Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Oct 2, 1954)

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Oct 2, 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Oct 2, 1954)
Leaf #:
0003
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 23, 2024
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PAGE FOUR BésF Reinvesting Money—Theatre Improvements Speeded Up—Fine “PROGRESS” has been the byword at B. & F. Theatres again, lately. With most of their houses equipped for wide screen and CinemaScope presentation, Samuel Fine and Samuel Bloom are looking forward to an era of greater attendance and larger grosses. B. & F. is a Toronto circuit of suburban theatres, associated with Famous Players Canadian Corp. Lid. First formed in 1927, the company, under the guidance of Messrs. Bloom and Fine, grew to a twenty-theatre chain, all in Toronto. To keep pace with changing conditions, different techniques have been adopted. Head Office policy has been to dispose of lowgrossing theatres, in districts where more than one B. & F. house is located, with the condition of sale being that the building is not to be used as a motion picture theatre. In line with this theory, the Gerrard, Carlton and Academy Theatres have been sold, and the Apollo Theatre closed. This tends to concentrate the theatre-going population into the remaining theatres. This plan has met with considerable success. The smaller number of theatres has enabled Bill Summerville, Jr., Theatre Supervisor, and Jack Fine, Booker and Buyer, to concentrate on ways and means to improve business. In each case, where a theatre has been sold, B. & F. has turned the proceeds to good use in other theatres. Present plans include reseating the Eastwood; putting in an air-conditioning system, new front and marquee at the Parliament; new curtains and terrazzo in the Beaver, and a facial interchangeable sign at the La Plaza. Samuel Fine declares, “We are proving our faith in the future of the theatre business by reinvesting money in our theatres. Today’s customer not only demands the best in picture production, but also insists on courtesy, service and comfort. To draw our customers away from their TV sets and into our theatres, we must fulfill their wishes every inch of the way.” B, & F. has made a significant devarture from the ordinary in the Pylon Theatre (in which the late Ray Levis, former Publisher and Editor of the Digest, was a partner) by turning to a complete Italian Isnguage policy. Located in the heart of Toronto’s large ItaJian district, the new policy has been an outstanding success. All pictures play for at least one week. with Saturday’s business representing a major part of the gross. The Pylon has pioneered the appearance of American Pictures dubbed in Italian, in Canada, having @ just finished playing “Mutiny on the Bounty.” To hear and see Charles Laughton bellow “Mr. Christian, come here!” in Italian, is a treat to behold! With the success of this policy, other companies are planning to follow MGM's lead in bringing in Italian versions of their greatest hits. Testing of the York Theatre, located in the heart of Toronto, as an Art Type theatre, is currently progressing with anticipated good results. Situated in the exact centre of the City, the York has a great potential for this type of picture. Another unique feature of the B. & F. organization, is their Sign Shop, operated by George Robinson, and located above the Parliament Theatre. This Sign Shop handles work only for B. & F. Theatres, and the various Managers keep four men busy, full time, turning out the required advertising, including fronts, panels, one-sheets. price cards and anything else that a theatre may require. A significant departure occurred recently, when four neighborhood ODEON “BIG SHOW” CHAMPIONSHIP LUNCHEON Top center: Odeon executives headed by David Griesdorf named Nicky Langston, this year’s Champion. Center left: Jim Hardiman, stending in front of part of the ~pIereT B. & F. Theatres joined with a downtown Theatre to play the firstrunpictures of the last MARCIANO-CHARLES Fight, along with two first-run features. The excellent results gained at this time, were encouraging, and Messrs. Bloom and Fine hope to continue this policy. Samuel Bloom, Managing Director of the Company, avers that “We must change with the times! The public demands to see pictures when they are new. We must cater to our clientele, and if this means changing policies in various theatres, we will certainly do so.” Republic Gets Two Top Rank Pictures Republic Pictures has acquired U.S. distribution rights to two top grossing J. Arthur Rank features and is reported to have options on several others. Unusual deal is said to be a forerunner of closer ties between the Herbert Yates and Rank companies. Pictures acquired by Republic include the Technicolor hit, “Doctor In The House,” and “rouble In Store,” another top-grossing comedy. Still another outside picture acguired by Republic is Jules Levey’s Italian import, “The She-Wolf,” starring Kerima. OCTOBER 2, 1954 MARK THESE DATES ON ‘YOUR CALENDAR! Noy. 22 — Annual Meeting, National Ctee. Motion Picture Exhibitors Assoc. of Canada, ‘King Edward Hotel. Noy. 23-24—Annual Meeting, Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada, King Edward Hotel. Nov. 23 — Luncheon, Hosts Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Assoc. King: Edward Hotel. Noy. 23: — Variety Club Tent 28 Award. Dinner, Prince George Hotel. Nov. 25 — Motion Picture Theatres Assoc. of Ontario An nual Meeting and Luncheon. King Edward Hotel. Nov. 25 — Canadian Picture Pioneers Annual Award Dinner. MOVIE TRADE SHOW King Edward Hotel Noy. 23-24-25 12 a.m. to 8 p.m. For further information and accomodation reservations, write Arch H. Jolley, Executive Secretary, Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ontario. MOBY DICK Orson Welles has reported to Warners for his role as the preacher in “Moby Dick.” display at the Luncheon. Center right: Nick Langston with the general managers of the distribution companies, Lower left: Some of the Ontario prize winners, Lower right: Champion Langston with the publicity heads of the distribution companics.