Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jul 31, 1954)

Page scan 0008 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jul 31, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jul 31, 1954)
Leaf #:
0008
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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AULLY 31, 1954 CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Alction Taken Against N.Y. Tax 4 In an action brought by a group of motion picture theatre Operators in Queens, New York, Justice Nicholas M. Pette, issued a temporary ‘gjjunction forbidding the city to collect any “breakage” on amusement tickkets that would make the yield oat any one ticket more than 5 per cennt of the established price. _ The amusement tax law, in force simece July 1, calls for the collection off a full cent in cases where the fax amounts to a_ half-cent or maore. Where the “breakage” is less thaan a half-cent the law provides thaat it be disregarded. The law ddoes not apply to admissions where thhe established price is 10 cents ovr less, In his opinion, Justice Pette cited aun example of illegal collection oof the tax. Assuming an established tilicket price of 11 cents, he pointed oout that a 5 percent levy would Goldwyn Renews With IRKO For One Year Samuel Goldwyn Productions thas picked up its option to conttinue its distribution arrangement ‘with RKO for another year, or to ‘June of 1955, With the pact thus extended, RKO will continue handling of the national release of ‘Hans Christian Andersen” and the reissue of “Best Years of Our Lives.” However, provision has yet to be made covering distribution of “Guys and Dolls,” Goldwyn’s upcoming adaptation of the musical Stage show. It is said unlikely that this will be ready for release before the latter part of next year. Roy Rogers a Hero Says Brit.. Parliamentarian The recent visit of Roy Rogers to Glasgow and Edinburgh did more than all the teachers could do, according to Arthur Woodburn, Scot member of Parliament. The children, he said, turned out in thousands to see him and his horse, “Trigger.” The interesting thing was that he lectured to them on good behavior to their parents. That did more than all the teachers could do. More use, he thought, could be made of the heroes of children to inspire them. He suggested that the hero worship of such people as Rogers and Field Marshal Montgomery could be put to good use in teaching children. Rogers and his troupe will be the headliner at the Canadian National Exhibition Grandstand Show. “THE GOLDEN MISTRESS” “The Golden Mistress”, a Tech nicolor adventure has been acquir ed for release by United Artists . be 55/100 of a cent. In such a case, he said, the city by collecting a full cent would be imposing a tax of about 11 per cent. Film Imports Jump Imports of films into Canada increased slightly to $2,744,000 during the first four months of 1954 as compared to $2,729,000 in the corresponding period last year, the Canadian government reports. Four Top Stars Set For “Mr. Roberts” William Powell will join the cast of “Mr. Roberts” in the role of “Doc”. Mr. Powell is the fourth principal to be engaged for the picturization of the hit play. Henry Fonda will be seen in the title role, as he was on the stage; James Cagney will portray the captain of the supply ship. Jack Lemmon will play Ensign Pulver. John Ford, the only director in Hollywood holding a commission as Rear-Admiral in the Naval Reserve, plans to start filming soon. Trans Cauada a {oo Use THIS INFORMATION AS YOUR GUIDE ON RELEASE DATES TORONTO IMPERIAL (Para.) Technicolor Knock On Wood with Danny Kaye. SHEA’S Secret of the Incas (Para.) Technicolor with Charlton Heston. UNIVERSITY Front Page Story (IFD) with Jack Howkins, EGLINTON Rose Maric (MGM) CinemaScope ond Technicolor with Ann Blyth. NORTOWN Dial M For Murder (Warner) WarnerColor with Ray Milland. ODEON Garden of Evil (20th-Fox) CinemaScope and Technicolor with Gary Cooper. UPTOWN Francis Joins the Wacs (E-U) with Donald O’Connor. LOEW'S Gone With the Wind (MGM) Technicolor with Vivien Leigh. HYLAND & CHRISTIE Fifteenth week. The Kidnappers (JARO) with Vincent Winter. TOWN CINEMA