Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 21, 1956)

Page scan 0000 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jan 21, 1956
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 21, 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. 4 CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE FIRST WITH THE FILM NEWS IN CANADA Published by CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST COMPANY LIMITED RAY LEWIS FOUNDER 1915-1954 JANUARY 21, 1956 Dominion Censorship Recommended By JAY L. SMITH bean Like everyone who makes their livelihood in. the Motion Picture Industry, nothing can thrill me quite as much as a GOOD picture, and I am happy to report that I have seen a number of not just GOOD pictures lately, but some really outstanding ones, pictures that cannot fail to boost boxoffice grosses at theatres from one end of this country to the other. Biggest grosser on the motion picture screens currently, of course, is Samuel Goldwyn’s production of “Guys and Dolls,’ released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. So much has already been written and spoken about this picture that anything I might add could only be repetition, but I must go on record as stating that it is one of the greatest pieces of sheer entertainment ever to reach the screen. I know a number of people who have already seen “Guys and Dolls” three times, and have expressed the intention of seeing it again. The performances of all four stars, Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons and Vivian Blaine, are so outstanding that the picture has to be seen more than once, so that the full scope of their performances can be appreciated. Nothing, in recent years, with the possible exception of the advent of CinemaScope, has done more to stimulate enthusiasm in our Motion Picture Industry than the release of “Guys and Dolls.” I have already mentioned the screening I attended of Warner Bros.’ “The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell.” Starring Gary Cooper in one of his greatest roles, this picture has opened to smash business in all its initial engagements in the U.S., and I have already pre (Continued on Page 2) Shuttleworth Proposes First Step One Western Censor Brd. Toronto: A national film censorship plan for all Canada has been urged again this time at Winnipeg where Hon. C. L. Shuttleworth, who has jurisdiction over the Manitoba censors, has taken the first step to G. P. Wright New E-U Toronto Branch Mor. Toronto: A. W. Perry, President of Empire Universal Films, announced that Joe Garfin, formerly manager of Calgary and Toronto branches, and who has been with the company for approximately (See WRIGHT Page 2) ward a _ country-wide organization by proposing a single board of censors for the four Western provinces. It was pointed out that the Manitoba board already passes on pictures for Northwestern Ontario and places its facilities at Winnipeg at the disposal of the Saskatchewan censor. Ontario’s Censor Board head O. (See CENSORSHIP Page 6) JARO & Odeon Tie-up With Miss Canada Contest Across Country Toronto: The Rank Organization and Odeon Theatres (Canada) Limited, jointly announced last week-end that they will be participating in the 1956 Miss Canada Pageant, and that the winner will be flown to England via Trans-Canada Air Lines “Super Constellation”, where she will be a guest of The Rank Organization and receive a screen test. This is the greatest opportun(See MISS CANADA Page 2) Better Pictures In ‘99 Newton Reports Winnipeg: A year of self-censorship by a movie industry hard hit by television has meant light work for the Manitoba film censorship board, Merlin Newton, chairman of the board, reported. Mr. Newton said the motion picture industry responded to the pinch of television by making (See NEWTON Page 2) Reg Doddridge, Calg. Calgary: Following the appointment of Frank Scott to the J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors Toronto head office, his previous position as branch manager in Calgary has been filled by Reg Dodd (See DODDRIDGE Page 3) Famous Sponsor Teen Age Advisory Group Fort William: A new organization formed in Fort William and sponsored by Famous Players is called the Famous Teeners’ Advisory Council. Local supervisor Jim Cameron acts as councellor to the group, which is composed of (See FAMOUS Page 3) Manitoba Exhibitors Press Tax Campaign Winnipeg: The Manitoba Exhi bitors Assoc. are continuing to press in their campaign for the removal or reduction in the present Amusement Tax. Ben Sommers, president of the Association has sent a letter to every exhibitor urging their active support in the campaign. The letter follows. “I know this letter looks kind of long-winded, but you'll be doing yourself a favor to read it carefully. You and I are faced with an important problem—the high Am (See MANITOBA Page 6) Industry Heads Support Chaplin’s Audience Project For Theatres Toronto: A_ special meeting, last Tuesday afternoon, called by Charles S. Chaplin, chairman of the Public Relations Committee of the Motion Picture Industry Council, with the heads of the two major thea tre circuits Rube Bolstad, Famous, and Frank Fisher, Odeon, and publicity directors of the distributor companies in attendance, endorsed an Audience Participation Plan, tied-in with the upcoming Academy Awards. The plan, outlined by Chaplin, (See PUBLIC RELATIONS P. 10) Hi-Art, Weyburn Weyburn: Hi-Art Theatre in Weyburn has been reopened under the new management of Rothstein Theatres, Ltd. Opening night’s proceeds went to the Weyburn Rotary Club. (See HI-ART Page 3)