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 #:
0005
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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TAYLOR REPORTS ¥ (Continued from Page 1) recent Director's meeting of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Assoc. “1. That a Canadian Motion Picture Institute be activated by the appointment of a Board of Directors of twelve, such Board to be made up as follows: (a) One representative appointed by each of the seven exhibitor organizations in Canada, members of this Council; (b) Two distributors appointed by the Motion Picture Distributors Association; (c) Three members at large, appointed by this Council. “2. Upon the appointment of the Board of Directors, such Board should meet and agree on the selection of an Executive Director who shall have such qualifications as are necessary to engage in public relations work and particularly, one with experience in the newspaper and magazine field. Such Director should set up an office in Toronto and arrange for a sub-office in Montreal in order that whatever plans are worked out for English-speaking magazines and newspapers can also be activated in their French counterparts in Quebec. “3. Upon establishment of the offices hereinbefore mentioned, the following work should be proceeded with: (a) All newspapers, magazines, radio stations, etc., should be advised of the formation of this organization and its purpose. (b) A ‘direct mail campaign should be proceeded with, directed at these outlets soliciting cooperation in the obtaining of better treatment for movies. (c) Contact should be made with established fact-finding bodies in order to obtain proper facts on the movie-going habits of the Canadian public. (d) Create a weekly movie column to be sent to all papers with interesting data on movies and players. This could be supplied in mat form to small-town newspapers TRAILERS! For Immediate Service and Economy For All Special Troilers Date Trailers PERSONALIZED WITH » $9.75 THEATRE NAME ONLY = ORDER NOW! — FROM 157 RUPERT ST. WINNIPEG 250 VICTORIA ST. TORONTO gibbons said: which do not otherwise have regular movie coverage. (e) Contact established magazines with a view to having them run regular fouror eight-page movie sections in every issue or, in the alternative, a special edition every year, similar to that done in many United States cities. (f) Work out a plan for display and previews of 16 mm, films on forthcoming attractions at various exhibitions, etc. This can become an important public relations and direct-advertising job and at comparatively small cost. (g) Arrange for routing of representative speakers to service groups and women’s organizations in order to create a favorable and friendly attitude to the motion picture industry. (i) A concerted and continuous effort should be made with all newspapers on the higher advertising rates presently being charged motion picture theatres, and in many cases the lack of co-operation being given for publicity. It would seem that Institute could do a great deal of good along these lines. “4, It was felt by the committee that this plan should be undertaken on a two year basis and that the minimum budget should be $50,000 per annum. We should try to start the plan by the Ist of January 1955. It is recommended that the budget be apportioned as follows: “The distributors to pay $15,000 per annum, such sum to be allocated among themselves. “The exhibitors to pay 5c per seat, or, in the case of drive-ins, Se per car.’ ~“pIersT OCTOBER 2, 1954 Newspapers Ignore Film Biz (Continued from Page 1) adian Motion Picture Institute (3-i) will win wide-spread support in the industry. The news that the Toronto Star has hiked its rate to 55Sc as of January 1 plus the table of newspaper rates listed for key cities, should bring quick action on the part of exhibitors and distributors at the next meeting of the Motion Picture Industry Council. Watch for Clare Appel’s statement on this problem next week. Newspaper Amusement Page Ad Rates for (July-August 1954) and (First Quarter 1952): Newspaper 1952 Victoria Colonist Times........ 25 Vancouver Province ............ 5s) Vancouver Sum ..........e:.00 47 Albertan (Calgary) ................ Herald (Calgary) .................. 225 Journal (Edmonton) ............ .24 Leader Post (Regina) ............ 13 Star-Phoenix (Sask.) ............ .12 Free Press (Wpg.) ......c...00.... 23 SUT DUNE MW DE: )mateeeartieieny LO Expositor (Brantford) ......... .O9 Mercury (Guelph) .....:....... 08 Spectator (Hamilton) 22 Whig-Standard (Kingston).... .08 Free Press (London) ........... .25 Citizen (Ottawa) 2.000.000... 18 Journal (Ottawa) ...0..0.0..0..... 18 Standard (St. Kitts) 2.00000... .08 Star (Sudbury) oo... .10 Globe & Mail (Toronto) ...... =) Star (Toronto) 22.00.0000... . 65 Telegram (Toronto) .............. .55 Star (Windsor) .................. .23 Gazette (Montreal) ................ vice Montreal-Matin (Montreal)... .11 La Patrie (Montreal).............. 10 La Presse (Montreal) Star (Montreal) 0.0... ............ os Chronicle-Telegraph (Que.).... .08 La Tribune (Sherbrooke) ...... -10 Chronicle-Herald & Mail-Star (Halifax) Flat Per Line Amusement Page 1954 1952 1954 29 26 30 -40 -40 45 53 47 PP) 14 seek 14 .20 ai 32 .24 xine 35 15 17 .20 14 57) 20 26 29 32 .20 p45) 25 -10 10 12 -08 10 10 24 a .25 -09 AS AS 29 30 30 20 oa) 25 20 5) 25 10 .08 10 a 2 10 15 -60 45 55 42 45 25 24 26 22 33 33 1S AS 20 10 SUS} 15 .40 40 38 35 38 0 10 10 It 22 22 30 _ 34 Associates, Employees Inducted fh F.P.25 vere Club Thirty-one associates and employees of Famous Players were inducted into the 25 Year Club during the recent Western visit of John J. Fitzgibbons and a group of his executives. Speaking at the final induction dinner held in the Panorama Roof at the Hotel Vancouver, Mr. Fitz“Last year we were reading critical things about our industry. Today, thanks to tremendously improved attractions, CinemaScope and VistaVision, we have entered upon an era of prosperity and our industry is being praised on all sides. Let us join in this chorus of praise because we can do so sincerely. “The reason for this and similar gatherings is to try to express our sincere appreciation of the loyalty and service you have given this company,” Mr, Fitzgibbons told the 25 Year Club inductees. “You helped to build the foundation that has made Famous Players an honored company and you have helped bring to it the dignity and respect it now enjoys.” Mr. Fitzgibbons reviewed the history of the 25 Year Club: which had been founded on the 25th anniversary of Famous Players in 1945 and whose roster now contains the names of 350 men and women, each with a quarter century of service with the company. Inducted at the Vancouver dinner were Walter Bennett, Capitol Theatre, Vernon; Mrs. Alberta Easthom, Windsor Theatre, Vancouver; Samuel Elleringron, Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver; Claude G. Karp, Vancouver office; Edward R. Marshall, Capitol Theatre, Vancouver; J. Roderick Martin, Strand Theatre, Vancouver; William E. McCartney, Orpheum _ Theatre, Vancouver; William J. L. Pacey, Broadway Theatre, Vancouver; Carl Rau, Capitol Theatre, Victoria; A. Sydney Summers, Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver; Claude G. Smith, Paramount Theatre, Chilliwack; .and William H. Taylor, Strand Theatre, Vancouver. Senator J. W. de B, Farris, a member of Famous Players’ board of directors, said: “I think it appropriate to extend a word of welcome to Mr. Fitzgibbons and Mr. Bolstad and our other visitors from Toronto. I should like to congratulate the executives of our Company on the good work they have done. We see everywhere evidences of the improvements made and shareholders have the happy experience of seeing their stock go up. This does not happen accidentally but rather it is the result of hard work, skilful planning and executive ability.” The 25 Year Club meetings, Senator Farris said, are a declaration of how people can get along in friendly co-operation. “If that can be accomplished in our own organization it can be ac (Continued on Page 7)