Third week. La Ronde (IFD). INTERNATIONAL CINEMA Twenty-first week. Hobson's (IFD) with Charles Laughton. DOWNTOWN Fireman Save My Child (E-U) and Rails Into Laramie (E-U). MONTREAL Choice PALACE The Royal Tour (20th-Fox) CinemaScope in Color. LOEW’S Fourth week. Knock On Wood (Para.) Technicolor with Danny Kaye. PRINCESS Gorilla At Lorge (20th-Fox) Teenicolor and 3-D Pola-Lite with Cameron Mitchell. CAPITOL Men of the Flaming Lady (MGM) Color with Van Johnson. IMPERIAL Monster From the Ocean Floor (Cardinal) and Cat-Women of The Moon (Cardinal). ORPHEUM Top Banana (UA) color with Phil Silvers. KENT Sixteenth week. The Kidnappers (JARO) with Vincent Winter. SEVILLE O.K. Nero (IFD) with Walter Chiari. STRAND ~SNOWDON OUTREMONT Black Horse Canyon (E-U) Technicolor with Joel McCrea. ALOUETTE Le Comte de Monte Cristo. WINNIPEG CAPITOL 3 Coins in the Fountain (20th-Fox) CinemaScope and Technicolor with Clifton Webb. LYCEUM She Shoulda Soid No! (IFD) and Cap tain Scarface. MET Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (20th-Fox) Technicolor with Marilyn Monroe. ODEON The ‘Maggie’ (JARO) with Paul Douglas. GARRICK Rails Into Laramie (E-U) Technicolor and Fireman Save My Child (E-U). GAIETY To Each His Own (Pora.) and A Place In The Sun (Para.). DOMINION No Escape (UA) and Geraldine (E-U). VANCOUVER CAPITOL 3 Coins in The Fountcin (20th-Fox) CinemoScope & Technicolor with Clifton Webb. ORPHEUM Second week. Knock On Wood (Para.) Technicolor with Danny Kaye. STRAND Lure of the Sila (IFD) and Annapurna (RKO) Technicolor. STUDIO Marlag ‘0% (IFD) with Anthony Steel. VOGUE Hell Below Zero (Col.) Technicolor with Alan Ladd. PLAZA The Seige At Red River (Fox) Technicolor and The Limping Mon (Cardinal). PARADISE Drums of Tahiti (Col.) Technicolor and Coast Guard (Col.) DUNBAR Eleventh week. The Kidnoppers (JARO) with Vincent Winter, VARSITY Eighth week, The ‘Maggie’ (JARO) with Poul Douglas. CALGARY CAPITOL Second week. Knock on Wood (Para.) Technicolor with Danny Kaye. PALACE Dial M for Murder (WB) WornerColor with Ray Milland. UPTOWN Mon With A Million (JARO) Technicolor with Gregory Peck. GRAND Joe Louis Story (UA) with Hilda Simms. STRAND Held-over Three Young Texans (20thFox) Technicolor and A Yank in the R.C.A.F. (20th-Fox). SAINT JOHN PARAMOUNT Demetrius and The Gladiators (20thFox) CinemoScope Technicolor with Victor Mature. CAPITOL Jivaro (Para) Technicolor and Reap The Wild Wind (Para.), STRAND Riot in Cell Block 11 (AA). PAGE NINE Erro] Flynn, Joanne Dru, and Peter Finch will head the cast in Allied Artists’ CinemaScope production, “The Black Prince”. . shooting is scheduled to begin August 3rd under the banner of Walter Mirisch . . , Owen Crump will produce “The River Changes” for Warner Bros. John Sturges will direct “The Scarlet Coat” for MGM starring Cornel Wilde and Michael Wilding . .. Guy Madison was signed to a long-term contract by 20th-Fox and will star with Clark Gable in “The Tall Man”... Burt Lancaster will star in and direct “The Gabriel Horn” which will also have Una Merkel and John Caradine. Jon Whitley, the young British star has an important role in Metro’s “Moonfleet” . . . Sterling Hayden will be the pilot in Ivan Tors “Ten Miles Up”... Kirk Douglas, Gilbert Roland and Caesar Romero set to star in Fox’s “The Racers”. Harold Hecht and Burt Lancaster are thinking big in terms of casting for their independent film production “The Way West”... expectations are to cast Gary Cooper, Kirk Douglas and those unrelated Hepburns, Katherine and Audrey, as well as Burt Lancaster +» Bob Hope will portray Eddie Foy in Paramount's “Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foys”. Lana Turner and Edmund Purdom co-featured in Charles Schnee’s production, “The Prodigal” for MGM ... Van Johnson will appear opposite Deborah Kerr in “The End of the Affair”, to be filmed in England . . . Jane Wyman and Charlton Heston will be starred by Paramount in the romantic drama “Lucy Gallant”. 450-seat theatre well located in town of 3,000. Modern projector and screen, In good repair. Price $35,000 Terms con be arranged. Contect: ee HARLAND RANKIN, ¢/o O'BRIEN REALTY 128 Queen Street, Chatham, Ontario.