Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Aug 7, 1954)

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Aug 7, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Aug 7, 1954)
Leaf #:
0004
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System, Canada, 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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4 MAUIGUST 7, 1954 JAARO’s Giant Promotion ““Man With A Million” A giant promotion for JARO’s “Man With A Million” in its Toronto ~plilaydate was launched this week. The “Man With A Million” campaign falls into the following Stages, (1) Tie-up with Nash Motor Car Company. They are donating a Nash Rambler as part of the first porize and are putting all their local déealers into the promotion for local aodvertising. (2) Tie-up with Dominion Stores atnd their 57 outlets in Toronto. Tihey are donating a free flight to E2ngland for two by Trans-Canada Atirlines and 100 consolation prizes pblus $7,000.00 in advertising which wnill be: (a) A full page in the Toronto naewspapers. (b) Two and a half pages in the Tforonto newspapers. (c) Eight feet by three feet banmers on all 57 store windows plus Shtreamers, pennants and cards in aall stores. (d) One half million leaflets distributed through all cash registers, sstuffed into parcels, etc. ae The contest is a Gregory. Peck jjingle to be completed by Toronto ccitizens. Entry forms are available tthrough all Nash dealers, Dominlion Stores, Odeon Theatres and Inewspaper ads. (3) A tie-up with the Arthur IMurray School of Dancing in ‘which they will present the pro{fessional Dance Championships on ithe stage during the showing of “Man With A Million.” In addiition they will take newspaper ad vertising on the theatre page for three days prior to the stage performance, tieing in with the title of the film. They are also making a give-away of, approximately $500 in free dance instruction. The majority of credit for this tie-in goes to Douglas Mercer, a new, permanent member of Odeon’s publicity department, as well as W. Tyers, Jim Hardiman, Margot Hamilton and Tom Knight, JARO publicity head. DOUGLAS MERCER The Conqueror RKO’s “The Conqueror” is before the cameras on location in Utah. Luncheon For Winners (Continued from Page 1) Players Corp., to the winners, Mr. Fitzgibbons praised the leadership given to the rest of the circuit by “the activity of District B, which has developed to a much finer degree than the rest in the circuit.” Mr. Fitzgibbons compared the “ideas in Ballyhoo” to that of an acorn, with a kernel inside of it, which eventually grew into a tree, and from which important and big things were made, and concluded by stating that every film was a jewel, “that has some value, if we knew how to appraise it.” Mr. Bolstad, Vice-president of Famous Players spoke and cited Famous Players sound position, as a result of showmanship, “that brought results at the box-office.” Mr. Stein concluded the speechmaking by stressing that “no town is too small, or no theatre, that hasn’t the means if the manager wanted to do a job.” Mr. Stein congratulated Mr. Krendel for the way the Contest was handled and the leadership provided by him. Prizes were presented to Art Cauley, Peterboro, Bob Harvey, North Bay, Al Hartshorn, Oshawa, Jack Bridges, Timmins, Paul Turnbull, Hamilton, H. R. Patte, John Heggie (absent on vacation) and Herb Black, In addition to the above, who were listed on the front cover of the Digest, two weeks ago, Olga Sharabura, Eddie Lansbury, Bob Nelson and Len Gouin won certificates for their monthly showings. Seated at the head table were Jimmy Nairn, Morris Stein, R. W. Bolstad, Dan Krendel, J. J. Fitzgibbons, Ben Geldsaler, Mort Margolius and Bob Eaves. Others who were in attendance: Bob Myers, Budd Barker, L. G. Geering, Bob Beauvais, Al Troyer, Charles Dentelbeck, Jules Wolfe, Tiff Cooke, Max Chic and Dan Krendel’s daughter. “piercer ———— Brando To Simg In “Guys And Dolls” Marlon Brando agreed to lift his voice in song as Sky Masterson in “Guys and Dolls.” Samuel Goldwyn, producer of the musical, announced the surprise casting after such actors as Gene Kelly, Gary Grant and Burt Lancaster were reported to have had the inside track for the role. As the Damon Runyon character, he will sing for the first time professionally. The gambler-hero’s part is the first to be filled. The casting also marks the second time Mr. Brando will have worked under the direction of Joseph L. Mankiewicz. He played Mark Anthony in the director's presentation of “Julius Caesar.” Mr. Brando is being seen in “On the Waterfront.” He is currently working in “Desiree” as Napoleon. Macy’s Promotes “Susan Slept Here’ R. H. Macy and Company, New York, has returned to tie-ups for motion pictures with a promotion on RKO’s “Susan Slept Here,” which opened at the Victoria Theatre July 29. Macy’s last film tie-up was three months ago. The day before the Technicolor comedy went into the Victoria, Macy’s ran a full-page advertisement in The New York Times saluting the performance of Debbie Reynolds, co-star with Dick Powell of “Susan Slept Here.” Exhibitors Poll Names Winners Motion Picture Exhibitor has announced its sixth Annual International Laurel Award winners after a poll of theatre exhibitors. Among those cited were Michael Curtiz, director; Walt Disney, producer; Cecil B. De Mille, producer-director, and Marilyn Monroe and Gary Cooper, performers. The best films, in four categories, were “From Here To Eternity,” “Stalag 17,” “Lili® and “Shane.” Acting honors went to Burt Lancaster-and Deborah Kerr in “From Here to Eternity”; Donald O’Connor in “Call Me Madam”; Doris Day in “Calamity Jane"; Martin and Lewis in “The Caddy”; and Jack Palance in “Shane.” Ben Hur Sam Zimbalist is to produce Ben Hur for MGM, this big-scale production has been given a Spring, 1955, starting date, with an all-star cast. a PAGE FIVE By TOM KNIGHT Let's do more work. We have been hearing the blues cried by many people within the motion picture business that Television is cutting in on their profits, business is down, the people are staying away in larger numbers than ever before, Thursdays are bad nights because it’s fight night, Saturday is bad because of the big shows, Tuesday has Milton Berle, Wednesday is play night, who wants to go out on Monday, anyway, we have to get over the weekend. This has been going on ever since Television became popular :ifter the war. The receipts are down, the business has dropped off. Despite the new screen processes, CinemaScope, Wide Screen, Stereophonic Sound, VistaVision, Cinerama, the 2D pictures are making money as well... . “The Caine Mutiny,” “The Kidnappers,” “Stalag 17,” “Roman Holiday,” “The Moon Is Blue,” “Moulin Rouge” and many others. But even with all the scopes, etc., the manager and theatre exhibitor still has the last say where the picture does business. Since the cry “TV is ruining me” has gone out, many people have watched the business gradually go from their theatre to the Television store on the corner, but that exhibitor never realized that it was his own fault. It was his inactivity that brought the “21” screen into so much prominence. Still satisfied with booking his pictures, Opening his doors and sitting back waiting for the crowds to rip the walls down to get into his emporium, he never realizes that the crowds would like to be told that the neighbourhood house is showing a picture which might entertain them. It has been going on too long. Let’s do something that may make a trip to the local theatre a night out rather than, “There’s nothing on TY tonight. Let’s go to the movies.” If the exhibitor goes out and sells the film, ties up a few stores, tries a gimmick or two, promotes the picture, and follows through on the many helpful suggestions that the distributor sends him, uses some of the national tie-ups that are promoted for the exhibitor’s benefit, he will probably spend a happy vacation in Florida, (Continued on Page 6)