Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 8, 1942)

April 8th, 1942 The McDowells Meet at Movies The best human interest story to come out of a motion picture theatre in a long time originated through the awareness of J. M. AGB Rov ertson of the Capitol Theatre, —— Victoria, B.C. It appeared in the Victoria Daily Colonist and dealt with the visit of T. A. McDowell, father of Roddy McDowell, to the theatre to see his son on the screen. Mr. McDowell, an officer in the Merchant Marine, is 45 and ran a garage in London before the war. A number of his shipmates accompanied him. Wrote The Colonist: “People turn up in _ strange places in wartime, when anything can happen and often does. It was one of those rare coincidences that brought together a roving sailor father and his celebrated son in Victoria last night. “They met in the Capitol theatre. The father, T. A. McDowall, an officer in the British Merchant Navy, was there in person; the son, Roddy McDowall, one of Hollywood’s outstanding juvenile actors, was on the screen. But for Mr. McDowall, who never dreamed of the surprise that awaited him there, the occasion |} brought all the thrills of a personal meeting. He sat through the picture ‘How Green Was My Valley’ and though he’s seen it before he enjoyed it every minute. “ Flaven’t seen the boy for more than a year,’ he recalled after the show ‘I didn’t know I was coming here myself and I certainly didn’t know that Roddy’s picture would be showing.’ “As a gesture to the lad’s father and his mates in the Merchant Navy, the manager, J. M. Robertson, arranged for them to see the show. “Mr. McDowall recalled that 20th Century Fox executives invited the officers and crew of his ship to a special preview of the picture in Hollywood. ‘They put on the show at a moment’s notice, said Mr. McDowall. ‘I thought that was a fine compliment to the British Merchant Navy.’ “Naturally, he is proud of his boy. He produced a wallet and showed a photo of the twelve-year old actor and his sister, Virginia, aged thirteen. ““‘She’s in the picture, too,’ he said, ‘though she only has a small part. She’s as talented as Roddy.’”’ Rowe Aussie Choice R. L. Rowe has been appointed * Australian general manager for 20th Century-Fox succeeding Ernest Turnbull, who left to become top director of MHoyt’s circuit, which 20th controls. Rowe was head of sales at Sydney. Canadian FILM WEEKLY 7 eG gal y Lf Ze. 4 S, A 4 oy te ne Nae _ Travelogue T. JOHN’S SQUARE, on Portland and facing Wellington, is today a public park. Beneath its surface rest forever an unknown number of valiants. Set apart as a military cemetery in 1794 by Lord Simcoe, first Governor of Upper Canada, it was used for sixty years. There are legends about the old place. One says that Lord Simcoe buried his youngest daughter here. Another concerns a cavalry officer whose passion was fine horses. Recalled to England, offers were made for six of his best animals. The thought of them being in alien hands pained him. They say he shot each and buried it in St. John’s. In the centre is a monument topped with a bust of Lord Simcoe. On it are the names of regiments which fought in the War of 1812, such as the Glengarry Fencibles and the Coloured Corps and Indians. This verse meets the eye: “Dead in the battle—dead in the field— More than his life can a soldier yield? His blood has burnished his sabre bright; To his memory, honor; to him good-night.” Sad Array (QS each few feet of this earth had its wooden or stone sentry. But, as the years passed, a growing town moved further away. Other cemeteries were established and this one fell into disuse. Its ghostly tenants neglected, the army of grave-markers became disorganized under attacks of time and weather. Then the stones were removed and the face of St. John’s decorated with the eyepleasing green one sees there now. A few stones, salvaged out of sentiment, remain. Like tired old warriors they lean disconsolately against a fence in a far corner. Here and there one sees the outline on the fence of a stone fallen in a vain defense against the elements—a record of a record, soon to disappear and be eternally forgotten. Nature’s epilogue to a drama of lives. The stones are like the ghosts of men; the outlines the ghosts of ghosts. _ ‘ A Tragedy of Yesteryear OF all that once marked this ground but a scant dozen remain. One still legible is “Sacred to the Memory of Zachariah Mudge, Esq’r,’”’ a lieutenant who was secretary to LieutenantGovernor General Sir J. Colborne. Mudge died in 1831, aged 3 years. This stone is the graven echo of an old tragedy. Zachariah Mudge, history records, sought and found death by his own hand. A member of an old family and a striking figure of a soldier, he was much admired. He was a bachelor. The cause of his suicide is still a mystery. A trick of fate this, that he who sought the end before his time should have outlived, in recorded memory, his comrades who desired—and were denied—the fullness of life. A Strange Reunion fl ee stones are vanishing in an almost timeless disintegration. Small crumbs lie about that have separated from the stones and reached closer to the bosom of the earth, as though to join their human predecessors. Where are the others of these that once stood side by side, ranks unbroken? Gone from the face of the earth. United by nature with those whose lamps they kept lit here. A reunion, this. A strange reunion. A reunion in the dust. t Lt: th & s = es a es bo I sees year, when the wind has delivered the last of its white cargo and the earth yields its first feeble smile, I go there. And meditate for a moment on the impermanence of things and the brevity of man’s mortal stay. —Frank Filman Page 5 (Six 12.05's in Oshawa Yearly Permission will be granted the three movie theatres of Oshawa to hold midnight shows in the opening hours of public holidays falling on Mondays, if the recommendations of the committee of the whole council is passed by City Council at their next regular meeting. This ruling will affect ap proximately six holidays in the year. The recommendation followed representations of the theatre owners, and will be subject to the filing with the city of a letter signed by all local theatre companies agreeing that such shows will be confined to six per year. Last year midnight shows were halted in Oshawa by agreement between city authorities and theatre managements because of the alleged advantages enjoyed by youthful crime artists of the city who used midnight shows as their excuse for being abroad at all hours of the night. Elgin, Ottawa, Has Six in Armed Forces Theatre personnel has experienced many changes since the war began. Many theatres have replaced half their staffs because of enlistments, in some instances several times. The Elgin, Ottawa, Twentieth Century’s first-run house in the Capital, has six ex-staffmen in the armed forces: Bert Guest, former head usher, who joined the RCAF two years ago and is stationed at Ottawa. John Charron, doorman, joined up a year ago and is in the army and stationed at Ottawa. Milton Budd, doorman, left the Elgin about six months ago and is now stationed at Fingal with the RCAF. Jack Parker, doorman, joined the navy a year ago and is now on the Atlantic riding a corvette. Jack Dempsey, operator, left for the RCAF and is at Toronto. The latest is George MacDonald, head usher, who has joined the RCAF and has reported at Galt. Theatre ushers and doormen make good soldiers, being smartlooking and disciplined. Check Amateur Films Censor Byron Price of the USA has ordered a thorough check on all films and stills held by amateur cameramen entering and leaving the United States. The simon-pure photographers may bi unexposed films only to Canada. Vacationists with cameras are the big problem.