Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 14, 1956)

Page scan 0000 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jan 14, 1956
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 14, 1956)
Leaf #:
0000
Language:
English
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, Early Cinema, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Greig Dymond in memory of David Dymond, 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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JAY L. SMITH EDITOR AND PUBLISHER VOL. 48, NO. 3 David Knight To By JAY L. SMITH ns beam The J. Arthur Rank Organization has fired its first salvo in a new campaign to break down the alleged barriers against British films in the United States. And what a salvo they have turned loose! A full-page advertisement in the New York Times of January 4th is headed by four, quarter-page stills from “The Cruel Sea”, “Simba”, “Genevieve” and ‘The Purple Plain,” followed by a 24-point heading which reads, “Four famous British Movies millions of Americans will never see” Under the still from “The Cruel Sea” is the information that the picture shattered all-time box-office records in Australia, that in Poland it was seen by one and a quartermillion people in five months, and in Canada has already been seen by over three million people. For “Simba” the information given out included the fact that in Denmark the picture played to over 100,000 people in the first nine weeks, and in Paris was premiered day-anddate in four key theatres. The information on “Genevieve” advises that it has been seen by onequarter of the entire population of New Zealand, played to 150,000 admissions in Paris, and to a quarter of the population of Copenhagen, in addition to breaking the first-week record at the Sutton in New York. “The Purple Plain’ is said to have played to 35,000 people in Lisbon, Portugal in two weeks, and in Italy has been seen by over four and one-half million people in 913 theatres. The picture has been booked into 1,600 theatres in Germany, and holds the all-time attendance record for any one day in New Zealand. This is just the start of the in (Continued on Page 6) CANADIAN ec MOVING PICTURE FIRST WITH THE FILM NEWS IN CANADA Published by CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST COMPANY LIMITED PA Of JARO Star In Canada Tremendous—Other PA’s Planned Toronto: The PA of David Knight, JARO star in Toronto and Montreal last week, may lead to a continuing flow of top-flight British stars to Canada. A suggestion of former JARO general manager Frank Manitoba Exhibiiors Fight Amusement Tax Winnipeg: Mr. Barney Brookler, Associated Booking, has been assigned by the Manitoba Motion Picture Exhibitors Association to visit a majority of exhibitors in the province with a view of explaining (See AMUSE. TAX Page 6) Fisher at a discussion with Kenneth Winckles on the possibility of JARO stars making PA trips to Canada, of approaching CBC-TV re the stars’ appearance on Canadian TV shows was followed up during the visit of Knight to Torcnto, and discussions held with CBC officials on the above. The PA of Knight was the first (See KNIGHT Page 6) Record MGM Week February 5-11 Forecast By H. Cass In Canada Toronto: An all time record is in the process of being set here in Canada by the MGM sales force, headed by General Sales Manager Hillis Cass, for the MGM Week, February 5-11. The Week which is in honor of Arthur Loew and spans the world, was given added spice with the announcement of Mr. Loew’s election as president of Loew’s Inc. (See MGM WEEK Page 8) Weltner Announces Para. Appointments New York: A wie from George Weltner, Paramount, announced that Hugh Owen had been named Eastern Sales Manager and _ that Sydney Deneau had been appointed Western Sales Manager, following the resignation of Ted O'Shea, who leaves Paramount to be VicePresident and World-Wide Sales (See WELTNER Page 6) Programme Director Toronto: Allan F. Water, President and Manager of Radio Station CHUM, Toronto, announced the appointment of Phil Stone as CHUM’s Programme Director, effective January Ist, (See STONE Page 8) CBC-TV Newsreel Covers Foto-Nite Toronto: CBC-TV newsreel camera’s covered the Toronto Allied Theatres Foto-Nite pay-off of $7,900.00 on December 14th and motion pictures of the proceedings were shown on the 6.45 P.M. CBCTV news broadcast, December 15th. (See FOTO-NITE Page 6) Jules Levey Readies “The Tontine” New York: “The Tontine,” bestselling novel by Thomas B. Costain, was acquired as a motion picture property this week by Jules Levey, indevendent film producer. Already embarked on the pre-production work, Levey has been discussing the scenario with several top writers and has begun casting conferences with leading Hoily wood stars. The film is to be made in England. (See LEVEY Page 6) RAY LEWIS FOUNDER 1915-1954 JANUARY 14, 1956 Urge PA‘s Here Myers Heods Canucks At N.Y. Fox Meet New York: Peter Myers, 20thFox’s Canadian general manager headed a contingent of 6 Canadians at a special sales convention held in New York, chaired by Al Lichtman, Director of Distribution for the company. Coming directly after the announcement of the company’s amplified production program which will see 34 pictures produced or released in 1956 at a total cost of more than $70,000,000, sales heads of the company’s domestic and Ca (See MYERS Page 6) Gerngross To MPTV Toronto: Alex Metcalfe, MPTV’s general manager announced the appointment of Mrs. Elena Gerngross to the staff of the TV com (See GERNGROSS Page 8) Garfin Resigns Toronto: Joe Garfin, Toronto branch manager for Empire-Universal has resigned from the company. Garfin came to Toronto in July of last year to take over the Toronto branch coming from Calgary, where he had held down the same position for some time,