Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 23, 1942)

Page scan 0005 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Sep 23, 1942
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Sep 23, 1942)
Leaf #:
0005
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, and Global Cinema
Format:
periodicals
Contributor:
Media History Digital Library, Canadian Picture Pioneers, Paul Moore and Jessica Whitehead
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:

Canadian Film Weekly

  • Editor: Hye Bossin (1942-64)
  • Renamed Canadian Film & TV Bi-Weekly (1965-69, editor: Stan Helleur)
  • Renamed Candian Film Weekly(1970, editor: Ed Hocura)

Canadian Film Weekly (1942-70) was edited by Hye Bossin and published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., wholly owned by leading exhibitor, Nat Taylor. In the late 1930s, Taylor was head of the Independent Theatre Association and his Toronto-based chain, Twinex-Century (Twentieth Century), was the largest independent circuit in the country. In 1941, however, he negotiated for chain affiliation with upstart Canadian Odeon before leveraging a better deal and greater booking control with nationally-dominant Famous Players Canada, Ltd. No longer independent, he took ownership of the Independent Theatre Association’s semi-monthly magazine, The Canadian Motion Picture Exhibitor (1940-41), installed Hye Bossin as editor, and laid plans to relaunch in January 1942 under a new name, Canadian Film Weekly. This enduring key publication was no longer solely focused on independent exhibitors but instead covered the entire industry on a national scale–exhibition, distribution and production–with some attention given to studio news from New York and Hollywood.

Bossin was a vibrant writer with a canny way with words, admired in the industry in the United States as well as Canada. He was one of a large family who lived above their father’s secondhand shop in the Jewish “ward” downtown in Toronto. His older brother was a bookie with ties to the underground; his younger brother was a famous journalist, protégé of Walter Winchell, and Hollywood screenwriter. In contrast, Hye spent nearly two decades learning the publishing trade in a printers’ shop before trying a stint as a Hollywood publicist, then writing a column for the Toronto Star Weekly before taking Taylor’s offer to edit the Film Weekly. Bossin was central to the creation of the Canadian Film Archive, the Canadian Film Awards, and he wrote some of the first histories of early cinema in Canada, published in the first volumes of the annual Canadian Film Weekly Year Book (1951-70).

In 1957, the Film Weekly had incorporated the rival Canadian Moving Picture Digest (1917-57), and began dating its start to that paper’s earlier start as the Canadian Universal Bulletin (1915-18). Subsequent variants of the Canadian Film Weekly and its yearbooks always claimed their roots all the way back to 1915 and the origins of the film industry trade press in Canada. After Bossin died in 1964, the Weekly’s new editor, Stan Helleur, renamed the magazine Canadian Film & TV Bi-Weekly, scaling back the pace of publishing but adding a purview for television and broadcasting. The annual was renamed similarly, its subtitle amended to “Year Book of the Canadian Entertainment Industry.” An attempted renewal to weekly format in 1970, edited by Ed Hocura, was short-lived and Nat Taylor decided instead to relaunch under an entirely new title, Canadian Film Digest (1971-77) and Canadian Film Digest Yearbook (1971-86).

– Paul Moore, March 2024

Further Reading

  • Bossin, Hye. “Canada and the Film: The Story of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry.” In Canadian Film Weekly Year Book of the Canadian Motion Picture Industry, 21-41. Toronto: Film Publications of Canada, 1951.
  • Moore, Paul. “Chronicling a National History: Hye Bossin’s Canadian Film Weekly and Year Book.” In Eric Hoyt and Kelley Conway, eds., Global Movie Magazines. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2024.

