Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 11, 1942)

Page 2 “a 4 Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., Sth Floor, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Ont., Canada. Phone ADelaide 4310. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Vol. 8, No. 46 Stay Awake Though the phrase is commonly used to describe a smooth-running enterprise, no business, particularly a theatre, “runs itself.” The constant vigilance that causes theatres to have such a small quota of accidents becomes relaxed when the absence of mishaps makes the manager sleepy that way. Supervisors have a tough job today because new men can’t realize the importance of the most routine checkup. Newcomers, faced with a pressing matter, leave those things which seem to “run themselves,” overlooking the fact that they give that impression because of the constant attention they receive. Though building by-laws were met and the manager of the Pape, Toronto, absolved of any neglect in that direction, Premier Conant of Ontario took it upon himself, so important did he consider the matter, to deliver the result of the probe to the press. The Premier pointed out that in a theatre seating 419 children at a Saturday matinee, but one usher was on hand! Though there have been two such accidents in Toronto _ within a year, the trade has been forturate that no deaths resulted. We have spent years building up the theatre in the public mind as a safe place for children and adults, both physically and morally. The press was quite fair in its handling of the near-tragedy at the Pape but the result of the publicity will be the awakening of critics of movie morals, etc. A strange effect, but true. ‘For instance, the Toronto Weekly News carries a long editorial under the heading, “Toronto Has-Been Fortunate,” some of which dealt with the Pape incident and the rest advocating increased censorship of pictures. That was the strange result of a coal gas accident. But we're in a strange business. The immediate result of a mishap of any kind or bad judgment is painful enough. But the effect! That's something that can grow faster than a family of rabbits. Vigilance is the price of many things besides Liberty. The Law Says: Section 9 of the Theatres and Cinematographs Act of Ontario reads: “9. A child under the age of sixteen years unaccompanied by an adult shall not be permitted to attend any exhibition by cinematograph, moving picture machine or other similar apparatus for admission to which a fee is charged, except on Saturday of each week and on school, public and legal holidays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., during which hours a matron, to be remunerated by the exhibitor, shall be engaged in each theatre whose duty it shall be to supervise the conduct of such children amd of adults toward them while in such theatre, the appointment of such matron to be sanctioned in such a manner as the Treasurer of Ontario may direct; and the Treasurer of Ontario may at any theatre in his discretion dispense with the attendance ofa matron.” . Failure to realize the intent of this regulation and to observe this may be followed by severe penalties—and not fines only. Let managers and others remain awake all the time, so that we may have no more such incidents as have occurred twice in the past year. This form of sleepiness may lead to more serious results. Even now the Saturday children’s matinee has received a severe blow. Nov. 11, 1942 DRiasiesciests kaw eae ws Te ee a HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Canadian FILM WEEKLY TConant On |Coal Gas Case (Continued from Page 1) regulations of the Ontario Motion Pictures and Censorship Branch. “The excellent work done by the two Toronto police officers undoubtedly prevented the occurrence of a serious tragedy,” he stated. The two officers referred to are Constables William Oliver and William Davis. Mrs. Dorothy Millard noticed sick children leaving the theatre and spread the alarm. Police and hospitals sent men and ambulances to help remove the sick children. : The theatre has been closed until structural changes are completed and the owner has convinced authorities that he is competent to run a theatre. The premier said that when the attention of the two officers was directed to the fumes in the theatre by Mrs. Doris Millard, “the only person on duty was an 18-year-old usher.” Under the Theatres and Cinematographs Act, a child under 16 unaccompanied by an adult, shall not be permitted to attend any moving picture [eon except on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. During ieee hours, the act warns, “a matron, to be remunerated by the exhibitor, shall be engaged in each theatre whose duty it. shall be to Supervise the conduct of such children .. .” Premier Conant stated that “theatre owners throughout the Province are warned that there must be strict adherence to Provincial regulations . . . and that licenses of theatre owners who operate their theatres without due observance of Provincial regula tions will be suspended indefinitely.” The inquiry into the Pape Theatre, which is operated by Isadore Stern, was conducted by Fire Marshal W. J. Scott, K.C.; Deputy Fire Marshal C. W. Caskey; Mr. Silverthorne and W. D. McPhee, assistant inspector of theatres. Consolidated Gets Loew s, Montreal (Continued from Page 1) Mansfield company owned by Famous Players Canadian Corporation carry control, they were not voted but the latter company was represented at the meeting. W. W. Robinson, representing preferred shareholders, urged a postponement of settling the lease until a plan of reorganization was worked out. T. F. Bragg of Odeon also opposed acceptance and suggested that further action would follow. Loew’s, Montreal, was opened in 1915. Famous Players subse November 11, 1942 (Human Interest Notes in V-Loan (Continued from Paga 1) walked in on Dave Borland, manager of the Capitol Theatre, Prince Rupert, and purchased a $1,000 Victory Bond. Newspapermen interviewed the sailor as to why he had purchased the bond and came up with a story that sounded like a movie script! James Lee Jones, in civilian life a trapper in the Eskimo Lake country of the Northwest Territory, decided, upon hearing the story of Pearl Harbor over his shortwave radio, that it was time to leave the northland and fight for his country. Born in the Athabasca country, he had been “outside’’ only twice before in his life. He cleaned up his season’s catch plane and enlisted in the navy in Vancouver. -In the Victory Loan campaign last spring which coincided with the time of his enlistment he took out a $2,000 Bond. He was stationed at Prince Rupert when he made his second purchase through the theatre. Manager Dave Borland of the Capitol has been doing a fine job for the Victory Loan as a member of. the Gyro Club team of salesmen. He has spoken several times over the air and personally sold over $40,000.00 worth of. bonds. Stratford, Ont.—At the Avon Theatre, Stratford, which was donated for the Victory Loan show starring Sir Cedric and Lady Hardwicke, actual telephone pledges for Victory Loans during the show amount to $52,550! Previous pledges swelled the total for the Stratford theatre to over $59,000. Jule Allen is particularly proud of the fact that Sir Cedric Hardwicke personally thanked the theatre manager, Walter Helm, over the radio for the co-operation given by the management and declared that Stratford had made the finest telephone subscription showing of any his company had encountered on tour. Nanaimo, B.C.—The staff of 10 at the Capitol Theatre purchased Victory Bonds totalling $1,800, Manager Mel Gow reports and he expects to get the total up over the $2,000 mark. quently acquired the lease and operation was transferred to Consolidated, which has a pooling arrangement with FP in Montreal. Consolidated held the lease until it expired and went on the open market for renewal. , Loew’s, Montreal, was tthe second house bearing the old show name to break into the news this year. Loew’s, London, was sold recently for $254.000.