Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 4, 1942)

March 4th, 1942 Chatham Clergy Vs Sunday Shows (Continued from Page 1) held at the Centre Theatre, managed by Harland Rankin, and nety ted $75. District No. 8 of the Knights of Columbus convened in a Catham hall during the afternoon to hear Philip Phalan of Ottawa, State Deputy, describe the war work of the organization and make known the fact that it maintains 82 huts in military camps across Canada. At the conclusion of the meeting all present proceeded to the Centre Theatre. Mayor Hubbell was present and delivered an address in which he called attention to the Victory Loan. Despite the worthy auspices and cause, the Rev. Simon Edwards, pastor of the Park Street United Church, attacked the entertainment, saying that “if there is any desire to continue or repeat this there will be a fight.” “This is just the thin edge of the wedge toward other Sunday activities,’ he said, “such as opening of movie houses on the Lord’s Day. When I was in Toronto there was a definite move to open up theatres on Sundays for entertainments, the proceeds of which were to go to Red Cross purposes. The Ministerial Association took a decided stand against such affairs. ‘I know they are within the province of the law, but I don’t think we need vaudeville to entertain people on Sundays.” The Hamilton Presbytery, after a Sunday evening show there recently, sent a letter of protest to the Attorney-General of Ontario and threatened to follow it up with a delegation. Doughboys Get Free 16 mm. Showings The motion picture industry, in keeping with its program to provide entertainment to men in the armed forces, has presented to the War Department a total of 80 features on 16 mm. film for free showing to men now in combat areas. Meeting with 11 representatives of the industry, Brig. Gen. F. H. Osborn, chief of the Special Services Branch, accepted the presentation on behalf of the Army. Francis S. Harmon, executive vice chairman of the War Activities Committee, in making the presentation, pointed out that this was the first time all the companies had ever agreed to reduce current feature and shorts to 16 / mm. He explained that the pro* grams which were ready’ for immediate shipment included films not yet in general release, because industry leaders wanted to provide American soldiers in combat areas with the best and latest in screen entertainment. Canadian FILM WEEKLY /OnThe $Sin with Aye Those Fighting Polakofts You can’t run a war without the Polakoffs. The well-known theatre family is in this one up to their most remote relatives; Every time I hear a Polakoff talk about another member of the clan, the comment deals with some form of service. Just to give you the idea we’ll use young Joe Polakoff, Columbia assistant booker, as the centre point. Joe, who is listed with the RCNVR, is the son of the popular Lou, who was in uniform during the last big tiff. Joe’s brother Frank, who is a projectionist, is somewhere on the high seas with the navy. Also in blue-and-white is cousin Irwin Steinhart. Irwin’s brother Elliot, who was manager of the Vanity, Windsor, and the Manor, Toronto, is in the Royal Regiment of Canada. A brotherin-law, Frank Covent, is in the artillery. j Young Joe’s grandfather, Harry McLellen, a seaman, fought in three wars—Egyptian, Boer and the first great war. So that side of the family is solidly behind the tradition. Joe’s uncle, Dave McLellen, is with infantry from Hamilton. Two of Joe’s uncles were killed in action during the Great War. Two cousins, Lawrence Parker and Nick Corp, are in the RCAF. And there are a number of others whose names we didn’t get. The spirit of service not only rules the Polakoff family but also their staffs. From one house, the Manor, Toronto, nine employees, ranking from managers to ushers, are connected with the armed forces. Who knows but what the Polakoffs, McLellans, etc., will get a seat at the peace table when the victory is won? Got Any Odd Jobs? “It is a melancholy truth,” writes Professor M. Wrong in ‘‘The Canadians,’ “that Canadian writers of books have usually to depend on some other sources of income.” Except those in Hollywood. = * a * Copy, Boy! The screen and the press, both avenues of communication, are closely related at any time but in these days more than ever. Particularly the film press, trade and public. Canada has several top-notch publications worthy of note anywhere. In Winnipeg, for instance, a film journal aimed at the general public is The Winnipeg Audience, which is gotten up by Edward and Morten Parker. A swell job of news presentation, it is a valuable stimulant to the box-office and can stand being imitated. House organs are also five-star efforts. Famous Players’ twicemonthly magazine, The Manager, is sprightly in content and appearance. Its readability in and out of that circuit is a credit to Jimmy Nairn, its popular editor, who was a newspaperman before he put on the exploitation and advertising harness. The Odeon, voice of that chain, comes out of Vancouver under the expert guidance of Earle Hayter and carries many an item that other scribes wish they had written. Trade organs are a manifestation of health in an industry and there’s no doubt we’d see many more but for the times. s sd x“ Bill's Back Bill Stewart—W. J. if you insist—is back in business On The Square. (Doesn’t sound so good at first reading but I don’t mean it that way.) Bill, who dates a long way back in the film game as an exploitation man, has been operating in the vaudeville field for a long time now. He’s opened snazzy offices at 21 Dundas Square for his Affiliated Theatrical Offices, a booking agency, and added Advertising Agencies, Ltd. The latter organization deals with commercial live shows and he’s preparing deals with business sponsors who'll provide stage entertainment for movie houses at the cost of a commercial plug on the screen. Bill may have an easy answer to some of your problems. He'll be glad to hear from you or have you drop in. And there’s always a familiar face or two around, as well as some swell stories and laughs. quare “Page 3 ‘Valley, NFB Win Academy Oscars (Continued from Page 1) portant place in this year’s awards than that. A special award was presented to John Grierson for the Canadian Film Board in honor “Churchill’s Island,” which is distributed in Canada by Columbia. Grierson, the Dominion Film Commissioner, presented awards for documentary films to Rey Scott for “Kukan,” a _ picture about China’s battle, and to the British Ministry of Information for the thrilling Warners release, “Target for Tonight.” Joan Fontaine was named the best actress for her performance in RKO’s “Suspicion” and Gary Cooper grabbed the Oscar for the best male performance as a result of Warners’ “Sergeant York.” John Ford got the award for direction, based on “How Green Was My Valley.” He’s at sea with the USN just now. Orson Welles, who had been nominated in nearly all the award classifications, received only half an Oscar, as co-author of his oneman movie, “Citizen Kane.’’ Best supporting player was Donald Crisp for his part in “How Green,” while best supporting actress was the red-headed Mary Astor for her work in “The Great Lie.”’ Leopold Stokowski and associates were given a special award for creation of a new form of visualized music in “Fantasia.” Lieut. Jimmy Stewart, in uniform, and Ginger Rogers, who won the 1940 Oscars, made the presentations to Cooper, Miss Fontaine, Crisp and Miss Astor. Walt Disney carried off special honors, for ‘Fantasia’ and ‘“Dumbo” and was given the Irving Thalberg Memorial Trophy for most consistently high production achievement. It was a comparatively quiet occasion, the glitter and glamor having been shelved. Wendell Wilkie made the chief address. In Wartime? The Sedgewick Theatre, a big neighborhood house in a ritzy Philadelphia district, is trying out a free taxi service for its patrons. Those who live within a mile radius can be picked up gratis and dropped at the theatre. The manager worked out a special rate NY Burlesque Fades The last burlesque house in New York faded out last week when Paul Moss, Commissioner of Licenses, refused to renew the permit of Broadway's Gaiety Theatre. The Republic and Eltinge theatres were closed in the same way on February ist.