Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Oct 15, 1955)

Page scan 00029 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Oct 15, 1955
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Oct 15, 1955) 40th Anniversary Issue
Leaf #:
00029
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System, Global Cinema, Early Cinema, and Canada
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:
August 21, 2025
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PAGE THIRTY 30th Anniversary in Motion Pictures .. . War Services Committee meets with Don Henshaw to discuss plans for 6th Victory Loan; announce Scrap Book Contest for exhibitors, Victory Bonds as prizes ...A.J. Jeffrey succeeds as Canadian General Manager . . law suit Opens between Montreal (Garson & Laine) against United Amusements, and Warner Bros. over priority of runs, etc. . . . Odeon acquiring more theatres in B.C.; Clare Appel now Odeon publicity director . . . United Front Committee decides on conciliation boards in six’ key cities in Canada : . Hon. J. Earl Lawson and George Beeston appointed to Board of Odeon ... A. J. Mason reelected President, Maritimes indies Warner’s produce “Shining Future” for Canada’s 6th Victory Loan... Odeon and Empire-Universal announce plans for new head office building, and 2,500-seat theatre on Carlton St. Toronto; Warner’s and Columbia buildings exchanges on Carlton St. also Esquire FORTY YEARS Kent theatre CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST 40TH ANNI 1945 ONTARIO Government talking about 10% amusement tax . . . H. Masters resigns from Odeon and Empire-Universal ... A. L. Solman dies . .. Toronto City Council bans midnight shows, except Xmas and New Year’s Eve... jurisdictional labor dispute closes 20 F-P theatres in Winnipeg... Clair Hague dies in Toronto... Winnipeg strike settled; theatres reopened ... J. J. Chisholm succeeds Frank O’Byrne at Assoc. Screen, Toronto... Murray Sweigman buys Morris Rittenberg’s Independent Poster Supply, Toronto . . . Frank Leduc, Montreal manager, Sovereign Films, dies ...Canada prepares for new Victory Loan; Fox produces “All Star Bond-Rally” for Loan ... Ralph Dale and Dick Main resign from Odeon to enter partnership with Sam Fingold . . . Clare Appel named Eastern Division Manager, Odeon . .. A. W. Perry named Emp-Universal Pres. H. Masters OF PROGRESS (Continued from Page 24) Films taken over by Oscar Hanson Odeon acquires Capitol, St. John’s, Quebec, Regent, Sturgeon Falls... Larry Bearg promoted to Western Division Manager, F-P, headquarters in Toronto . . . Ted Soucie, Alexander, Rouyn, wins Victory Loan Scrap Book Contest; Freeman Skinner, Orpheus, Halifax, 2nd; Bill Trudell, Capitol, London, 3rd ... Montreal branch, CPP, formed . . . Jack Warner honored by Canadian Government for “Shining Future” ... John Davis, British Odeon managing director, in Canada for theatre survey; denies deal pending with Canadian Odeon... F-P buy three theatres in Medicine Hat . . . Paramount Theatre, St. John’s, Nfid., opens; F-P and Morris Milligan partnership... Empire Universal gets Rank films . . . Sam Glasier, Canadian exploitation chief, Fox . . . John Davis back in Toronto. . . 1,000 F-P employees in armed forces... CPP holds 4th annual convention Toronto . . . announce 50-50 partnership deal between Rank and Canadian Odeon Mickey Dunning dies in Montreal . CPP Benevolent Fund expanded to cover entire Industry . . . “Pat” Drohan passes . . . Odeon acquires 8 Garson-Laine houses, Montreal ... F-P makes affiliation deal with F. G. Spencer in Maritimes. named Canadian General Manager Warner Bros. . . . theatres raise $81,000 for Canadian Red Cross Tent . . . Arthur Rank arrives in Toronto . . . V-E Day riots close Halifax and Dartmouth theatres for five days; no disturbances elsewhere .. . Morris Milligan dies ... A.J. Jeffrey, Canadian General Manager, U.A., dies suddenly .. . Rank’s British pictures to be released through Eagle-Lion in Canada . . . Charles Chaplin, Montreal branch, promoted to Canadian General Manager, U.A....R. J. O’Donnell addresses Variety Club organizational dinner... N. Taylor announces F-P has 50% interest in 20th Century Theatres; partners out . . . Warner and Columbia exchange buildings, Toronto near completion .. . Don Gauld, Montreal supervisor, Odeon, ‘moves to Toronto; Gordon Dahn succeeds in Montreal... GIS open Western Canada offices . . . Sam W. Smith passes in England . . . Harry Painter resigns as Toronto branch manager, Empire-Universal; heads Associated Theatres; Frank Vaughan new Toronto branch manager, Universal . . . Odeon, Winnipeg, opens .. . Frank Kershaw resigns from General Theatre Supply; Pete Brown new President . . . Griesdorf named general sales manager PRC of Canada. 