Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Feb 25, 1956)

Page scan 0002 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Feb 25, 1956
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Feb 25, 1956)
Leaf #:
0002
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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FEBRUARY 25, 1956 (Continued from Page 1!) plete Bingo Package, which includes the punch-out theatre Bingo cards, trailers, window cards, Bingo cage, balls, master board, and screen dials. There seems to be no set pattern on how to operate Bingo — each particular location having worked out its own successful formula. Some theatres, such as the Lux in Humboldt, Sask., have arrangements with the local Lions Club. The theatre collects admissions only, while the Lions Club sell Bingo cards inside the theatre. Because of its popularity and general acceptance by the public, it appears Bingo is a natural boxoffice stimulant for the theatres. It taps a type of patron not regular theatre goers, and forms them into the habit of attending because of the regularity of the Bingo. About 75 percent of the theatres running Bingo operate two nights of the week and some three nights of the week, depending on the number of changes of program. Until recently, these exhibitors have been the most vocal enemies of Bingo because of its opposition to them. They now find that Bingo can be used to advantage in their own theatre and in a few cases, where a service club had previously been running in opposition to the theatre, it is now co-operating in presenting the Service Club Bingo inside the theatre. Thus the exhi bitor solves two important prob-.° ~ father of a second son. lems — number one, increasing ‘his own business, and number two — eliminating the Bingo that has been in opposition to him. Your correspondent, on checking with bookers and circuits in Winnipeg learns that Bingo, in the case of country theatres, has been an important factor in keeping them open during the past winter. MR. EXHIBITOR!! We sell and distribute locally, on an exclusive basis, the approved advertising trailers (40 to 60 seconds in colour) for many leading Canadian advertisers. For CONSISTENT Extra Revenue in 1956 Write Phone Wire ADFILMS LIMITED 77 York St. 13319-124th Avenue TORONTO EDMONTON EM, 8-8986 8-2508 QUEBEC CITY 3-5755 ~“pIeECT Across Winnipeg Visitors to Winnipeg included Rev. Fredricksson, Mr. Jamisson and Dr. Heliggson, of the Glenboro Chamber of Commerce, who are operting the theatre in Glenboro, Man., during the Winter months. Also in the City were Richard Southam of Gainsborough, Sask., and Vivien and Tom Morris of Virden. The Morris’, in the city for two days, found that they had to remain an extra three days due to blocked roads from the latest snow storms. e e o Dick Houston, Winnipeg Branch Manager for Dominion Sound Equipment, leaves for Montreal Wednesday, February 22nd, to attend a Dominion Sound Management Conference on the new CinemaScope 55. The Conference is being held during the week of Feb. 23rd, and all Canadian Branch Managers will attend. . e e e Peter Meyers, 20th Century Fox, arrives in Winnipeg, March Ist, for the showing of their CinemaScope 55. Mr. Perry and Mr. Plottel, Empire Universal, arrived in Winnipeg from Toronto on February 19th. Country Vancouver More bad news for theatres. City Council has taken the first step toward tacit approval of BINGO, provided in this case the profits go toward the battle against juvenile delinquency. What the community centres want is the removal of the $125 licence. All are located on city property near suburban theatres, which pay taxes. e e e A candy bar thrown by a teen-ager tore the $1200 screen at the Cinema Theatre in Swift Current, Sask. resulting in the screen having to be replaced. e e e Les Toffey and George Reid of Vancouver sold the 420-seat Ladner theatre and an office building in the Fraser Valley town to Owen Bird, operator of small town theatres in B.C. Bird is the President of British Columbia Exhibitors Association. ; e 2 e “Jack Armstrong, manager of the Odeon-Plaza in Victoria is the e e e Theatre owners are concerned about the new move for night shopping in the suburban area of Vancouver. The question is to be decided by the City Council at its next meeting. Labor unions in the area are objecting to night shopping. e e . ; Earl Dalgleish, W-B manager, reports that “Mr, Roberts” is proving a record breaker at up-country Famous Players theatres. “Doctor at Sea” a JARO release is doing smash business playing day and date at three theatres in the area. Blumenstock To NY New York: Because of the greatly increased promotional activity Toronto Bans Carnys In Public Parks scheduled to begin immediately and to continue through the balance of the present year, Mort Blumenstock, Vice-President in Charge of Advertising and Publicity for Warner Bros., will make the company’s New York Home Office, instead of the studio, his permanent headquarters. “This will insure the closest possible collaboration of advertising-publicity efforts with the distribution department and our general sales manager, Ben Kalmenson,” it was announced by Jack L. Warner. Toronto: It looks as if Toronto will have no carnivals in public parks, the Board of Control having turned down the application of Ward 8 Central Executive Council to stage a midway at Kew Gardens next summer, although the parks committee had previously approved the proposal. The Board’s decision is interesting in view of the fact that Ald. Don Summerville, manager of the Prince of Wales Theatre, is identified with the Ward 8 organization. PAGE THREE TENT 28 (Continued from Page 1) ton Room in the King Edward Hotel at 12.15 Tuesday, Feb. 21. At the last meeting Chief Barker Dave Griesdorf received $603 for Variety Village from the Brantford Theatre Managers Association as proceeds from a benefit show in the Telephone City. The delegation from Brantford consisted of Joe Paul of the Paramount and Ted Burrows of the Odeon. New Vice-chrm. For National Film Bd. Ottawa: Hon. J. W. Pickersgill, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced the appointment of Dr. Leon Lortie of Montreal as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Film Board. Dr. Lortie has been a member of the Board of Governors since 1953. Centre, Peterborough Reduces Admissions Peterborough: The independent Centre Theatre, Peterborough, last week announced a general reduction in admission prices starting with the engagement of “Land of the Pharaohs”. Hilly Yudin said the new scale was the lowest in Peterborough. Top evening price for adults is 50c, with 30c for the matinee. Schneer For RKO New York: RKO Radio Pictures concluded negotiations with Charles Schneer, veteran film maker, to produce three motion pictures for RKO Radio, it was announced by William Dozier, Vice-President in Charge of Production. 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, THE CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST, Authorized as Second Class Mail, 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 yeerly.