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Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Oct 30 1954)

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Oct 30 1954
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Oct 30, 1954)
Leaf #:
0001
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 TWO On the Geam (Continued from Page 1)~— committee all contributions made by the Motion Picture Industry to the Flood Relief Fund. Some Toronto exchanges have already started collections among employees for the fund. Allied industries are being asked to act similarly. Free films are being provided by Member Companies of the C.M.P.D.A. for a number of Sunday evening Benefit Shows, including 19 Allied Theatres, and 3 Premier Theatres held last Sunday evening. Other contributions to the Fund are being considered by all branches of the Industry. The need is very great. Estimated damage in the Metropolitan Toronto area as a result of the Flood is over $100,000,000. Loss of life will probably hit the 100 mark. Give generously, to the maximum of your ability. No contribution is too small, or too large. Make all cheques payable to the Ontario Hurricane Relief Fund, and forward them to the Canadian Moving Picture Digest, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto. Do it NOW! FILM LIBRARY (Continued from Page 1) of the hurricane, would get the full text of the meeting, and Mrs. Marjorie Dawson’s talk, in which she summarized the eyes © through which we should look at motion pictures. The Children’s Film Library has now expanded to include Family Groups, and pictures are judged on several bases, children to twelve, over twelve, and family groups. Mrs. Dawson said it was very important to understand the importance of the keynote to pictures, the word “Entertainment,” that is what they were looking for, and to judge a picture, not by what you like, but whether the picture was well done and entertaining for the type of picture it represented. She cited the young, inexperienced re (Continued on Page 3) DOMINION SOUND (Continued from Page 1!) imately 15,000 square feet. With an increase in office and warehouse facilities Dominion Sound will be in a much better position to service customers’ inquiries and orders. The location is about mid-way between Eglinton and Lawrence on Dufferein Street, and about one block to the west on Wingold Ave @ “pIeCECT Allied Artists Schedules 37 Films For 54-55 Season-Two In ’Scope Thirty-seven films for the 1954-55 season, 12 of which will spearhead releases during the next 10 months, were announced by Walter Mirisch, executive producer, at the annual Allied Artists national sales convention in the Blackstone Hotel two weeks ago. Heading the Canadian delegates to the convention, N. A. Taylor, president of Allied Artists Pictures of Canada Limited, spoke briefly. Other Canadians in attendance at the three-day convention at the Blackstone Hotel were: D. V. Rosen, Canadian general manager; Jack Bernstein, Canadian general sales manager; Harry MMandell, vice-president of Allied Artists Pictures of Canada Limited; Oscar M. Hanson, producer's representative in Canada and Larry Stephens, in charge of AA's advertising and publicity on this side of the border. MacGregor Scott and Tony Morris, general sales manager and Overseas sales manager, respectively, of Associated British-Pathe, distributors of AA’s product in Britain, joined the delegates in Chicago in time for the meetings. In revealing the company’s product for the new season, including at least two films in CinemaScope and seven in Technicolor, Mirisch disclosed that it represents the greatest boxoffice potential in the company’s history, and by far reflects the company’s heaviest investment in production, “I am certain,” he told the salesmen from all key cities in the nation, “this program will result in Allied Artists’ greatest year at the boxoffice. The sessions were opened by Edward Morey, vice-president, who introduced Morey R. Goldstein, V-p und general sales manager, who presided. Goldstein discussed sales plans for the new season and current liquidations. Following his address he introduced John C. Flinn, director of advertising and publicity ROSENFELD, Blanche Ruth Burditt — On Friday, Oct. 22, 1954, at New Mount Sinaj hospital, Toronto, Blanche Ruth, beloved wife of Louis Rosenfeld, 120 Rosedale Heights drive Toronto, dear mother of Mrs. John Mirsky (Marion) of Ottawa, and Gurston Rosenfeld of Toronto, sister of Mrs. John Hudson, and Malcolm Burditt of Parry Sound, Ont. Service was at Holy Blossom Temple, Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock. Interment Holy Blossom Memorial Park. who outlined general advertising and promotional plans in the United States and Canada, for the coming year. The company has completed a two-reel short subject, “This Is Allied Artists” which will be screened for exhibitors throughout the world to acquaint them with the company’s expanded 1954-55 production plans. The two-reeler, filmed in color, features executive producer Walter Mirisch introducing scenes from several recently completed productions, including “The Annapolis Story,” “Shotgun,” “Tonight’s The Night,” “The Black Prince,” “The Big Combo” and “John Brown’s Raiders.” Mirisch also discusses Stars, producers and story properties lined up for the near future. BIG BIZ FOR U.A. United Artists’ “Down Three Dark Streets” opened to recordsetting business at the United Artists Theatre, San Francisco, matching grosses with “Moulin Rouge” and “The Moon Is Blue.” OCTOBER 30, 195 UA’S DRIVE (Continued from Page 1!) G. Kranze, general sales manager for UA. The salute to UA’s Chairman oj the Board, which has established itself as by far the most successful sales effort in the company’s history, has compiled billings averaging more than $744,000 a week for the six-week period, with totals for the sixth week alone exceeding $1,000,000. The Drive, which will award $50,000. in prizes to the winners among United Artists’ 32 competing branches, supports the “blockbuster-a-month” releasing program announced recently by President Arthur B. Krim. The 32 UA branches in the United States and Canada, are compeling in three groups of equal gross ing potential. Cash prizes will b: awarded to the winning exchanges in each group at the end of each lap and again at the completion of the Drive. W.B. SIGN LIBERACE Jack L. Warner announced that Liberace has been signed by his company to star in “Sincerely Yours,” title of the picture has been taken from the pianist’s popular record album. MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW! For the Annual Meeting and Luncheon of the MOTION PICTURE THEATRES ASSOCIATION of ONTARIO to be held , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25th, 1954 at the KING EDWARD HOTEL, TORONTO REGISTRATION 9.30 A.M. BUSINESS MEETING 10 A.M. LUNCHEON | P.M. ARTHUR L. MAYER, Guest Speaker Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario ARCH H. JOLLEY, Secretary 21 Dundas Square EM. 4-9630 Toronto, Ont. Be Sure to Visit the Movie Trade Show!