Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Oct 23, 1954)

OCTOBER 23, MASON RE-ELECTED (Continued from Page 1) tors were James McDonough, Halifax, N.S.; J. Mitchell Franklin, St. John; A. A. Fielding, Bridgewater, N.S., and R. Pope, Summerside, P.E.I. The exhibtiors discussed theatre admission tax in Nova Scotia and decided to ask the executive committee to send a delegation to the Nova Scotia legislature to see if the tax could be lowered. Mr. Mason said the tax in New Brunswick was a steady ten per cent of the admission price, while in Nova Scotia it sometimes ranged to 20 per cent. A minute’s silence was observed in commemoration of the passing of Mr. S. M. Bartling of Liverpool, N.S., and Mr. D. A. MacDonald of Sydney, N.S. Tribute was paid to the “First Lady of the Motion Pictures,” Miss Ray Lewis, who had been such a tremendous force in the Industry and always such a close friend of Maritime exhibitors. Exhibitors went on record for the absolute elimination of all nitrate film. Such elimination would mean a considerable drop in Insurance Rates in theatres. A. J. Mason and F. Gordon Spencer were recommended as delegates to attend the Motion Picture Industry Council meetings being held next month in Toronto. At the noon luncheon an oldtime film was enjoyed by all the Exhibitors. A forum _ discussion took place on the various types of Sound presentation — CinemaScope, etc. At the afternoon meeting Mr. Pat Dwyer who has been secretarytreasurer for eight years was presented with an honorary life membership in the Association. Reference was also made to the long-time Exhibitor, Mr. Edgar A. Neal who is confined in the local hospital. Flynn Signed By Herbert Wilcox Herbert Wilcox, British movie director, announced recently he had signed Errol Flynn to a three-year contract to make films in Britain. The actor will make six films for Mr. Wilcox, co-starring with Anna Neagle, the director's wife. 3 MORE FOR NFB The National Film Board of Canada won three firsts and a second in the First International Film Festival of Durban, South Africa. 1954 Across Toronto and District Barkers of Toronto Variety Tent No. 28 are studying the nomination list of 16 names for the 1955 Crew before lining up for the vote at the club rooms October 26. The polling sub-division will be open from 5.30 to 7 p.m. under the direction of Al Troyer of Famous Players as election officer. Country The Thanksgiving Day week-end saw the beginning of the end of the 1954 drive-in season, a number of operations being closed after making a bid for holiday business. e e e The Roxy Theatre, Carleton Place, recently acquired by Ottawa Valley Amusement Co., Renfrew, Russ Simpson, general manager, joined the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, The Roxy has 400 seats, and was formerly operated by National Theatre Services. e o e Rev. Ray McCleary, Protestant Chaplain of Toronto Variety Tent No. 28, was decorated with the Silver Keystone Award of the Boys’ Clubs of Canada in recognition of his long and valued service to the community, and especially for his direction of the Woodgreen Centre, Toronto. The presentation was made by Clute W. Foster. e e e Prior to the presentation of the Marian Pageant, The Story of Mary, at the Toronto Coliseum with a cast of more than 1,000 people, the Victoria Theatre was made available for final rehearsals by President J. J. Fitzgibbons of Famous Players. As a promotion feature for “The Caine Mutiny” at the Capitol Theatre, Hamilton, Manager Nicky Langston had the Hamilton Sea Cadets parade with their band to the theatre entrance, then proceed to seats inside. Prairies A masked bandit escaped with $102 in cash from the Lux theatre at Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., recently after forcing his way into the ticket booth and hitting the cashier, Mrs. Prezanowski, on the head with a bottle. Mrs. Prezanowski, wife of the owner of the theatre, suffered cuts and a bruise on the head when she battled with the man for several minutes. ° e e Arrangements have been completed for the Capitol theatre to house the Dominion Drama festival, to be held in Regina May 9 to 14, 1955. Event will be opened by Governor-General Vincent Massey. e e s In recognition of his service in bringing British films to Lethbridge theatres, the IODE presented a picture of Queen Elizabeth Il to dA. W. Shackleford, president of Majestic Theatres, Lid. The presentation was made Oct. 11, the 25th anniversary of the Capitol theatre, one of four theatres operated in Lethbridge by the Majestic organization. ° ° e Extensive alterations are planned for the front and lobby of the Capitol theatre, Lethbridge, Alta. The alterations coincide with the 25th anniversary of the theatre which was observed Oct. 11, The theatre has been part of the Famous Players organization for the entire quarter century. When announcement of the alterations was made, a threecolumn cut in the Lethbridge Herald showed A. W. Shackleford, operator of the Capitol, with his sons, Bob and Doug, looking over the plans. The renovations will cost more than $35,000. e e oO A modern, 317-seat theatre was opened at Wawota, Sask., Oct. | by Cliff Easton. Free shows and free popcorn were offered. Stuceo-frame building has up-to-date equipment, sloping floor, air-conditioned oil heat and rest rooms. The Federal Government reports budgetary expenditures for the Na— tional Film Board rose to $985,000 in period April | to Aug. 31 this year in contract to $836,000 in same period last year. Keep Your Eyes On PETER MYERS The job of looking ahead with confidence in the future comes easy to those, who have already put behind them a successful past and to Peter Myers, young and energetic Canadian general manager of 20th Century-Fox who with his associates are celebrating the first Anniversary of CinemaScope in Canada, this job comes easy. A short year ago, no CinemaScope and today over 450 theatres equipped and the prospect of reaching a goal of 600 by Christmas topped by the biggest gross yet for any year, has added up to a confident and bright future for 20th-Fox and Peter Myers. Pete, the name most often used when referring to Peter Myers began his tenure in the film industry at United Artists in 1935 as a contract clerk when Haskell Masters was UA’s Canadian general manager. In ’37 he was appointed as salesman for UA and travelled throughout Ontario. The RCAF, radar division from 1941 occupied Pete during the war years. Pete rejoined VA in his old capacity in °46 for six months, and then went to Warner Bros. for a short period as a salesman. In 1947 he became Toronto branch manager for Eagle-Lion, transferring to 20th-Fox in 1948, as its Toronto branch manager. In June of 1951, Pete became Fox’s Canadian general manager, when Arthur Silverstone was promoted to a top level post in Fox’s New York head office. Married the same week he joined Fox, Pete today can boast not only of a pretty wife but of a girl, 4 years of age and a boy 2'2 years of age. Chairman of the Motion Picture Distributors Assoc. and active in Variety Club, Pete this last year has become an orator, speaking for the Distributors Assoc. at industry funetions and introducing CinemaScope to Canadian exhibitors across the country. ee CE THE CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST, Entered as Second Class Matter. Jay L. Smith, Editor-in-Chief; Max Chic, Associate Editor, Correspondents: Bruce Peacock, Regina, Sask; Jack Droy, Vancouver, B.C.; Will McLaughlin, Ottawa, Ont.; Bill Press, Toronto, Ont.; Helen Crowley, St. John, N.B. Address all mail to the Publisher, Canadian Moving Pleture Digest Company, Limited, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto. Telephone: EMpire 8-8696. Coble: Roydigest. Established 1915, Publication weekly. Subscription: $5.00 yearly,