Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Dec 29, 1956)

Page scan 00013 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Dec 29, 1956
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Dec 29, 1956)
Leaf #:
00013
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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PAGE FOURTEEN Active Year For Halifax Managers Halifax: The many activities carried out by the Halifax Theatre Managers’ Association were outlined in the annual report of the group submitted by Past President James McDonough. Included were the “Name The Oscar Winners” Contest, which was instituted local ly last March by the Theatre Managers’ Association, and very actively supported by local merchants, who together with the local theatres, gave prizes amounting to over $2,000 to winning contestants. “Public interest”, stated Jim McDonough, who is Famous Players’ Maritimes District Manager, with headquarters at the Capitol Theatre, “on the part of Haligonians ran high, with the theatres and merchants receiving more than 30,000 ballots cast by the Halifax public.” McDonough further advised that over 5,000 free theatre admissions were granted during 1956 to patients of the various veteran and military hospitals, and 2,000 children were also entertained at various times during the year at no cost to the various sponsoring organizations in the city. All free admissions were channeled through the Association. In co-operation with various civic, provincial and other organizations, more than 25 special trailers were shown at no cost in all local theatres on a multitude of subjects of local interest, including the Community Chest Drive, safety campaigns, down to the annual Christmas Seal campaign. Four local theatres were also donated gratis to other organizations for charitable fund-raising purposes. A new slate of officers was elected for 1957, including Freeman Skinner, President; Albert Toms, Vice-President; and Carleton Brown, Secretary-Treasurer. Directors include Peter Herschorn, Hillary Howes and Albert Ellis. Movies Widely Used In Canadian Schools Ottawa: The Canadian Education Association has announced that 4,500 16 mm. projectors are now in use in schools of this country, for which more than 40,000 prints are available. The number of school screenings is reported to be more than 600,000 annually and 7,331 schools have made use of moving pictures. A report of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics for 1955 has also shown that 4,576 film items were produced in Canada, of which 338 were television programs and 1,334 were TV commercials. wens reteee “piercer F-P’s Strand, Trail, Destroyed By Fire Vancouver: Three firemen were overcome by smoke while battling a blaze which destroyed the Strand Theatre, Trail, B.C., recently. Theatre manager Alec Barclay and his wife were evacuated from their apartment in the building, after fire broke out in the theater about 6:20 a.m. Thirty-five firemen battled the blaze until 11 a.m., before getting it out. The theatre was completely gutted, as were the three offices on the second floor. Stores and apartments in the building suffered smoke and water damage. The fire is believed to have started on the stage and spread through the auditorium. Thick fireproof walls between the theatre and the adjoining stores prevented the flames from spreading. The Strand, leased by Famous Players, was one of two theatres in Trail, the other being the Odeon. Famous Players officials were unable to advise whether the owners of the property would rebuild the theatre. ODEON-GARSON (Continued from Page 1) be collectively known as_ the Maritime District: Halifax —Casino, Garrick, Ox ford, Hyland. Saint John — Strand, Kent. Moncton — Capitol, Empress. New Glasgow — Roseland, Academy, Highland Drive-In. Stellarton — Jubilee. North Sydney — Odeon. Sydney Mines — Strand. Yarmouth — Capitol. The Maritime district manager will be Lee April, with Lou Michelson as assistant. The President and Directors of The Odeon Theatres (Canada) Limited express their regret at Mr. Garson’s decision to retire, and their appreciation of the services he has rendered in the past, together with their best wishes to him in his retirement. Top photo, |. to r.: Bob McStay, Canadian representative, ‘Variety’; (standing) Jay Smith, Digest Editor & Publisher; Roger Lewis; Hye Bossin, Film Weekly Editor; Harry Allen Jr., Canadian representttive, Quigley Publications; Mori Krushen. Second photo, !.to r.: John McKim, assistant ad-pub director, Odeon Theatres; Archie Laurie, Canadian Publicity Manager, UA; (seated) Ron Leonard, Odeon Advertising & Publicity Director; Roger Lewis, Mori Krushen, Third photo, |. to r.: Mori Krushen, Roger Lewis, Archie Laurie, and Ralph Dale, General Manager, Regional Theatres Circuit. Bottom photo, |. to r.: Jack Karr, Toronto Daily Star; Alex Barris, Globe & Mail; Ken Johnson, Evening Telegram; Clyde Gilmour, Evening Telegram; Roger Lewis; (standing) Mori Krushen; Charles Rogers, Toronto Star Weekly. DECEMBER 29, 1956 a ad NS ESR es Os SAM Te EES Nr deen ach ne naa UA AD-PUB CHIEF, ROGER LEWIS, AND EXPLOITATION MANAGER MORI KRUSHEN, VISITED WITH THE PRESS AND EXHIBITORS DURING THEIR RECENT TRIP TO TORONTO