tac STANDARD IN ASIATIC WORLD COLUMBIA Tr : . aily Exp <= a winner over any distance. The Rainbow Jacket is, in fact, the film about racing we have all been waiting for, exciting touching .. .” Sunday Dispatch: “. . . rings true to life, admirably directed and perfectly acted.” “... The best British racing film I have yet seen.” The Times: “. . . is told with admirable skill. The film, in charming colour, has the sense to go to the tracks themselves, to Newmarket, to Epsom Downs, to Sandown, Lingfield and Doncaster for its background,” To-day’s Cinema: “. . . excellent general entertainment with obvious boxoffice possibilities . . .” Kinematograph Weekly: *. . . “Thrillpacked, amusing and deeply moving racing comedy melodrama, superbly photographed in Technicolor . . .” The Daily Film Renter: “. . . Exciting race scenes, enhanced by Technicolor . excellent entertainment . . .” I o\,