Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 28, 1942)

Vol. 8, No. 5 VOICE of the CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE TORONTO, JANUARY 28, 1942 INS INDUSTRY $2.00 Per Annum Laxer vs. Arbitration Results WN. W. Mason, Maritimes, Honore Ottawa Lights Ordered Doused The city of Ottawa is now subject to the recent Order-in-Council which calls for the shutting off of certain lights between sundown and sunrise and the ruling has caused marquee and sign lighting on theatres to be dimmed. The Federal District Area was designated “an area subject to the risk of enemy action” and thus came within the application of the law. uf (Continued on Page 2) No Newsreel Change O. J. Silverthorne, Ontario censor, denies the published report that his department had dropped the 25 per cent quota of Empire shots in American newsreels shown in Ontario. No such action is even anticipated. Another Hooray Oshawa friends and well-wishers are arranging to celebrate Leon Osier’s 20th year in the business. Local paper will carry a full-page spread. He manages the Regent Theatre of that town. Montreal Committee A film committee has been named in Montreal area to enlist the maximum co-operation of the motion picture industry during the forthcoming Victory Loan campaign. It will comprise H. Taylor, chairman of the Montreal Film Board Trade, W. Lester of United Qe T. Cleary of Consoliated Amusements, J. deSeve of Strcance Film, and W. J Singleton of Associated Screen News. IMPORTANT SHIFTS For King And Country Charlie Frost, assistant manager of the Grand, Sudbury, has joined the Canadian navy. Martin Whyte, manager of the Community, Welland, has secured a leave of absence from 20th Century Theatres to enlist in the air force. Douglas Evans of Empire-Universal advertising and publicity has checked out of his post and into an air force uniform. Bury the Bull to Beat B.O. Blues Laura Elston, hawker of cinema chit-chat and Vick’s Vapor Rub over Toronto’s CFRB, snafied Delbert Goodman, Paramount Canadian chief, for a why-not and whatfor session before the mike. Del spent many years in the Far East. His tropical observanda became topical when the Mikadopes went haywire. The gab give-and-take turned up some tasty items, such as: L.E. “I understand the natives of Java are very superstitious?” D.G. “Yes . . . When a theatre does bad business, they bury a Carabao in order to expel the evil spirits which might threaten the good luck of the theatre. A Carabao head is buried in the ground directly in front of the theatre. Two heads are buried in the back ... A Canabao is a large water buffalo.” (Over here they bury the hatchet—in the salesman’s neck.) Press and Public Praise Grand Old Showman One of the first tributes ever offered to any living individual in Nova Scotia history was enjoyed by N. W. Mason, operator of the Roseland Theatre, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, on the occasion of the 25th year of continuous operation of that centre of Maritime entertainment. The exact date of the anniversary was January 15th and it was seized upon by neighbors, associates and friends everywhere as an excuse for expressing their admiration and affection for the 78year-old early exhibitor of motion pictures, former trouper and exMayor of New Glasgow. His lifetime of active interest in the pursuit of his joyful profession and the welfare of community and neighbor caused the Halifax Herald to single him out for an editorial tribute. Quite a number of business men joined together in making up a page of (Continued on Page 2) Claims Support From a All Over Dominion “We expect an equitable prorata distribution of product. If that condition, which we consider lacking today, is not accomplished through industry channels, then we will call upon Mr. R. C. McMullen to correct the situation in accordance with the regulations of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board, which deals with the whole national economy.” This was the statement made to a Film Weekly reporter by B. E. Laxer, president of the newlyformed Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors: Association in an interview with him about the aims and objects of the organization. Asked if he considered that Mr. McMullen, recently made Director of the Theatre and Film Section of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board, had such matters within his jurisdiction, Mr. Laxer replied: “Yes.” Mr. Laxer, of the Biltmore Theatres, Oshawa and _ Kingston, claimed that the leading Canadian Independent exhibitor bodies, (Continued on Page 2) Kingston Puts Kibosh on All Midnight Shows But Pre-Holiday Kingston theatre managers and the Committee of Legislation and Administration for the municipality met at the City Hall on January 21st and agreed to suspend the operation of midnight shows, |. except when Monday falls on a holiday. The managers in attendance were E. O. Smithies, W. H. Smith, G. D. Beavis, G. E. Aitken and V. O'Leary. The managers had been informed previously that the Committee had the power to control theatre hours and favored the stopping of 12.05 performances. Rather than enact legislation the Committee suggested that the managers enter into a gentleman’s agreement to discontinue the showings in question from February ist. Holiday eve showings were excepted. The City Council said that it would not place any legislation on the records, leaving the matter open for some future change. Circuit house managers were asked to bring letters from their head offices subscribing to the agreement. On Jan. 19th the Sarnia Council refused an appeal against its recent ruling banning midnight shows. Phillip Sherman, Montreal manager for Warners, has been shifted to handle New Haven. L. I. Coval, manager of the Vancouver branch will replace Sherman in Montreal. In the AT WA RN ERS-CAN 'D'N Vancouver spot is Earl H. Dalgleish, now Warner’s booker there. an: =a ee _—