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Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 12, 1957)

Page scan 0002 from Canadian Moving Picture Digest

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest
Date:
Jan 12, 1957
Volume:
Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jan 12, 1957)
Leaf #:
0002
Language:
English
Collection:
Hollywood Studio System, Global Cinema, Early Cinema, and Canada
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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JANUARY 12, 1957 life rather miserable for the management of Loew’s Inc. in recent weeks, may be somewhat mollified by the announcement this week of two new outsiders appointed to the Board of Directors of Loew’s, The two are George L. Killion, President of the American President Lines, Ltd., and Frank Pace, SJr., Executive Vice-President of General Dynamics Corp. Mr. Pace has been a member of the Board of Loew’s Theatres, Inc., since the formation of that corporation, and resigned from the Theatres company Board to join the Board of Loew’s, Inc. With the addition of Messrs. Killion and Pace, the Loew’s Inc. Board now consists of thirteen directors, seven from outside of the company, and six company members, This gives non-employees of the company a majority on the Board, which may satisfy Mr. Tomlinson. Our sympathies are extended to I. H. Izzy Allen of Astral Films, and Harry J. Allen, of Cardinal Films, on the sudden death last week in Akron, Ohio, of their brother, Ted. Best wishes for a speedy recovery are extended to Bill Forman of Astral Films’ Toronto sales office, who is convalescing at home after being hospitalized for several weeks with a kidney infection. “Oklahoma!”, in the Todd AO version, is still going strong at the Tivoli Theatre, Toronto, where it is currently in its 37th week. Reports are that over the Holidays, grosses took a big spurt forward, and there is every hope now that it will go the full year. In Montreal, the picture was taken out of the Alouette Theatre after a run of over 30 weeks, and the F-P house has reverted back to its old policy of first-run French language films. “The Ten Commandments”, Cecil B. DeMille’s monumental masterpiece, is holding very strong at the University Theatre in Toronto, where it opened the end of November, and is also doing tremendous business at the Capitol, Montreal, where it opened December 21st. Big factor in Montreal has been the special dispensation granted by the Quebec authorities, permitting youngsters under 16 years of age to attend the showings of this picture. THE CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST, Au ; Libby Bookhalter, Winnipeg; Jack Droy, Vancouver; Will McLaughlin, O Digest Company. Ltd., 501 Yonge St., Toronto. Telephone: WAlnut 1-435 “pleesrT Across Toronto For years Loew’s Theatre at London, Ontario, has had exclusive bookings on all M-G-M features for the Forest City, the rare exceptions being the occasional re-issue. A revision of policy has now been made, however, under which second runs of M-G-M productions will play either the Park or Centre Theatres in London after engagements at Loew’s. e ° e The Rotary Club of Smith Falls was host to 1,270 children of the community at the organization’s annual theatre party at the Soper Theatre. Two performances were held to accommodate the many juveniles, one on Friday afternoon and the second on Saturday morning. All children received gifts of candy. e e . 1Country It was theatreman vs. theatreman in Toronto when Ald. Don Summerville, manager of the Prince of Wales and a director of the Canadian National Exhibition, raised an issue with Jack Arthur, producer of the CNE grandstand shows. Summerville sought an investigation into the release of Vera Keiss, a Canadian-Latvian ballerina of Toronto, from the cast last year after she was quoted as saying that Canadian dancers were being exploited by teachers. Winnipeg Mr. and Mrs. C. Wynant, of the Wynant Theatres, left on Thursday, Jan. 3rd, by motor, for a Florida vacation. e e e Visitors to Winnipeg included G. Wright, Keewatin, Ont., Joe and Ivan Baldwin, of Carberry, Man., and Melford, Sask., D. Melnyk, Fisher Branch, Man., Mrs. Todd, Morris, Man., G. Mallard, St. Annes, Man. s 2 ® Frank Davis, manager of Warner Bros., and Mrs. Davis, have returned from a Florida vacation. e * e Miss Nomi Beer, Theatre Poster Services; Ronnie Brooker, RKO and Jack Dichter, International Films, were guests at the wedding of Dennis Ditlove, (formerly of Theatre Poster Services), held in Minneapolis on Sunday, Dec. 30th. The Capitol, Winnipeg, held “The Girl Can’t Help It” for a second week, as did the Metropolitan, Winnipeg, with “Hollywood Or Bust”’. Vaneouver The holiday week-end, and the youngsters being out of school saved the day for the downtown houses, with the tops at the boxoffice all holdovers, “Battle of the River Plate”, “Hollywood or Bust”, “Teen-Age Rebel” and “Secrets of Life’. Midnight shows prior to New Year’s Day did not set any records, due chiefly to the police department’s strong don’t drink and drive campaign. e e es “Poor Housekeeping” was advanced as a cause of poor attendance at Vancouver’s movie theatres, by a Seattle exhibitor, who was here on a visit, and took a busman’s holiday to tour a number of the city’s theatres. “I have seen more broken down seats, more torn and worn carpets, more poor projection, more poor sound, more dirty toilets, and more unswept floors than any one man deserved to be subjected to”, this Seattle exhibitor reported. e e e Maynard Joiner, F-P’s district manager, is hospitalized for a check-up. Fred Wilson, Strand projectionist, underwent a major eye operation. Lou Karp, F-P head booker, is convalescing at home after being hospitalized for a slipped disc. PAGE FIVE 20th CENTURY-FOX (Continued from Page 1) of features 20th Century-Fox has put into release in a 26-week period, in many years, and is in fact, the greatest number of feature releases to be announced by any company for the same period. While in Toronto, Messrs. Harrison and Norris held discussions with executives of Famous Players and Odeon Theatres in respect to the coming Fox releases, and although no official announcement is forthcoming at this writing, it is presumed that discussions were also held with both companies’ executives in connection with the final disposition of the CinemaScope version of “Oklahoma!”, which is still under dispute. It is reliably reported that some settlement will be effected in respect to the pending suit against 20th-Fox by Odeon, regarding “Oklahoma!”, which Odeon is claiming belongs in their side of the Fox split with Famous Players. Playdates on the picture, in Famous Players theatres over the holidays, were all cancelled, pending disposition of the lawsuit. A detailed report of the 20th Century-Fox releases for the first half of the new year, will be given in next week’s issue of The Digest. However, we can report that from a quick look at the tentative schedule, exhibitors playing 20th-Fox product, can confidently look forward to the strongest line-up of top attractions in the history of the company. “The Mad Bomber” New York: “The Mad Bomber of New York City,” a featurelength film based on the current metropolitan bomb-scare, will be produced by Anthony Muto for 20th Century-Fox release. 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. thorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa. Jay L. Smith, Editor-in-Chief; Correspondents: Bruce Peacock, Regina; ttawa; Bill Press, Toronto; Helen Crawley, St. John. Address all mail to Publisher, Canadian Moving Picture 2. Cable: Raydigest. Est. 1915. Publication weekly. Subscription: $5.00 yearly.