0 eres oer wre oe os VERSARY 1946-47 “Babe” Coval returns from Trinidad, becoming Montreal branch manager, Warner's . « Larry Graburn joins Odeon as Advertising and Publicity director ..Ben Freedman, well-known local exhibitor, held up and robbed... Bill Singleton appointed general sales manager, Associated Screen News... John Davis, Arthur Rank representative, arrives in Toronto with John Woolfe, advises Odeon to build 20 theatres in Canada . . . F-P shareholders ratify 3 for 1 stock deal . . . Quebec announces drastic increase in accessory censoring charges . . . RKO Pension Plan approved by Ottawa . Paul Nathanson resigns as president and managing director of Odeon; succeeded by Hon. J. Earl Lawson . . . Harvey Harnick promoted to general sales manager, Columbia Pictures of Canada ... Toronto delegates attend Variety Club Convention, N.Y... . Fox announces employee retirement plan ... Gene Autry to Toronto with Rodeo. . . “Pete” Harrison, veteran exhibitor, passes in Coburg . . . George Altman resigns from Warner Bros. to take over Canadian distribution of Hygienic Productions’ “Mom and Dad” ... John Davis visits Toronto .. . Harvey Hunt promoted to Chief Booker and _ Buyer, Odeon Circuit; Frank Fisher promoted to Western Division manager... Lew McKenzie leaves Warner’s . Frank Kershaw forms own company . . . Variety Club Tent No. 28, Toronto, holds inaugural dinner . . . Ont. Censor Board starts labelling certain pictures “Adult Entertainment”; exhibs must advertise pictures with this label . . . Dominion Productions Ltd. complete filming of Canadian feature, “Bush Pilot” .. . Herb Wainwright passes in Toronto . . . George Rotsky dies in Montreal . . . F-P announce first post-war theatre for Toronto... . J. J, Fitzgibbons and Jack Arthur of F-P awarded CBE and OBE respectively in Dominion Day Honors List; three Odeon directors, L. W. Brockington, J. S. Duncan and D. C. Coleman awarded CMG .....Sam Fingold and Ralph Dale combine with Odeon for formation of “B” circuit, combining Theatre Amusement houses and several Odeon . . . Industry mourns the death of Thomas J. Bragg, Odeon vicepresident, and veteran film figure in Dominion . . . Pau] Nathanson resigns from Board of Odeon Theatres in Canada. REBUBTG \ eee \. OCTOBER 15, 1955 q 1948 Arthur Silverstone comes to Canada to replace Sydney Samson as Fox Canadian sales Manager . . . First rumbles of Paramount's intermediate video method . . . Canadian-made “Whisperin. City” has Canadian preter Palace, Montreal ‘ George Stroud, pioneer showman, * passes .. . Odeon Kent in Moncton, N.B destroyed in $5,000 blaze . , . big explosion rocks new Audio plant . Rex Theatre at Flin Flon, Manitoba, goes up’ in $150,000 worth of smoke... The J. Arthur Rank Organization of Canada, Ltd., is formed with J. Earl Lawson as president, on Rank’s visit to Canada . , . F-P opens its first post-war theatre, The Nortown, in Toronto Jack Fitzgibbons president of merged Theatre Confections . . . Lawson reports to Odeon shareholders that the year end will see 19 new houses across Canada . . . Committee formed to promote production of movies in Canada . . . Brampton gets prefabricated theatre — the Roxy — quonset hut style . . . Variety Club, Toronto branch, opens impressive new quarters in Prince George Hotel . . . J. J. Fitzgibbons brands amusement taxes as discriminatory . . Perry Wright goes to Vancouver as branch manager for Empire-Universal Films . . . Biltmore Theatre, Toronto, opens... Tubby Long, industry pioneer, passes . . ; Montreal branch of UA wins Grad Sears Gold Cup, top sales trophy . . . 20 per cent Amusement Tax, dropped by Federal government, re-imposed immediately by Ontario government . . . Famous Players buys control of Skyway Drive-In Theatres Ltd. Jules Laine, exhibitor pioneer dies . . . Odeon Toronto opens in a blaze of glory — Patricia Roc and Trevor Howard fly in from England for opening... J. J. Fitzgibbons outlines Video plans at F-P’s Winnipeg meeting . Odeon Hyland, Toronto, opens with “Hamlet” . . . Phonevision looms on horizon... Arthur Gottlieb marries Gladys Glad... Bing Crosby brings troupe to Vancouver for benefit . . . Silverstone and Meyers to Los Angeles for 20th Fox meet . . . MPTAO gets 6 midnight shows for Toronto instead of 2 .. . Jack Arthur 1D vested with MBE, also Mrs. Herb Allen . . . Variety Club holds big hockey night at Maple Leaf Gardens . . . Famous Players opens new Paramount — St. John Toronto Tent of Variety Club lays corner stone of Variety Village. (Continued on Page 33)