Date Added:
August 08, 2024
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Page 6 Pw wilt i Current Releases PAPER BULLETS Famed Alan Ladd, Joan Wood bury, Vince Barnett, Jack LaRue Vice and murder in the City Hall! * GAMBLING DAUGHTERS Cecelia Parker, Roger Pryor Gambling and Romance don't mix! * MR. CELEBRITY Buzzy Henry, James Seay, Doris Day, Clara Kimball Young, Francis A. Bushman, Jim Jeffries Do you remember? Highly dramatic! x REG’LAR FELLERS Sara Padden, Billy Lee, Roscoe Ates A famous comic strip in the movies now! * THE DEVIL BAT Bela Lugosi The Horror Man at his best! DESPERATE CARGO Ralph Byrd, Carol Hughes Piracy in a plane over the Carribean! * JUNGLE MAN Buster Crabbe, Vince Barnett Action and drama in the jungle! * HOLD THAT WOMAN James Dunn, Frances Gifford A bit of music, a bit of comedy, a swell musical * MISBEHAVING HUSBANDS Ralph Byrd, Esther Mutr, Harry Langdon Hubby ran wild until wifey took aim! * SOUTH OF PANAMA Roger Pryor, Virginia Vale Mystery, mirth, melody Producers Releasing Corporation LIMITED Executive Offices: 277 Victoria St., Toronto, 2, Ont. Watch for “THE YANKS ARE COMING” or is strictly independent. Address all letters to “What Did You Do?” c/o Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Sq., Toronto, Ont. [PQeneretet TIEDE, Century, Tren ton, distributed several thousand small folders, front ‘cover bearing a number, copy below reading “Is this one of the lucky numbers? Turn the page for more details.” Inside spread carried copy of the attractions playing during the following two weeks. Also small footnote advised that the pamphlet was exchangeable for a complimentary, if the number on the front cover of the pamphlet corresponded with numbers posted in the lobby. Local merchants carried ads on back page which covered half the cost of the folder. The front cover of this pamphlet did not resemble the ordinary theatre programs, so many opened it up to see what it was all about. * * * EO COYLE, Granada, St. Catharines, on the opening of the serial, “‘The Green Archer” organized a Green Archer Club amongst the children, distributing 1000 membership cards. An archery contest was held on a large empty lot opposite the theatre. Two hundred children were present at the opening and had a very interesting contest with bow and arrow. > * * PRESTON SALTER, Community, Hamilton, issued cheques, reading “Issued to — 1000 and one laughs — charge to ‘Blockheads’ and ‘Go West.’”’ These were distributed to homes and deposited in mail boxes. On the marquee, copy read “All side aisle, reserved for loud laughers.” * * * OE PAUL of the Park, Welland, cooked up quite a tasty stew for his first anniversary celebration, which lasted for several nights and was duly noted in the local paper. Joe gave away passes to people whose sons were on active service, as well as carrying on a lucky contest. Three people a _ night were picked to get passes, war savings certificates and several certificates worth $5 each. The Park, through Joe’s efforts, won much good-will locally, where Joe Paul is one of the most popular _members of the community. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Contributions to this column will be greatly appreciated from any member of the motion picture industry, from coast to coast, whether he has chain affiliations Bez BROWN, Elgin, Ottawa, put on a lively campaign on “Talk of the Town.” In the newspapers he ran advance teaser ads. 5000 teaser cards were used in restaurants, banks and parked cars all over town. Nightly spot announcements over the radio, background music playing “Talk of the Town.” The cost of this was a couple of passes. Stenographers shorthand contest, in a neighborhood paper, brought plenty of replies and much interest, also window tieups with department stores and a tieup with Life magazine. A onesheet blow up of the feature was headed ‘“Life’s Movie of the Week.” This was put out front right after the magazine hit the | stands. Several stores carried co-op | cards on their particular merchandise being the ‘‘Talk of the Town,” etc. In fact, everything from hamburgers to dresses were the “Talk of the Town.” a * * (eee McEWAN, Geneva, Orillia, arranged window displays with Woolworth’s and Loblaw’s Groceteria, which were most attractive to the passing throngs. A mirror was placed on the floor of the window, with a lady doll standing in the midst of spilled jam—the title of the picture being “Lady in Jam.” On “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” a chemical equipment from the high school laboratory, was displayed splendidly in another store window, with attractive copy. Teaser cards were tied up with all barber shops reading “Tf our hair tonic doesn’t etc. etc. see ‘Dr Jekyll.’” * oo * OR “Badlands of Dakota’ Stu Gillespie, Marks, Oshawa, displayed a cutout in a store window previous to opening date. This cutout was in the shape of a covered wagon, and after the opening date, Stu attached it to the rear of his car. Cpl. Rosefield Lucky Corporal Jack Rosefield of the Irish Regiment, heading home to Hamilton on leave, got a shaking up when his car turned over on the highway. He’s the son of _Esquire’s Lou Rosefield. September 28rd, 1942 TPRC Has 13 New Features Ready Producers Releasing Corporation seems to be coming along in great style since its re-organization. There has been a marked improvement in the use of known players as well as in the quality of the pictures. The company has entered the new season with 13 features finished. Some releases: “Prairie Pals,” featuring Art Davis, Bill (Cowboy Rambler) Boyd and Lee Powell, Sept. 4; “A Night for Crime,” with Glenda Farrell and Lyle Talbot, Sept. 15; “Border Roundup,” featuring George Houston, Al St. John and Smoky Moore, Sept. 18; ‘‘Tomorrow We Live,” starring Ricardo Cortez and Jean Parker, Sept. 29. So far Famous Players and Odeon have bought 12 of PRC's new features. This represents increased business with the major chains and Harry Allen, PRC chief in Canada, who made the deal, says that this is just the big circuit part of the story. The Independents are booking and buying on an increased scale also. “Moscow Strikes" Big Public interest in the Russ war effort, as pictured in films, is growing rather than abating. “Moscow Strikes Back,’’ Esquire’s release, did record business the first week and strong grosses the second in its first Canadian engagement at the Plaza, Vancouver. CONTRACT SALES OFFICE 1257 PHONE TR GT’ FLOOR