Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Dec 4, 1954)

PAGE SIX Ou the Geam (Continued from Page 1) -----~---~-~-~-- While on this subject, I must take this opportunity to thank Arthur Mayer, the brilliant speaker at the MPTA of Ontario luncheon on Thursday. Mr. Mayer, in expressing his pleasure at being here, qualified that pleasure with a sadness which he put into the following words: “All of us in the industry over the border and here I'm sure, have felt keenly the great vacuum that has been left because there is no Ray Lewis at our functions any longer. We all respected and loved Ray Lewis and regarded her as The First Lady of the Motion Picture Business.” He said more along the same lines, but | must admit that I was too choked with emotion to recall the exact words. It was a sad week for me, the saddest since last July 5th, for the events of the week brought back into sharp focus the tremendous loss my family and I suffered with the passing of my Mother, and the yoid it created in the Motion Picture Industry. It did not seem right for there to be such important Industry functions as were held last week with no Ray Lewis present. This was particularly noticeable at the Pioneers Award Banquet, where only last year Ray Lewis was one of those honored for “‘distinguished and unique services to the Canadian Motion Picture Industry.” The Canadian Picture Pioneers was one organization that Ray Lewis really loved; she was one of the original founders of the group, and from its inception worked valiantly on behalf of the Benevolent Fund, and the organization as a whole. It is small comfort to know that my loss is shared by so many in our Industry, but I do want to thank all those who took such pains to let me know their feelings. Back to Arthur Mayer and the MPTA of Ontario luncheon, Mr. Mayer’s speech was hailed by all who attended —and there was a record turnout — as one of the most inspired addresses ever presented by a representative of the Film Industry. He pulled no punches, lashing out at some distributors for unfair practices, at some exhibitors for indifferent showmanship, but he interspersed his remarks with so much humour and wit, that no one could take offense. It will be a Jong time before the Motion Picture Industry will have a more capable public relations representative than Mr. Arthur Mayer. Congratulations, also, to Jack McCullough and his board of the MPTA of Ontario, especially to his executive secretary, Arch Jolley and his Girl Friday, Mrs. Chinn, for the efficient job they did in making all the necessary arrangements for the luncheons and meetings. Congratulations to Dave Griesdorf on his election to the Chairmanship of the Motion Picture Industry Council for the ensuing year. Congratulations also to his vice-chairmen, Rube Bolstad and Charles Chaplin. I am sure with these capable men running things, the Council will continue to grow Strong and expand its important service to the Industry in Canada. My heartiest congratulations also to our old and esteemed friend, Jack Arthur, on his award from the Canadian Picture Pioneers as “Showman of the Year’. It certainly could not have happened to a nicer guy, as everyone agrees. Congratulations also to our own Will McLaughlin, veteran Digest Ottawa correspondent, and to Charley Stephenson of Twinex Theatres, for their Awards from the CPP. Both were justly deserved, My thanks to Jack Chisholm for his invitation to address the Associated Screen News Workshop on December 8th, in Montreal, on the value of the Canadian Trade Press to the Motion Picture Industry. Pll be there, Jack, and I am grateful for the opportunity to let the Industry representatives who will be present, know what The Digest, at least, feels the Industry can expect in the way of service from the Trade Press. My thanks, also, to the many exhibitors, distributors, and allied industry representatives, who took the trouble to let me know how much they are enjoying The Digest and its New Look. Max Chic and myself are striving constantly to make The Digest an ever-stronger organ of service to the Industry, as well as to live up to our slogan “First With The Film News Jn Canada”. It is nice to know that our efforts are not in vain. (SS FOR SALE OR LEASE 500 SEAT THEATRE TECUMSEH Estote to be settled Contact Harland Rankin O’Brien Real Estate Chatham, Phone 334. | Re EE nn “DIEGECT DECEMBER 4, 1954 New Look For Ontario Theatres Urged At MPTA of Ontario Meet In opening the 13th annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario last week, President J. D. McCulloch of Petrolia pressed upon the members the advisability of giving a new look to their theatres through renovation and the installation of new equipment in order to meet competition. In his own Iroquois Theatre, a 10 percent increase in attendance had been noted after extensive improvements last August. Lionel Lester, the membership chairman, reported that 14 member theatres had closed during the year but the association had closed its fiscal 12 months with 349 paidup enrolments of which 172 were independent theatres. As chairman of the special Exhibitors Committee for Admission Tax Relief, he said the response to a questionnaire had been excellent. The taxreduction request would be placed before the Ontario government as soon as possible. Morris Stein urged better attendance at association conventions, adding that those present at annual meetings would be able to appreciate the scope of association activities in their behalf. In a review on the preceding meeting of the National Committee of Motion Picture Exhibitors Associations of Canada, Stein declared that the problems of small exhibitors had been the main concern in deliberations. “You owe it to yourself to attend and take part in association meetings,” he told the exhibitors. Stein also pointed out that 1,086 theatres in Canada had been represented at the National Committee gathering. “If we are to be healthy, we must remain organized,” he said later, With regard to the need for showmanship, Stein declared that ojd-fashioned methods were gone and the exhibitors would have to keep up to date. They still had to use their own judgment regardless of new techniques. Reviewing the Industry Council meeting, Dick Main told the Ontario exhibitors that the keynote uf the discussions was the desire to build up the boxoffice and to assist the small-town and neighborhood theatres. In his reference to television, Main announced that the Council’s TV committee had been disbanded as it was evident the public trend was being reversed. He also outlined the new public-relations committee plan. The aim of the public-relations project, Main stated, was to help to maintain the small theatre owners who were the essential basis of the industry. All exhibitors, whe ther they are association members or not, would be asked to support the central bureau. Doug Miller of Taber, Alta., a vice-president of the Alberta Theatres Association, was asked to speak as a new delegate to the Toronto conventions and he readily admitted that he had been impressed by the scope of the discussions. A special welcome was given io Mrs. Eva Delaney of Gananoque who had recovered from a very serious illness. The highlights of the comprehensive report of Arch H. Jolley, executive secretary of the Ontario Association follow: : “Tegal counsel was retained to protect the Provincial Government’s proposal to amend th: Municipal Act to empower municipalities to refuse the issuing of a permit for the erection of a theatre in a municipalty if the muntcipality chose to refuse a permit. We were successful in blocking this amendment. “Legal counsel was engaged to take up, on behalf of our members, the matter of the Provincial Government either refunding two months License Fees or crediting this amount on next year’s Fees, as the Government had already co!lected Fees for the twelve month period on May 31, 1953 and then changed their fiscal year to end March 31, 1954 without crediting theatres for the months of April and May, 1954. To date no decision in the matter has been received from the Government. “Our Association took up with the publishers of certain newspapers the matter of their placing non-theatrical advertisements on theatrical pages and we asked in future such advertisements be kept off the theatrical page. “Arrangements were handled for the showing in Ontario theatres of trailers sponsored by charitable organizations and Governmental Departments. “Our office handled all necessary arrangements for theatres to -run the following Governmental or charitable organization sponsored trailers: — 175 Ontario Society for Crippled Children — Easter Seals. 60 Salvation Army Red Shields —1954, 70 Navy League — 1954. 28-Kinsmen Illahee Lodge — 1954, (Continued on Page 7)