Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 28, 1942)

Formerly THE CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR VOL. 8, NO.5 JAN. 28th, 1942 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Published by Film Publications of Canada, Limited, 5th floor, Hermant Building, 21 Dundas Square, Tor onto, Ontario. Phone ADelaide 4310. Printed at 78 Wellington Street West, Toronto. Price 5 cents each, or $2.00 per year Address all communications to The Managing Editor CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY 21 Dundas Square Toronto, Canada SS 28 Ottawa Lights Ordered Doused (Continued from Page 1) The regulations as ‘contained in the order, which is sure to be applied to many other areas as the war progresses, are as follows: (a) No street light or lights outside of a building, excepting those operated for street lighting purposes anly, shall be displayed in any area specified in any order made under the provisions of subsection 1 (a) hereof for prohibiting or regulating the display of lights, during the hours between sundown and sunrise, and for greater certainty, but not so as to restrict the generality of this prohibition, the same shall apply to advertising and display signs of any description whatsoever, whether neon signs or not, and all individual lights on in front of residences or business houses whether for lighting purposes or otherwise. (b) No lights shall be displayed in business premises excepting during business hours when not prohibited under any other provision of these regulations and whilst staff is present on the premises to blacken out the same should an air raid alarm occur. (c) The restrictions imposed by sub-sections (a) or (b) hereof may, at any time, in whole or in part, be removed either temporarily or permanently by order of the minister of pensions concurred in by the minister of munitions and supply. At the end of 1941, there were 648 electrically illuminated signs in Ottawa, most of them concentrated on the main business streets. Canadian FILM WEEKLY — ] JOIN W.” Sixty years is a long period of activity in the life of any man orcountry. That is-the golden record of N. W. Mason, famed Nova Scotia exhibitor. Think of it—in the lifetime of this splendid citizen the Civil War was finishing; our great Dominion came into being and grew to nationhood and glory; champions conquered and were conquered; our soldiers marched to war, returned and marched again; Knowledge spread to all and Science mastered land, air and sea; thrones became dust and ancient empires vanished. Here is a man who saw the evolution of his country almost from ox-cart to airplane. For 60 years of his 78 he has served the same craft and for 46 years the same people. He is as aware of the world around-and-beyond him today as he was in his early youth. This man knows the quiet strength of the little people and their part in the doing of things to a greater extent than most. The custodian of their leisure hours and the guardian of their joys, none has known so many of them personally, nor enjoyed their affection more. The Canadian motion picture industry is as proud of “N. W.” as are the people of Nova Scotia and the citizens of New Glasgow. Carole Lombard Exhibitors and distributors have few personal preferences in Hollywood stars that aren't dictated by the boxoffice. But Carole Lombard, who truly died for her country, was one of them. The exhibitor, in particular, looks at the glamor girls and boys with a bread-and-butter eye. Carole Lombard was an exception to this commercial valuation. Film folks thought of her as the customers did—a real North Ameri can girl, beautiful to behold but as easily friendly as the girl who has lived next door all your life. No airs, always ready for a romp or a neighborly favor, tough on fresh guys, a swell girl. The world has lost a sweetheart. Arbitration Fails, Says Laxer (Continued from Page 1) through their executives, communicated support when mews of the new organization became public. He did not reveal the names of organizations or individuals involved, explaining that plans for an extension of the association on a national scale had not proceeded far enough as yet. “As the leading unaffiliated Independent group in Ontario, they feel that we are expressing their views also,” Mr. Laxer said. When queried as to whether a previously published statement criticizing the operation and findings of former arbitration boards was directed at any specific body, Mr. Laxer answered: “We regard the setup of conciliation as heretofore administered as inadequate. We are just not entering into it. As constituted now it is purposeless and mot doing the job it was created for. Arbitration of film disputes in Canada is also a very limited affair, confined as it is to the enforcement of the License Agreement.” “Our organization was in the process of being formed when Mr. McMullen was appointed. We saw in his appointment a chance for a fair and public presentation of matters affecting the Independent exhibitor. We requested a conference with him and got it,” Mr. Laxer is said in giving the origin of his organization. The Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors Association, he explained, was confined to “unaffiliated Independents” as distinct from those who had circuit connections. Membership could be retained by anyone who had am unaffiliated theatre, for that theatre alone. Those who reached agreements with circuits for each or all theatres owned or controlled by them would automatically relinquish membership. Mr. Laxer stated that the present membership numbered between 50 and 60, though a list was not yet ready for publication. (Editor's note—There are only two Conciliation Boards in Canada at present—Toronto and Halifax. The Toronto one was set up by the Motion Picture Section of the Toronto Board of Trade. The Halifax board is the product of exhibitors and distributors of that area and opinion was expressed that its conduct has been highly satisfactory.) January 28th, 1942 'N. W. Mason Honored in N.S. (Continued from Page 1) compliments to “N. W.,’’ as he is familiarly known, in the Herald. I was shared by such famed firm as Famous Players, under the signature of J. J. Fitzgibbons. Simpson’s, Dominion Sound and Esquire Films, Mr. Mason is a native Nova Scotian, having been born in historic Halifax when, though a modest town, it was one of the major gateways to the New World. Having, even then, something of a | cosmopolitan atmosphere about it, the great stars of the living theatre offered their talents to its citizens. The then youthful Mr. Mason, a patron, became attached to the theatre. He became an actor and in 1882 appeared in Boston with the company of Lily Langtry, “The Jersey Lily.” The grand old Canadian showman is a living history of the theatre. He has been in it for 60 years, 46 of these being spent in New Glasgow, in which place he settled down after a stay in Liverpool. His undying devotion to his craft caused him to follow it personally and actively. In 1917 he opened the Roseland as the finest theatre in the Maritimes and it was the pride of Pictou County. In 1929 he instituted sound, his being the second Maritime theatre to make the venture. He was proud that his house had played each of the films picked as the ten best of last year in the All-Canadian poll of this publication. One of his customs was to stage each year the sentimental drama of bygone days in the theatre, “The Old Homestead,” in which he had appeared with the late and great Denman Thompson. Mr. Mason’s interests are not confined to the theatre, he having been prominent in many community enterprises. In 1921 and 1922 he was elected Mayor of New Glasgow. In 1936 he retired from poli-~ tics, though maintaing his work for the welfare of his fellow-citizens. After many and persistent requests he yielded and returned to the chief magistrate’s ‘chair in 1936 for a four-year term. His staff shares the affection in which Mr. Mason is held by the patrons. Each has been with him for many years, some having served the chief and public for three decades. Complete Theatre Equipment and Supplies COLEMAN ELECTRIC CO. 258 VICTORIA ST., Toronto, Ont.