Canadian Film Weekly (Jun 10, 1942)

Vol. 8, No. 24 REN NN a ed a Oe Tis an a a a HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor pielipeeniee eee oe ere Address all communications to—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, i .b Publi ti { Canada, Ltd, 5th Floor, 21 Dundas Square, [aot gt ena Phone ADelaide 4310, Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. A New Deal Jed Hawley, a man who loved all living things, lived quietly and alone. He did what he had to do to make a living and let life go at that. His nearest neighbor was Lije Rittle, a man of average character. Jed and Lije got along well, though they were never intimates. As neighbors they needed each other in small ways. Minor differences were smoothed out easily. When politicians and others had things passed that they thought weren't fair, Jed and Lije joined with the other fellows on the block and fought side by side. Lije had been borrowing Jed‘s lawn-mower for over ten years now. The last time Jed got his machine back his neighbor reported its uselessness. Jed, for all his handiness, found it beyond fixing. Now a poor man was Jed Hawley, albeit good. His hobby was the beautiful, even green of his lawn and yard. This was his theatre, his car, his golf. Everything life denied him Jed found an equivalent for here. An unhappy man was he as the unshorn locks of green on the scalp of his beloved bit of earth grew more tousled with the passing days. And a new lawn-mower was, to him, financially impossible. Imagine the surge of joy that awakened Jed from his despondency when he heard the soul-stirring staccato of a new lawn-mower from across the fence. Sure enough, it was being propelled by neighbor Lije. At last! “See you've got a new cutter there, Rittle,” Jed happily. “Yep,” answered Lije. “We sure got a lot of good service out of my old one.” pursued Jed. “Oh, it was good enough, I guess,’ * said Lije. “Nice machine you've got there.” Jed went on. of thought I'd like to borrow it for a bit.” Lije Rittle looked up sharply. “Oh, I mean any old time you're through with it for a while.” Jed spoke quickly, afraid that he had offended in some way. Lije leaned on the hendle and took the wisp of grass out from between his teeth. “I’d sure like to oblige you, Hawley,” he said. Jed felt himself freezing inside. The last time he got that feeling was when his wife was dying “Yep, I sure would,” continued Lije. He nodded his head. “But I've been thinking things over lately. Kind of made up a new policy with myself, I ain’t borrowing and I ain't lending any more!” There’s A Moral There Many things have happened to the motion picture business in Canada since the war began. Rules have been imposed that are designed to regulate according to the needs of war economy. Many of these are intended to have quick effect on matters that have been in dispute sihce the pioneer days of the business. Because of urgency, some of these rules don’t cover, every corner of a business with more angles than an oldfashioned glass chandelier. That can’t be done overnight. But government-made rules are laws—and as laws they are inflexible. In the past the neighborliness of people in the several sides of the motion picture business has not been affected by the differences that are always cropping up. It remains for all not to strike a personal policy of not lending and not remarked “Kind Canadian FILM WEEKLY June; 10th, 19427. —— ee USA Ease-Up Juno 10th, 1942 on Terms Old Stuff in Canada (Continued from Page 1) executive: boards of their companies. By using their discretionary powers Dominion sales chiefs were able to help exhibitors keep their balance while populations shifted. All Metro division branch managers have been instructed by William R. Rogers, vice-president in charge of sales, to search out situations affected in the USA and make allowances. Warner Brothers is following the same policy. President Harry A. Warner gave the following order to his men: “Find the exhibitor whose population has moved. Give him a break, even if you have to help him out with his rent. We must keep the theatres’ doors open. I’m not kidding—I’m serious. I repeat: Find the exhibitor who needs to keep operating and see that he gets a break. Keep the doors open.” Wolfe Cohen of Vitagraph, Warners’ Canadian outlet, echoed his chief’s remarks. ‘That policy is universal,’ he said. ‘We've been following it quietly for a long time. We’re prepared to cut prices to the bone if necessary in order to keep the exhibitor in business. Wherever we've found hardship on the part of the theatre man, we've helped in every way we can. And we'll continue to do so.’ At Regal Films, which distributes MGM product in Canada, Henry Nathanson stated that the new policy was no novelty on this side of the border. “We have been doing that in 50 or 60 situation in Canada. Wherever it was necessary, easier arrangements have been made.” He pointed out that Canadian exchanges had no such way of protecting themselves as the USA has. While lowering the costs in situations requiring it, the Amerian branches can make it up by raising them in centres which borrowing any more because some war-time rule might give this section or that of the industry a short-term advantage. We still need each other. The old system of settling between ourselves may not be as applicable as formerly. That depends oh the government's viewpoint. But a fair attitude, instead of exploiting every legal technicality, will lessen the need of government supervision. The contrary is bound to lead to complete control. It's up to you and you and you. have grown as a result of war economy. “Under the Wartime Prices regulations we can’t raise prices. But we're going right on making adjustments wherever required,’”’ he said. The problem of shrinking populations grew acute in Canada about a year-and-a-half ago. When things were at their worst the 20 per cent federal amusement tax came into effect and moved the theatres out of some family budgets. Exhibitors petitioned the government regularly for some relief without avail. The trade did everything it could to assist from the inside. Canadian film executives, having had previous experience with wartime problems only now rising in the USA, grew in prestige. They have been called to New York frequently for conferences and many leading executives have come here for a preview of the state of the business in the USA during the war. A number of Canadian executives have received promotions as a result of their superior experience and judgment. Though no companies other than MGM and Warners have made official announcements of the new policy, Canadian branches of all have been adhering to similar measure in the recent past. James E. Lynch Passes On (Continued from Page 1) ager had returned home a few days before his death but suffered a relapse and was brought back to the hospital. Jimmy, born in Toronto, served Overseas during the last war with the 38th Battery, CFA, and won the Military Medal. He joined Famous after the war and managed houses in Port Arthur and Windsor before coming to Toronto to-handle the newly-built Runnymede. In West Toronto Jimmy Lynch was a highly-regarded member of the community and served on many committees, particularly in sporting matters. He was president of the West Toronto Hockey League for a number of years. Surviving are his widow, Violet T. Walsh Lynch and a son, Billy. Complete Theatre Equipment and Supplies COLEMAN ELECTRIC CO. 258 VICTORIA ST., Toronto, Ont.