Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 23, 1942)

Page scan 00020 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
Dec 23, 1942
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (Dec 23, 1942)
Leaf #:
00020
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Global Cinema, Canada, and Hollywood Studio System
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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December 23rd, 1942 Two Men and a Movie Camera... (Continued from Page 8) Sand Days,’ the latest Canadian Cameo. Throughout the theatres of Canada the work of the art department plays a prominent, if somewhat anonymous, part. The majority of announcement and special trailers used in the Dominion are made under the direction of Harold Peberdy, Art Director. Mr. Peber dy studied art in England, later]. coming to Canada where he had experience both in designing and in commercial film work before he joined Screen News soon after its establishment. From one _ single member, the staff of the Art DVepartment has increased to nine, and includes besides its work on trailers and titles, an increasing volume of animation work. Just completed for the Royal Canadian Air Force is the training picture “Oxygen’’—a color film produced to show the necessity for and the use of modern oxygen supply equipment in today’s fighting aircraft. Here animation in color shows the circulatory system of the body, the action of the heart, the interchange of pure and impure blood, in relation to the body’s oxygen needs. This technical film has been requested by air force officials of Great Britain, United States, Australia and New Zealand for use in training their flying men. Members and technical facilities of all branches of Associated Screen News have been working overtime on war activities. Canada’s National Film Board, in its extensive propaganda work, has made constant use of the already established facilities and equipment of the company. Working with the National War Finance Committee, ASN has shared in the publicity work for Victory Loan and War Savings Campaigns—producing and processing trailers and shorts for simultaneous release in all parts of Canada. Besides the theatrical releases for the general public in the drives, were special motion pictures for the instruction and inspiration of the canvassers. For their benefit the mechanics of the campaign organization were explained through the motion picture, and a preview of general publicity was included. ‘Jacare’ to Open In New York “Jacare,” the first feature-length film ever made in the jungles of the Amazon River, will have its premiere engagement in New York at the Globe Theatre beginning on Saturday, December 26, it was announced today. sss SS =e Canadian FILM WEEKLY (Ji hpua Wise By TAP KEYES Lew Ayres, Dr. Gillespie’s assistant, who was poison to everyvne when he revealed his pacifism, has come into his own again among the men who were supposed to dislike him most, the soldiers. You'll remember that Ayres, when he got his draft call, announced that his personal principles wouldn’t permit him to kill but that he was willing to risk death anywhere with an ambulance unit or some other non-combatant service. Recently the army saw it his way and he now lectures to hospital equipment men. He is very popular with his soldier pupils. His studio, which took him off the roll when the clamor broke out, has reinstated him and he’ll take his place with other returned stars when the war is won. + * * The physical growth of movie children would amaze professors. Take Gloria Jean. In 1939 her studio launched the young singer as a 10-year-old wonder. Last week she was cast for a more mature role, it being announced at the same time that Gloria Jean was now 16. The studio allowed her to be her age three months ago. . . . Hollywood films ars mostly identified with major, minor and independent studios. Lately, however, new groups of film makers have arisen as a result of refugee actors coming on the scene with time on their hands and new ideas in their minds. Recently a group made “The Captain of moepenick,” which will be shown shortly, and now along comes “The Hangman,” a story of Lidice. These things should bring freshness to the screen. * y es Motion picture houses are heavy sufferers in the current wave of juvenile crime. Much of it is vandalism. Teen-aged terrorists are tearing seats, marking walls, throwing things through the air, removing anything detachable and making life miserable generally for manager and patron. Patrons can perform a service by telling the manager the moment they see some of the juvenile hoodlums at their tricks. The war has had an upsetting effect on youngsters. ... Rosalind Russell, who was to play Sister Kenny in the film story of the Australian healer’s life, will wait until her (Russell’s) baby is born. . . . Adolphe Menjou, still a pulse-palpitator to the girls, has been in pictures for 30 years. os * * Roy Rogers, the film cowboy, may find himself without that famed monicker—if a court action is successful. His real name is Leonard Slyle. A few years ago another actor with the same name won a verdict which restricted the cowboy’s use of the name to films only. Now the first Roy Rogers wants $500,000 damages because the cowboy has been making personal appearances under the tag. ... After hearing Dinah Shore sing a soldier sent her a wire: “Oh, Lady, If You Could Only Cook.” Back came a chocolate cake that Dinah whipped up all by herself. . .. Michael Curtiz, who directed “Casablanca,” is well-known for his tangled verbiage. Explaining a scene to the actors, he called for the “low throbbing music of the local tom-thumbs.” * * * The death of Buck Jones, famed cowboy star, who lost his life in the Boston fire, was the tragic climax to a crescendo of joy. Buck had been on a good-will tour of the USA. In New York he lead the Thanksgiving parade. Banquets in his honor were held everywhere. A great party was arranged for him to mark the end of his tour. The end of his tour, as scheduled, was—Boston. . . . Chilly Willies, who revel in the horror routines, are in for a special when Bela Lugosi emerges soon as “The Ape Man.” ... The Dionne Quintuplets may make a tour of the USA for war charities. . . . “Phantom of the Opera,” the old-time’ thriller, will be remade and Jon Hall may get the role. “4 REEL RE UE UU OU ORB OE RE, Page 21 Ex MEME RENE IRPEI IE HIER IEPIENEIEIEIE TA ¥ SEASON’S GREETINGS x SOVEREIGN FILM DISTRIBUTORS Lid. 105 Bond St. Toronto Every type of entertainment in the 16 mm. field SRG RE URE RG RE HE AER OO UE UU RS OS UE LE OO OU OC OC RANARARARRAD_ARNARARANNARARARRRARARRAAR 2. RAMMMAANMMAAMMNMAMAMMMMADz * | RRR EE REE ELE RENE PEE NE EINES Compliments of the Season CANADIAN THEATRE CHAIR CO. 277 Victoria St., Toronto, Ont. RRAAARARAARARAAAAARARRARARANRARNRAR BROS ERE te ee HE RARRANRMAARMNAMNARMAMMMDMBS? * % GREETINGS = SEASON’S : i Sincere Good Wishes and Health, Prosperity and Peace in the New Year Ben Cronk UNITED ARTISTS RE UME PE LUE OE ME OE RE RE UEC HE OE CE LE RE RE RE LE EE HE RE ME RE EEE CR te ig