Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 28, 1956)

Page scan 00011 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jan 28, 1956
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 28, 1956)
Leaf #:
00011
Language:
English
Collection:
Global Cinema, Hollywood Studio System, Canada, and Early 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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a PAGE TWELVE “pIECEST JANUARY 28, 1956 A PLAY TO STIMULATE INTEREST IV MOTION PICTURES The following ideas are suggested for stimulating public interest in motion pictures throughout Canada. It is hoped that exhibitors everywhere will take part in the plan. The degree of its success hinges entirely on the showmanship and enthusiasm of the managers. Theatres of every size and in every locality can participate for it demands only a small cash outlay for ballots and trailer. The plan, briefly, is to invite the public to match their knowledge of motion pictures and film stars against the final vote that will determine the winners of Academy Awards to be announced on March 2\st. An incomplete ballot is printed on this page. The nominations, as announced by the Academy on February 18th, must be added. in the proper spaces assigned to each category. Arrangements should be made to have a printer set up the form as shown here so that the ballot can be delivered without delay after the nominations are known. Nominations will be announced via TV over CBC in Canada at 9 p.m. EST on the above date, also via radio. In towns where there are a number of theatres all should join together so that printing costs of the ballots can be reduced. Each theatre should pledge to take (x) thousand. Small town theatres could place their orders through managers in larger towns, or through Exhibitor Associations. Instructions should be given the printer to keep the form standing in case of re-runs required. Merchandise prizes can be promoted by individual theatres. Public interest will be enlivened more if groups of theatres join in premoting major prizes. Certainly in cities where there are from two to 50 theatres nothing should prevent all from joining together to make this the biggest stimulant to arouse public interest in “movies” that has ever been attempted in Canada. Theatres should contribute a season’s pass for the whole family to the prize list. Prizes should be displayed in theatre lobbies and merchants tie in with window displays. Ballots for voting should be distributed by theatres and by merchants donating prizes only. Ballot must be made available to anyone without requiring them to purchase admission to the theatre. They must, therefore, be made available in the lobby to comply with all law requirements. S In case of ties a drawing for winners of first, second, third, etc. prizes must be held in the lobby of a theatre and NOT FROM A STAGE. If a group of managers cannot agree upon a theatre for the drawing then it must be held in a place approved by local regulations. Every effort should be made to get newspapers to sponsor the contest because of the vast public interest in the Academy Awards. If their support can be obtained the official ballot should be published in the newspaper with the names of theatres and merchants where they can be obtained. Newspapers may also desire to publish the vote standing at intervals during the contest. The votes as recorded should be made available to the paper if desired. The following trailer can be crdered from Associated Screen News, 2000 Northcliffe Blvd., Montreal 28, which supports this plan by supplying the trailer at actual cost of $6.00 each. Frame 1 DO YOU KNOW WHO WILL WIN THE ACADEMY AWARDS? Frame 2 For (1) Best Picture of 1955 (2) Best Actor (3) Best Actress (4) Best Supporting Actor (5) Best Supporting Actress (6) Best Director (7) Best British or Foreign Picture Frame 3 HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO MATCH YOUR SELECTIONS AGAINST THE EXPERTS Frame 4 OBTAIN A BALLOT LISTING THE NOMINATIONS FOR AWARDS IN THE LOBBY OF THIS THEATRE AND CAST YOUR BALLOT NOW! Frame 5 WINNERS PROCLAIMED AFTER ACADEMY AWARDS ARE ANNOUNCED ON MARCH 2ist VOTE TODAY AND VOTE AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE! BALLOTS ACCEPTED UP TO MIDNIGHT, TUES., MAR. 20th Trailers have been put into production and they should be ordered in quantity lots where possible. Obviously the trailer cannot be used on the screen until the ballots are printed but orders should be placed now. FROM THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY COUNCIL PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, CHARLES S. CHAPLIN Public Selection OF Academy Award Winners OFFICIAL BALLOT Winners will be determined by the results of the Motion Picture Academy Awards as announced on March 21, 1956. Select your choice by a check mark (#) in the box opposite the name you think will win the Academy Award. Voting closes at midnight, March 20, 1956. In case of ties—winner will be decided by public draw. BEST PICTURE BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR BOO Pe re She ate ee Lig 2 yee ae © eo eo See a, Se a ee Pe tae Tose aa meee Boer Ue Pl ee err Secu BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Gia Page ey ee oO a Pi ee Ee ae oe ee A ee Pn ctarce Saye Se eae ee eg eae ee OU Sane Potteries cee Be ee ee 7 BEST ACTRESS BEST DIRECTOR ee ee Lee te ee ee ee Be BN aL eke Aho a igo een ey on ae Pe eee eee ee A ee ee Rae fobs Gags ieee male i oe ee een Meg een ee ee re Peg oe ee BEST BRITISH or FOREIGN PICTURE abe iar un cov aN catenin aie ceed ist O Pip Ua asec toseelery cok yiceee ras eee He pew ea enciate Hite Pees Gem aan ea, ae eae eee. CD SEIN Pers ste chr eet es CAN es 0 Rierag Genet waar tae ee Hg 0 This Ballot is made available to anyORE and Vole: is accepted |e without requiring admission to NAME 2 ee eas any theatre. Ballots must be deposited in Ballot Boxes located in the lobPap) lane etl RIES Ap alia ale es Hm a/R GMa decviale aby :pherb le pia m Grace erate bies of participating theatres. ADDRESS No person connected with the monon pictire indistry is Elie See A a gible to vote. TELEPHONE