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 #:
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 A. W. PERRY (Continued from Page 1) der the Sea”, “The Vanishing Prairie’ and “The Little Outlaw.” The franchise was negotiated by Leo F. Samuels, President of Buena Vista and Mr. Paul L. Nathanson and Alf Perry of Empire-Universal Films. The franchise is unprecedented for Disney in the Western hemisphere and follows the company’s policy of releasing its product in the foreign field only through the most important distribution organizations, and in the selection of Empire-Universal Films, Limited, for its long standing record of many years for the distribution of outstanding product and achievement. In the United States the pictures will be released by Buena Vista and in the United Kingdom by the Buena Vista subsidiary, Walt Disney Film Distributors, Ltd. Alf Perry advises the first picture to be released in Canada by Empire-Universal Films will be “The Vanishing Prairie”, Disney’s newest true-life adventure film currently showing in the United States and setting box office records throughout. Perry advises this picture will be made available to theatres in Canada immediately. “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, Walt Disney’s first live-action feature in CinemaScope with high fidelity stereophonic sound will be 1eleased in Canada at Christmas and will be shown in all key centres. Alf Perry stated that in his opinion this is one of the greatest box office pictures that Walt Disney has ever produced, The film is based on the celebrated Jules Verne novel and was made at a cost of $5,000,000, and stars Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre. The third production set for Canadian release is “The Little Outlaw,” a live-action Technicojor Disney production filmed in Mexico, starring Pedro Armendariz. The film has authentic background and locales and is of unusual interest with exceptional appeal. ODEON THEATRE (Continued from Page 1) Six years ago. Announcement was made by C. R. B. Salmon, vice-president of Odeon Theatres (Canada) Limited who was in the city in conference with Hon. T. Babbitt Parlee, Q.C. legal advisor, and officials of Ambrose Wheeler Ltd. to whom the contract has been Jet. In the same block is the new Franklin-Herschorn theatre where work has been under-way for some time. =) Qe ent DICEeT FotoNite Promotion Interesting Public Relations Aid In Brandon Mr. Turoldo, Capitol, Brandon, arranged for a Foto-Nite stage presentation which was not only highly interesting but a top piece of exploitation and promotion, and particularly good public relations. Mr. Turoldo arranged with the Fire Department to co-operate with him and his Foto-Nite stage presentation during Fire Prevention Week—October 3 to October 9. It was arranged with the local Fire Chief to have 4 firemen appear on stage on Foto-Nite. These firemen were the Foto-Nite contestants for the evening and at the same time they got their message about Fire Prevention across to a capacity house. For his contest Mr. Turoldo arranged that the 4 firemen be asked a series of questions, by the Foto-Nite Master of Ceremonies, and the winner of the contest was determined by the audience applause, The audience, of course, was encouraged to select the contest winner on a basis of proper diction, smartness of answers, most informative, ete. Mr. Turoldo received from the Fire Chief in Brandon a very fine letter thanking him for the wonderful support given to Fire Prevention Week, and the opportunity of speaking before a capacity theatre. In the same letter Mr. Turoldo was thanked for the part he played in Fire Prevention Week and it is emphasized that such co-operation reduces the loss of human life and property through fire. Mr. Turoldo already has plans under way for similar Foto-Nite contest tie-ins with other public affairs such as: “Clean Up Weck”, “Safety Week”, etc. For these affairs he is arranging to have city officials as well as Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce representatives appear on the stage. MONTAGUE (Continued from Page 1) bers of our great Amusement Industry have already been healed of tuberculosis at our Will Rogers Hospital, more than twelve hundred have been cured of this wasteful disease, and returned to useful and happy lives! In 1953 sixty-nine new patients were admitted to the hospital, and forty-eight were discharged. In September alone, our record month for discharges, fourteen cases were healed and sent home to their families. Our Will Rogers Hospital has an enviable record of over 94% in cures, and has, with the help of the new antibiotics, drugs and improved surgical techniques, reduced the average length of stay of a patient from 778 days to 391 days. In fact, during the past five years the time required to effect a complete cure of tuberculosis has been cut in half! We are now engaged in intensified research, hoping to find an anti-tuberculosis vaccine. This stepped-up Research Progarm, with its expanded research facilities, is keyed for a continuing fight against tuberculosis. A competent staff, most modern equipment, and alert, analytical scientific thinking are united in a concentrated search for better and faster methods of healing and of preventing the disease. (Continued on Page 6) AT THE ALLIED ARTISTS CONVENTION IN THE BLACKSTONE HOTEL, CHICAGO OCTOBER 13th 14th 15th, 1954 . Seated, left to right: MacGregor Scott, general sales manager of Associated British-Pathe; N. A. Taylor, president of Allied Artists Pictures of Canada Ltd,; Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists Pictures, Standing, left to right: Larry Stephens, A-A’s advertising and publicity chief im Canada; Tony Morris, averseas sales manager of Associated British-Pathe; Douglas VY, Rosen, general mareae? Harry M, Mandell, vice-president, and Jock Bernstein, general sales manager o Allied Artists Pictures of Canada Limited. OCTOBER 30, 19% CinemaScope For Brantford Theatre Ben Schacher of the College Theatre, Brantford, has announced the installation of CinemaScope in the 550-seat house. The new technique has also been installed in the Westdale, a 600-seat suburban theatre in Hamilton, operated by Sardo Bros. CinemaScopes are now to be found in quite a number of smaller theatres in Ontario. Clappison Drive-In Aids Storm Fund One of the first to come to the aid of flood sufferers in the Toronto district, was the Clappison Drivein, near Waterdown, which staged a benefit show the night of Oct: 19, for which Warner Bros. donated the feature, “Captain Horatio Hornblower.” The staff of the drive-in, including members of Projectionists Local 303 of Hamilton, donated their services and announcement was made that all boxoffice receipts were being donated to the Ontario Hurricane Relief Fund. ASN Shutters Stills In order to concentrate fully on motion picture production, Associated Screen News is closing its still photo departments at the end of October, including branches in several areas of Canada. NFB eS This month EVE wITNES9 reports on SURVEY OF PAKISTAN FOR COLOMBO PLAN by CANADIAN PLANES (Ask for Eye Witness 66) Book THis ALL-CANADIAN NATIONAL FILM BOARD SERIES EVERY MONTH THROUGH COLUMBIA PICTURES