Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Nov 6, 1954)

NOVEMBER 6, 1954 Keep Your Eyes On IRVING HERMAN Noted for consistently blazing new public relations trails for the Canadian motion pic ture industry, Irving Merman, who is responsible for Warner Brothers’ advertising, publicity and exploitation in Canada, recently effected this country’s first national television tie-up for a motion picture when he enlisted the co-operation of the Canadian’ sponsors of the “Dragnet” TV program to promote the WarnerColor release of the same name. His varied career includes many distinctions: at 12, he was Canada’s’ youngest editor, publishing a monthly magazine for boys. At the age of 15, he was writing, producing and directing radio programs broadcast from Hamilton and St. Catharines. During his three and a half years in the RCAF, he edited a weekly newspaper and a monthly magazine. as well as producing weekly _ recruiting and Victory Loan broadcasts in western Canada. In 1946 he joined Producers Releasing Corporation as Canadian director of advertising, publicity and exploitation and continued in that post when PRC was absorbed by International Film Distributors Ltd. Late in 1949, he opened his own public relations office in Toronto and for almost two years served a variety of accounts that included industry, motion pictures, night clubs, communal organizations and even a circus! He closed his office in 1951 to join United Artists as Canadian advertising, publicity and exploitation chief. Haskell M. Masters, Warner Bros. Canadian general manager, appointed Herman in August, 1953, as Canadian representative for Mort Blumenstock, Warner’s vice-president in charge of advertising, publicity and exploitation. Herman’s achievements in garnering extensive bonus press publicity for films prompted one trade paper to dub him an “ace of space.” Not too long ago, The Digest named him “a theatre manager’s publicity man” in recognition of his many accomplishments. Not content to rest on his laurels, Irving continues to live up to his reputation. —___ Ee Across Toronto and District The Ontario Hurricane Relief Fund was deprived of an estimated $1,500 when the Vancouver police halted the advance sale of tickets on a $1 donation basis for a Sunday benefit show in the Terminal City. In the Toronto district 18 independent theatres of the Allied Exhibitors group announced the raising of $5,275 for storm sufferers through a Sunday evening benefit at which collection plates were passed around. e e e Manager Ed Burrows of the Odeon Theare, Brantford, where CinemaScope has been installed, had a highly-appropriate tie-in for “King of the Khyber Rifles” with a display of handsome Indian rugs in the lobby through the co-operation of a local carpet firm, Der Stepanian’s Limited. Country Sam Fingold’s National Theatre Services has appointed Jack Boddam of Toronto as manager of the circuit's Towne Cinema in Ottawa following the resignation of Ron Wedgewood to become manager of the Ottawa Rialto, recently acquired by Robert E. Maynard of the Francais. The Rialto and Towne both follow a continental film policy. For some time Boddam had been serving as a relief manager at NTS units in the Toronto area. e e e As an advance attraction for the Hadassah Bazaar in the Automotive Building, Toronto Exhibition grounds, Manager Vic Nowe of the Odeon Theatre featured the Hadassah Fashion Preview of a Woman's World one night in the lobby during the screen engagement of “Woman's World.” e e e Under the supervision of General Manager Russ Simpson of the Ottawa Valley Amusement Co., Manager W. G. Jordan re-opened the O’Brien Theatre at Arnprior after a remodelling project which included installation of CinemaScope and a complete air-conditioning system. Prairies Hal Roach, president of Hal Roach studios and one-time producer of “Our Gang” comedies, was a visitor in Moose Jaw recently on his way back to Hollywood after a week’s hunting of upland game at nearby Buffalo Pound Lake. ° e e A new 350-seat theatre at Blaine Lake, Sask., is the Empress, owned and operated by M. Szurydky. A building destroyed by fire last spring was enlarged and renovated to house the theatre. A free show was presented to mark the opening. ) e ° City council at Moose Jaw accepted an offer from Gene Autry to purchase two 1912 vintage fire trucks for $600 each. Autry, who bid for the trucks when he played the city with his western troupe recently, wanted them for use in his movies and for his museum in Hollywood. ° e °e Mayor A. W. Shackleford, Lethbridge, Alta., theatreman, has been unanimously re-elected to a sixth term. First elected to council in 1940, he has served 14 consecutive years as alderman and served as mayor from 1943 to 1946 and again since 1952. e A fire scare occurred in the Wadena, Sask., theatre recently when an automatic furnace cut in, the oil failed to ignite and the house filled with smoke. When someone shouted “fire,” half the audience crowded outside and some left the theatre in orderly fashion. The town's fire chief ordered the theatre closed for the rest of the evening so that none of the patrons would suffer ill effects from carbon monoxide. e e ° The Calgary fire department's annual toy show was held recently in the Palace Theatre. Children who brought a repairable toy were ad(Continued from Page 4) MARILYN BELL (Continued from Page 1) E for Communications, the MPC Organization is under the direction — of Julian Roffman who recently returned to Canada after 10 years in the United States where he produced TV and theatrical films. Arrangements have been completed for the appearance in the film of Marilyn and her coach, Gus Ryder, who is recognized as the leading swimming coach on the continent. Cliff Lumsden and Joan Cooke, together with other leading members of the Lakeshore Swimming Club, will figure in the story. Discussions are under way with Mr. Ryder and officials of the club regarding their participation at the present time. Written by Len Peterson and directed by Julian Rofiman, the film will dramatize the background of Miss Bell's life, tracing her development as a person and her training during the years which led to the achievement of her ambition as the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. Special emphasis will be given to the human interest values in the story, particularly her work with Mr. Ryder as a swimming teacher for the crippled children at the Lakeshore Club. Production on the Marilyn Bell film will begin at once. No announcement has been made as to distribution, but the Digest learned that a major exchange will release. PIONEER (Continued from Page I) Pioneer of the Year, the second so designated, is Jack Arthur, “Mr. Showbusiness,” one of this continent’s best known producers, who is currently head of entertainment for the Canadian National Exhibition and star of his own TV show, The choice of Arthur as Pioneer of the Year for 1954 was a popular one, as was the selection of Will McLaughlin, motion picture critic of The Ottawa Journal, and Charles Stephenson, veteran exhibition figure and now an executive of Twentieth Century Theatres. Arthur introduced special orchestral music to accompany the silent screen, as well as special prologues, usually on the theme of the film, thus bringing color, sound and life to our movie houses, Stephenson was a leader in the roadshow field, playing Mickey and many other films he imported in legiti _. mate theatres. McLaughlin opened — the first motion picture department in a Canadian newspaper in The © Journal in 1916, Nee a a 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, Ottowa, Ont.; Bill Press, Toronto, Ont.; Helen Crowley, St, John, N.B. Address all mail to the Publisher, Canodian Digest Company, Limited, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto. Telephone: EMpire 8-8496, Cable: Roydigest, Established 1915, Publicetion weekly. Subscription: $5.00 yearly, Moving Picture he