Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 5, 1957)

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jan 5, 1957
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 5, 1957)
Leaf #:
0005
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 SIX UA APPOINTMENT (Continued from Page 1) The promotion of Fisher, a member of the UA exploitation department since 1952, was announced by Lewis at the final session of the company’s fieldmen’s convention in New York. In his post, which is newly created, Fisher will work under exploitation manager Mori Krushen in supervising the operation of UA’s exploitation men in the United States and Canada. Top Roles Set For “Rock Hunter” Film Hollywood: Clifton Webb, Jayne Mansfield, Tom Ewell and Thelma Ritter have been assigned starring roles in 20th Century-Fox’s “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?”, CinemaScope comedy based on the hit Broadway play by George Axelrod. Miss Mansfield will recreate her original stage role which won her national fame. FAMOUS PLAYERS (Continued from Page 1) managed the Strand, Trail, recently destroyed by fire, is switched to the Rossland Theatre. Rossland is only seven miles from the smelter town of Trail, and will offer some opposition to the Odeon, Trail, the only theatre left operating in that town. Cig Young Cast Hollywood: Gig Young, last at Paramount: in “The Desperate Hours,” will return to that studio in the spring for a co-starring role in Perlberg-Seaton’s “Teacher’s Pet.” Clark Gable and Doris Day will star in the Fay and Michael. Kanin original which George Seaton will direct in VistaVision. The film will be lensed in New York and Hollywood. 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. “piercer JANUARY 5, SMASH BOX-OFFICE IN ALL PRE-HOLIDAY OPENINGS THE ZivinTerror Sow THAT TOPS THEM ALL! q Every woman its slave: ‘THE jWORLD. ; E . GARLAND ° VAN CLEEF d Directed by ROGER agomennnt RNATIONAL INTE! OO RUSOFF The Earth crushed by a nightmare monster! Beauty become a horrible beast from the unknown! The hideous, terrifying “Flying Fingers’! The world gripped by Produces by ALEX Gem ORGINA: DN ee ST. DON, Di t SCREENPLAY By rene™! Now Available For Booking Through ATE PRODUCTION ARD 1. CAHN RUSOFF ASTRAL Fitms LIMITED TORONTO * MONTREAL * SAINT JOHN * WINNIPEG * CALGARY * VANCOUVER 1957