Canadian Film Weekly (May 6, 1942)

May 6th, 1942 Ottawa Sweet On Industry (Continued from Page 1) mere request was enough to draw any kind of assistance. This real~ ization is bringing about the warm attitude mentioned above. There is hardly a single avenue of moral and material support, from scrap-gathering to manpower, which the native cinema hasn’t travelled with vigor and regularity. Particularly exhibitors. These have pitched in and added to their daily tasks many patriotic duties which tax, besides themselves, their staffs and equipment. The exhibitor often suffers for it, too. The favorite form of war effort of many organizations is the Sunday evening show. These, though sponsored by important citizens and groups for worthy causes, draw the attacks of that section of the community which can’t see it that way and want the Sabbath left alone. The Blue Law defenders, stymied in this direction, shift the attack to the 12.05 midnight shows. They’ve succeeded in having them eliminated in several cities. The exhibitor, having handed over time and theatre gratis, is not pleased to have his character attacked and his business hindered for his pains. But it doesn’t > deter him. Ottawa observers have pointed out that the screen and radio have been found more acceptable mediums than the press for presenting news and background. The growth of the documentary film, presented at its best by Ottawa, is proof of the public’s desire for news and information in a more dramatic manner than cold print offers, The expenditure, for example, of the Ministry of Information on 16 mm. and 35 mm. films during 1942 will be five or six times as large as it was two years ago. Though the industry has been classified as non-essential in the recent regulations—and motion picture people are satisfied to have it so—two functions are being performed by Canadian cinema which are vital, propaganda and army entertainment. Last week a high army officer spoke glowingly in Calgary of the motion picture as the chief feature of entertainment in camps under his jurisdiction. The big count in determining the appreciative attitude of the moment is the view that the morale of the people can be maintain ’ ed most easily by the free exercise of this least expensive and most universal of all public amusements. Anyway, the envoys of the industry are pleased with the current acknowledgements of their efforts and intentions. Canadian FILM WEEKLY a B jaan? aoa vare On the Rebound Al Perly, who is back around the familiar haunts of the trade since forsaking the Community, Hamilton, to manage the Kenwood, Toronto, dropped in the other day for a conversational swapfest. He came up with a tolerably funny yarn which took into account that nightly network of managerial phone calls. You know, the business of calling the other fellow to find out how bad business is with him. This is Al’s second stay at the Kenwood. One torrid evening during his last sojourn there Jack Alexander, managing the Brock, called for the evening lowdown. All the theatres were practically empty that evening. Especially Perly’s. He was playing “Intermezzo” befora it took hold. ; Perly had anticipated Alexander’s call and thought he would kid him. He instructed his cashier to jingle money and keep on repeating, as though addressing patrons, the words: “Standing room only.” Perly held the phone where it could pick up the sounds, at the same time assuring Jack that the house was full and the lobby crammed. Alexander passed the word around to all the 20th Century local houses and soon the amazed managers were calling up and getting the same phoney earful. Last to call up was Dick Freeman, who got the same line from Perly. “Just a minute,” said Dick. ‘Nat Taylor is here and -he’ll be glad to hear the news.” Taylor is the general manager of the circuit. Perly wasn’t going to fall for that one. He repeated the false tidings to the man they said was Taylor. He won praise and admiration as a2 manager who could fill his house when the others were empty. Perly kept it up, with a smirk. Then he grew slightly uneasy. He began to lose confidence. “Ts that,” he asked, “really and truly Mr. Taylor?’ The answer brought full realization to Perly that it really and truly was. Mr. Perly fainted. He didn’t sleep all night. Mr. Taylor was a good sport about it. Since that day Perly isn’t nearly as quick on the kibitz. Reversal to Type Lloyd Mills was in London last week and got to talking with a veteran reporter of the London Free Press. The old-time scribe related an incident which occurred many years ago in the Grand Opera House, now a movie palace managed by Doug Keyes. The reporter recalled the time the staff of those days was put through its first fire drill. The chief stcod in the pit and addressed all hands. ‘When I blow this whistle,” he said, “I want every man in this building to do exactly what he would do in case fire stopped the show.” He blew the whistle. At the sound of it each man grabbed his coat and left the theatre in a hurry. The dumbfounded fire chief went in search of the theatre crew. He found every last member against the bar of the Western Hotel, then next door to the theatre. They had done exactly what they would do. Changeovers Now that the sunny days are here The Square’s landed gentry, Ed Wells, Frank Meyers and Harry Price, are busy sinking seeds into the soil of their farms and eyeing their acres with pride and pleasure . . . Dave Sherman of the Casino and his missus were the guests of honor at a party to celebrate their 25th anniversary. A large crowd of friends enjoyed a gay evening at the Top Hat because of the occasion. Absent from the doings was son Murray, now with the RCAF ... Gerry Shumer of Empire-Universal is at Mount Sinai Hospital recuperating from an appendix operation . . . Brantford’s surprise of the week was the winning of the Duplicate Bridge tournament at the spiffy Brantford Club by H. M. Soloman, manager of the Esquire Theatre, a Firestone enterprise. He was invited to take part by R. J. Fletcher, who was his partner. Good going, Solly. ‘ eS Page 3 Esquire Gets Soviet Product (Continued from Page 1) transferred to Esquire are “Our Russian Front,” “A Day in Soviet Russia,” ‘Defence of Moscow” and others. Ready for release in the near future under the Esquire banner are “Guerrilla Brigade,” which is doing top business across the line; ‘“‘Tanya,’” a musical; and a number of musical shorts. An -|other Esquire release, “Our Rus sian Allies,” with the narration by J. B. Priestly, is currently at the Imperial, Toronto. The deal means that Russian films, big draws at the moment, will overcome the spotty Canadian distribution of the past. The Esquire setup is functioning from coast-to-coast now and is still growing. Rebook Ayres Since Lew Ayres last picture, “Fingers at the Window,” was found acceptable by reviewers and public without reference to his war stand, many circuits who cancelled bookings have reinstated them. "49th Parallel’ May Break Record Columbia’s “49th Parallel,” presented in the USA as “The Invaders,” got 44 holdovers of its first 50 showings prior to general release. It looks like it will become the company’s. greatest grosser, according to Abe Montague, general sales manager. Montague reported that an overall checkup of these engagements shows the picture to be doing 230 per cent of normal business and predicted that it will pass the $2,000,000 mark in domestic gross alone. The picture is being sold on 40, 45 and 50 per cent deals. 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