Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Oct 2, 1954)

PAGE TWO Ou the Seam (Continued from Page 1) ers” (Brit.) is now in its 17th Toronto week, having moved over from the Hyland-Christie. And that is still just part of the picture, for on October 7th, the Avenue Theatre goes into a first-run Art policy, with the local premicre of the French-Canadian production, “Tit Coq” starring Gratien Gelinas (Fridolin), while the York Theatre is also now operating on a similar policy, this week playing an all-British program, and starting foreign films next weck. The first thought that comes to mind, of course, is that Toronto has become a big Metropolitan centre along the lines of New York and is not indicative of the country as a whole. But this explanation won't hold water, either, for some story on a smaller scale applies to the rest of the country. In Montreal there are at least three theatres playing exclusively Italian product, plus two or three playing only British films, in addition, of course, to the usual French house. In Ottawa, two theatres, the Little Elgin and the Towne Cinema are operating on a strictly Art policy, while the Glebe -plays almost exclusively British films. In Hamilton, one or two theatres are playing Italian and other foreign product; in Sudbury, the LaSalle plays a number of Italian films; in Brantford, Odeon played a number of foreign films last year, and the College Theatre starts a onenight-a-week Art film policy very shortly. Going farther afield, in Winnipeg, both the Osborne and the Dominion have done yery well with foreign pictures and will probably continue the policy this Fall. In Calgary and Edmonton, foreign films have had some very successful runs, while in Vancouver, the Studio Theatre, and the Odeon-Hastings both have made a success with an Art policy. What the future holds for foreign films in Canada, nobody knows. Dubbing the foreign pictures in English certainly will increase their potential runs considerably but the Canadian public has apparently become quite willing to accept foreign films in their native language, and is intelligent enough and mature enough to understand and appreciate the artistic merit and entertainment qualities of the non-Hollywood product. EXACTLY LIKE YOU Columbia's Frankie Laine musical, “Exactly Like You” to go before the cameras in December. QUEBEC PIONEERS (Continued from Page 1) weather, had an excellent turnout. The Toronto IATSE Team, that won the Toronto and Winnipeg tournaments, split up in Montreal, with A. Byford and A. Pura playing the Montreal duo of A. Hague and B. Murray, while the other Toronto pair of F. Cox and F. Cross took on Joe Strauss and Geo. Panis of Montreal. Both Toronto pairs won by comfortable margins. The J. H. Strauss trophy for low net score, donated by Joe Strauss of the Empire Theatre, Montreal, was won by Bill Murray. 2nd low net was won by Harold Giles. Low Gross winner was L. Rosenbloom, with Donat Paquin winning second low gross. Prizes for High Gross and 2nd high gross went to B. C. Salamis and Sam Shadley respectively. Guest prizes were won by Frank Cox, Toronto, low gross, and Bill Hill, Montreal, low net. President of the Quebec branch of the Canadian Picture Producers is Fred Peters. Ralph Ellis Upped By Film Board The National Film Board announced the appointment of Ralph C. Ellis, 30, as sales and theatrical representative for the United States and assistant to T. L. Johnston, chief NFB representative in the U.S. Ellis, who took over his new duties on October 1, will be responsible for sales of both 16 and 35 mm. films. Ellis, native of Milton, N.S., joined the Film Board in RALPH ELLIS 1946, after wartime service in the RCAF, as a field representative in the Maritimes, He later became coordinator of theatrical distribution in Ottawa, theatrical sales representative stationed in Toronto and since July 1953 has been distribution promotion officer in Ottawa. “DIECECT FAMOUS PLAYERS (Continued from Page 1) tising and public relations. The meetings took the form of round-table discussions between company executives, partners and associates and district managers. During the visits the head office group inspected the company’s properties and equipment and the president inducted newcomers into the Famous Players’ 25 Year Club. The meetings dealt intensively with new product, new devices for presentation, confections, advertising and operation with the heads of various departments leading in the discussions, Mr. Fitzgibbons told the meetings that it must be admitted that in recent years our industry had not kept pace with other developments in the entertainment field. “On our train coming out was one of the new type of streamlined, vistadome cars the Canadian railWays are now putting into service” said Mr. Fitzgibbons. “One has only to ride in one of those cars and then walk through the rest of the train to appreciate the difference, “The same thing applies to our business. To meet the challenge of television and other forms of entertainment competing with us we must streamline our presentations.” Mr. Fitzgibbons stressed the fact that the motion picture business has entered an era of prosperity. He spoke enthusiastically of the new product now being presented in the theatres. Less than a year ago, he said, we were reading critical remarks about the motion picture industry. Now, thanks to tremendously improved stories and pictures and to the revolutionary new systems of presentation such as VistaVision and CinemaScope, a recognition of the industry's come-back was being noted in the press and magazines. “Some of us didn’t admit it at the time but many of us were gravely concerned about the state of our industry a year or so ago,” Mr. Fitzgibbons said, “but today I defy anyone to be pessimistic about the motion picture business.” The two-day Winnipeg meeting included the home office group with Gordon Carson, Fort William; Richard, Nathan and George Miles, Winnipeg; Bob Hurwitz, Winnipeg; John Ferguson, supervisor for the Prairie Provinces; Harold Bishop, district supervisor; George Dowbiggin, district booker; and Don McKenzie, supervisor of maintenance, all of the Winnipeg office; Jim Cameron, Lakehead theatre supervisor; Lionel Gibb of Theatre Confections and Charles Maybx of General Theatre Supply Co. At Regina the executives me with partners Jack Watson of Re gina; Harry Durham of Shauna von; James Butler, Newt Byer and Bill Winterton of Saskatoon: Clarence V. Marshall of North Battleford; William Mahon of Prince Albert and John Ferguson, Lionel Gibb and Charles Maybee. Present at the Calgary meeting were partners K. M. Leach, Calgary; A. W. Shackleford of Lethbridge; Clarence Entwistle of Edmonton; James Parnell and his sons of Red Deer together with John Ferguson, Don McKenzie, Lionel Gibb, Charles Maybee and Paul Cardell, Calgary district booker. In Vancouver discussions were held with Harold Warren of Port Alberni; Frank Gow, Maynard Joiner, Lou Karp, district booker, John McCausland, supervisor of maintenance and _ construction, Frank Troy of Theatre Confections and Bill Forward of General Theatre Supply Co. On October 4th and Sth partners’ meetings will be held in Saint John, N.B., and in Toronto on October 13th and 14th. SASK. EXHIBITORS (Continued from Page 1) higher admission prices be charged, the association said. The exhibitors termed this situation an “exploitation” of the public. They also stated that they fell the distributors were withholding regular price motion pictures unti their road shows had been signe¢ for by theatre managers. : More advanced price movies were released this year than evel before, they said. Delegates also expressed tht opinion that the National Filn Board was encroaching on_ th rights of private enterprise. The} said they didn’t like the idea fe) the NFB getting its pictures int theatres with the solicited help © service clubs. If the NFB contin ues its business in this manner, the; said, the public will soon be gettin more politics than entertainment. A recommendation that theatr owners supply free passes to mem bers of the Canadian National In stitute for the Blind was passed. Delegates attended a premiere © Paramount’s new VistaVision pro duction, “White Christmas,” at th Nortown Theatre. J. D. McKenzie, Estevan, wa elected president, succeeding W Winterton, Saskatoon. J. Lud holme, Swift Current, was name¢ vice-president and J. Heaps, Re gina, secretary-treasurer.