Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Dec 22, 1956)

Page scan 0008 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Dec 22, 1956
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Dec 22, 1956)
Leaf #:
0008
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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DECEMBER 22, 1956 HIGHLIGHTS (Continued from Page 5) for “Oscar Contest” . . . Canadian Picture Pioneers hold annual meeting and elect new Board . . . Sir Alexander Korda, pioneer British film producer, dies . . . 20th-Fox to release 34 pix in 1956... Republic schedules 24 features. FEBRUARY Stratford Festival play, “Oedipus Rex” to be filmed in Canada in color... CBC head, David Dunton, guest speaker at annual meeting of Canadian Association of M.P. Producers & Laboratories . . . JARFD’s “Doctor At Sea” a record-breaker in early Canadian runs .. . Jim Powis retires as 20th-Fox Toronto booker . Bill Gehring, Arthur Silverstone and Rodney Bush to Toronto for 20th-Fox Sales Meet .. . M-G-M week, Feb. 5-11 tremendous success, with 45,596 subjects playing in 17,710 U.S. and Canadian theatres . . . Dave Griesdorf, former Odeon General Manager, joins IFD as Executive VicePresident . . . Jim Hardiman, Qdeon ad-pub director, married . .. Industry toasts Tommy Cleary, Consolidated Theatres, Montreal, advertising manager, at post-nuptial MORRIS STEIN party . . . 20th-Fox’s CinemaScope °55 demonstrations held across Canada .. . Morris Stein elected iM 21 Dundas Square Canada SARA AAA WIAA WAAVWAVWES * Toronto " DR NY eee ee Be Nee De Ie DEE EE Ie EN Ne RS Yi COMPLIMENTS a 4 OF 5 i J.JOHN | wy i , Fd | SHULMAN | s & COMPANY 5 : Chartered 5 : Accountants & ra : Mg CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST President, Canadian Picture Pioneers; Rube Bolstad new Vice-President . . . Darryl Zanuck resigns as 20th-Fox V-P in charge of production, to become indie producer, distributing through Fox; Al Lichtman steps down as V-P in charge of sales . . . Columbia star Kim Novak on P.A. tour of Canada in conjunction with “Picnic” . Bernard Kranze resigns as General Sales Manager for UA; succeeded by Jim Velde . . . Alderman Don Summerville, manager of Prince of Wales Theatre, Toronto, named chairman of the Metropolitan Toronto Civil Defense Committee . . Over 500 Canadian theatres participate in “Oscar Contest”, with 12 top newspapers as sponsors Academy Award nominations announced with UA’s “Marty” ruling hot favorite . . . Dr. Leon Lortie of Montreal named Vice-Chairman JIM VELDE of the National Film Board .. . Manitoba exhibitors press _ for Amusement Tax reduction. MARCH M-G-M’s “Pll Cry Tomorrow proving one of that company’s biggest box-office hits . . . Trevor Howard in Toronto for Canadian a RAR AAD AAAAAAAAAARBARAAAA Best Wishes For The Holiday Season * LASALLE RECREATIONS Ltd. VANCOUVER, B.C. CEE EE REE ug Premiere of Columbia’s “Cockleshell Heroes” . . . Maritime Exhibitors Association presents brief to N.B. government for repeal of Amusement Tax . . . Barney Brookler appointed Winnipeg manager Theatre Posters; Harry Barron, Ont. manager . . . Lou Chesler’s PRM buys W-B film library to 1948, for $21,000,000 . . . Bill Gehring named Vice-President of RALPH DALE 20th-Fox and executive assistant to President Spyros Skouras hte M-G-M to distribute Ealing Studios product . The Lone Ranger visits Toronto and Montreal to publicize W-B picture .. . Alberta Government reduces Amusement Tax .. . Odeon buys Fingold circuit, forms Regional Theatres subsidiary with Ralph Dale as General Manager . . . Ted Abrams appointed Publicity Director, Associated Screen News . . . Winnipeg Pioneers hold 4th Annual Bonspiel .. . Charles S. Chaplin elected President, CMPDA; Mark Plottel, VicePresident Morris J. Weiss, Toronto exhibitor and Odeon partner, dies in Miami . . . “Richard Ill” premieres over TV, prior to theatrical release . . . Paramount to remodel Canadian head-office building . . . Famous Players close deal for Todd-AO “Oklahoma!” in Toronto and Montreal . . . Alliance Films turn over distribution facili ae “May Your Christmas be Merry, Your New Year Full of Happiness!”’ LIONEL LESTER NATIONAL BOOKING COMPANY TORONTO VD DP SIIISI SI SVIAVIwViswisizr RAAAWS IGS AIAAAARAMAABAA AAA Maia Bi rt PAGE NINE JACK FITZGIBBONS ties in all branches, and pictures to Astral; Alliance head J. L. Smith retires from distribution to concentrate on C.M.P. Digest . . . Jack Fitzgibbons, Theatre Confections G-M, addresses Popcorn Concessions Ass’n meet in Chicago... R. W. Altschuler, Republic G-M, praise JARFD distribution of Republic, on visit to Toronto. . . Alex Harrison appointed General Sales Manager, 20th Century-Fox .. . “Marty” wins Academy Award, with Ernest Borgnine and Anna Magnani winning top acting honors . Canadian “Academy Award Contest” overwhelming success. APRIL Manitoba Government reduces Amusement Tax . . . Eugene Fitzgibbons elected to Board of Can. Ass’n. of Radio and Television Broadcasters Hilly Cass, M-G-M Canadian GSM announces “Raintree County” to be filmed in new 65mm process . . . Bill Forman, Astral Films, married. . . RKO to distribute CinemaScope version of “Oklahoma!” outside U.S. and Canada . .. Multiple booking formula spreads, with F-P’s “Shows of the Week” proving big success . . . Max Chic resigns as Digest Associate Editor to join Harvey Harnick’s Premium Media Services . . . Shelly Films opens new service studio near To (Continued on Page 11) Pt as AE EE EE EP ESS ES DE ES ES DE DS SDE ES SEASON'S GREETINGS * 7-4 * REGINA MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS ASSOCIATION MG SR DEDEDE UE EE EE UE ee ‘Bi r i 4 y » ) r