Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Nov 12, 1955)

Page scan 0003 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Nov 12, 1955
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Nov 12, 1955)
Leaf #:
0003
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, 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:
August 01, 2024
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—— oe PAGE FOUR SAVINGS (Continued from Page 1) base with increased strength and durability, yet only two-thirds as thick has created great excitement in all branches of the industry. The new film named Cronar should be out in the commercial market, early in 1956, and could result in sizeable economies for production, distribution and exhibition. The toughness of the new film which according to DuPont can tow a truck, would it is felt cut down considerably the number of print breaks and also ensure a longer number of runs per print. The fact that this new film base is so much thinner would obviously mean less reels and therefore a decrease in shipping charges as well as fewer switch overs in the booth. ODEON (Continued from Page 1) follow her engagement at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto. _ This bold experiment will be closely watched by the Company executives, and should it prove successful, Odeon Theatres will certainly be encouraged to present other stage presentations in those situations where public support has indicated the presence of a receptive audience for touring shows of quality. XMAS DATE (Continued from Page 1) open two days before Christmas are: The Odeon, Toronto; Casino, Halifax; Odeon, Ottawa; Uptown, Calgary; Odeon, Edmonton; Vogue, Vancouver; and the Garrick, Winnipeg. Negotiations are now in process to finalize a deal which will encompass the entire circuit for the Goldwyn feature. From Newfoundland To Nanaimo From Grand Prairie To Granby The Swing Is To ADFILMS Canada's Fastest Growing Theatre Screen Advertising Company FRED T, STINSON, General Manager 77 York St. 10940-122nd St. EDMONTON 8-2508 QUEBEC CITY 3-5755 Veer bores reruet DIGES Ff Across \Country Toronto and District Paul Hamner, with the Canadian Odeon chain for more than three years, has been named manager of the new unit at Hamilton, the Hyland, which will re-open Friday night, Nov. 11, with “Above Us the Waves,” after being closed a week for improvements. The theatre was formerly the Roxy, operated by Sam Fingold’s National Theatre Services. °e ° eo Theatre Properties (Hamilton) Limited which leases its theatres in Hamilton to a circuit company has given notice of the redemption Dec. 3 of selected bonds in its capital structure. The bonds to be retired have a total face value of $50,000. °o ° ce) For the engagement of “My Sister Eileen” at Shea’s Theatre, Manager Len Bishop made the offer of ‘a free admission Friday, Nov. 4, to all members of the female sex who submitted proof that they had the name of Eileen. The escorts had to pay, however. ° ° 2) H, C. D. “Dick” Main, one of the hardest workers for the film industry, was very happy when the National Cominittee Motion Picture Exhibitors Associations of Canada remembered his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Main. of Sutton, with a letter of congratulations and flowers on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Vancouver Frank Vaughan, Canadian General Manager of JARO was in conferring with his B. C. manager Jack Reid. Frank reports that business is tops with the exception of British Columbia territory tacross Canada, with British pictures clicking everywhere. ° eo ° Gordon Lightstone Jr. has arrived in town to replace Jimmy Patterson as manager of 20th-Fox, Patterson will stay with Fox as B.C. fieldman. Lightstone was former Fox salesman in Toronto, oe ° ° The Elmer the Safety Elephant Saturday matinees held by Famous Players are proving business builders. They are sponsered by the Vancouver Traffic and Safety Council, Famous Players and the Province. e ° °e The circuits and the Projectionists union have completed their cases before the Conciliation Board and now await a decision on the wage scale and reduction in man power requested by the ‘chains in local projection booths. e ) e For the first time in ten years, Famous Player Theatre Managers Association of B-C will not sponser the annual film Ball. Overhead got out of line with little chance of profits, the members said. Instead the managers will hold a stag party at Peter Pan Cafe. Nov. 17. e e e Local reports are that the Chechik Bros. (Max and Ben) British Columbia exhibitors are building Australia’s second and Sydney's first outdoor theatre. Maritimes The theatre at Rothesay, N.B., renamed the “Roxy” and now owned and operated by Mr. L. A. Sprague, proprietor of the “Gaiety” Theatre, Lancaster, N.B., has been attractively re-decorated and re-opened last Friday night. The opening program was “All the Brothers Were Valiant” with short subjects including a CinemaScope short. This theatre has a seating capacity of 300. e e e New Brunswick continues with new finds in minerals—the latest. some explorers near the Grand Bay Drive-In Theatre (FranklinHerschorn) have discovered uranium in the vicinity of the Drive-In. NOVEMBER 12, 1955 OSOYOOS (Continued from Page 1) over $180.00. The same routine of presentation was adhered to as for ‘Hamlet’ and local interest is growing rapidly and JARO’s Vancouver Branch Manager, Jack Reid comments ‘“‘we will continue to get the bulk of the business”. Boxing Day Holiday Out For Toronto Toronto: The Toronto Board of Control wiped out the possibility of the observance of an extra holiday in connection with the long Christmas weekend through deciding Nov. 2 that this city would not have a Boxing Day this year — which would have meant that many business places, otherwise, would have closed Tuesday, Dec. 27, through Monday being a statutory holiday. In some places the theatres have had big business on Boxing Day in past years in contrast to Christmas Day itself. Maritime Drive-In Open For Trial Run Saint John: The ‘Fundy’ Drive-in theatre, Manawagonish Road, on the St. Stephen Highway opened on October 30th for a ‘trial run’. This Drive-in is operated by Mr. Rodney Wiggins. The opening feature was ‘Sabre Jet’ and admission price 50 cents. It has a 350 car capacity. The building of this Drive-in just beyond the residential area of Quinton Heights met with a great deal of opposition for two years before it finally opened last week. FOR SALE YES! 10,000 LATE MODEL USED or RE-CONDITIONED THEATRE CHAIRS ALSO NEW BRITISH-LUXURY CHAIRS AVAILABLE SPRING EDGE STEEL BOTTOM _ SEAT CUSHIONS AND FULLY UPHOLSTERED BACKS—SPRING BACK TYPES ALSO. CARPETING, ASPHALT, RUBBER, VINYL TILES AND LINOLEUM We are Factory Agents At Bargain Prices Drop us a line — we will give you photographs and full information. “LA SALLE” RECREATIONS LTD. Theatre Chairs, Carpet, Linoleum and Tile Division 945 GRANVILLE ST. MA, 5034 VANCOUVER 2, B.C, —————————— ee ——eeEEEEEEeeeSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSMMMMsesF THE CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST, Authorized as Second Class Mall, Post Office Department, Ottawa, Jay L. Smith, Editor-in-Chief; Max Chic, Assoc, Editor. Correspondents; Bruce Peacock, Regina; Libby Bookhalter, Winnipeg; Jack Droy, Vancouver; Will McLaughlin, Ottawa; Bill Press, Toronto; Helen Crawley, St, John. Address all mail to Publisher, Canadian Moving Picture Digest Company, Ltd., 21 Dundas Square, Toronto. Telephone: EMpire 8-8696. Cable: Raydigest. Est. 1915, Publication weekly, Subscription: $5.00 yearly. ~