Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 20, 1943)

Page 2 Vol. 8, No. 4 Address all communications—TIhe Managing gg: AD Canadian Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada. Wantage A Ltd., Sth Floor, Z1 Dundas Square, Toronto, Oxnt., Canada. Phone ADelaide 4316, Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter The Boys in the Booths Most interesting news of the last week was the amalgamation of the IATSE in Canada and the National Union of Projectionisits. It means that exhibitors will not be able to trade elsewhere when it comes to labor bargaining, since the number of non-union projectionists are few. For those who look at this situation adversely, they can iake comfort in the fact that jurisdictional disputes, in which the exhibitor was often the innocent spectator who got clouted, have ended. Union men picketing union houses and adding to the confusion of the public will be a thing of the past. The projectionists, incidentally, play a considerable part in the war effort of the motion picture industry and receive little credit. They contribute personally and their locals make group donations to each worthy cause. The operators donate their services gratis at benefit shows on their day off, along with other theatre staffmen, and often operate machines at hall showings where the proceeds go to war effort. They play their part independently, since they are not represented on the Motion Picture Pioneers War Services. We think it’s time they were, if only as an example of industry friendliness. A Canadian Film Poll This periodical has set the machinery of its annual Canadian poll going. The idea is to determine the 10 best boxoffice attractions of the 1942-43 season and the 10 best male and female stars for Canada. You'll be receiving a ballot, which includes a list of the eligible pictures. Your booking sheet will tell you anything else you want to know. The basis of the poll will be those pictures released between December Ist, 194], and November 30th, 1942. We are using these dates so that these films will have had time to play your theatres. Last year, too busy with reorganizing this paper, we passed it up. From now on, however, it will be an annual feature. ; England has its poll and so has the United States. Canada should have one. We have distinct tastes. For instance, there are more English pictures shown here that in the United States and these may be an important factor in determining the tastes of the public. Press and radio critics will also be given an opportunity to state their preferences. The findings will be issued io the news and trade press, as well as to radio commentators. Conada, now more than ever, prefers to express its own ideas—ond through its own mediums. We solicit your cooperation to make the Canadian Poll a success. Canadian FILM WEEKLY Jan. 20, 1943 HYE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Toronto Star Grants Theatre Directory As a substitute for the list of coming attractions which it dropped from its Saturday edition, the Toronto Daily Star has agreed to carry a theatre directory. The directory gives the names of features and theatre. Protests resulted when the Star dropped show readers of smaller houses as part of its paper-saving plan. Syd Taube of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners Association of Ontario and Jack Melzer of Premier Operating, speaking for the trade, made the Star see the ight, 16 M. Competition January 20th, 1943 Pic Biz and War Exhibs Protest Pic Bir and On (Continued from Page 1) lem in its territory. British Columbia has a law forbidding the showing of 16 mm. films for admission charges within 10 miles of a licensed theatre. Until recently this was more or less observed throughout Canada, The present situation grew largely out of the war, 16 mm. editions of Hollywood feature films having been increased to meet army camp needs. These, having served their purpose, are moving into other hands and an competition, The spread of NFB shorts is being watched keenly. Made with public funds, new ayenues of exhibition are being’ opened for them everywhere. Formerly confined to rural areas, plans for showings in cities have been made and some theatre operators feel that they are stepping beyond the bounds of cinematic education quietly and under fine auspices, the threat of competition growing. National Film Board shorts are being shown in 1,300 rural communities by means of 60 travelling theatres, Public and private bodies are co-operating with them to provide facilities and audiences, Film rental libraries of 16 mm. size shorts are being established in cities, the fee being 25 cents per reel, A. free projection service is being developed for Junior Chambers of Commerce, Kiwanis International and other service groups. Private projector owners are putting their equipment at the service of the board. Many of the films are of a purely educational nature, dealing with nutrition, technique, etc., while others are exactly the same as those shown in professional places of entertainment. That licensed theatres provide a maximum running time for NFB shorts has never been disputed but rather referred to proudly. Exhibitors want the showings of 16 mm. shorts confined to defined limits. The present free-lance style of distribution and exhibition is decidedly unsatisfactory. Bill Risewick Again Heads Kennel Club W. J. Risewick of Film Lab was re-elected president of the Canadian Kennel Club Incorporated at its annual meeting in Toronto last week. He's famed for his prize-winning pooches. Rouse Into RCAF Andy Rouse of Odeon Theatres head office has joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, (Continued from Page 1.) production of the material neces sary for war and because proper relaxation will make the work hours of all peoples more productive, ; “Motion pictures are, happily, not only a stimulus but an art that is shared by all peoples and the images on the screen and the reproduction of voices and music through the medium of sound transmission has an impact on the listener that plays upon the whole scale of human emotions. “The Canadian Motion Picture War Services Committee has earned the recognition of the Canadian government through the assistance given the bond sale drives in which Famous Players and many other theatres turned over for bond purchases the entire receipts of at least one week in each theatre. Aside from the subscriptions made by the theatres the Canadian motion picture distributors subscribed for $750,000 worth of bonds in the last drive. “Famous Players and many other theatre owners donated without charge the use of theatres for meetings and shows to be held for the sale of bonds. It is interesting to note that the majority of personalities featured on Victory Loan broadcasts were film stars, all of whom came to Canada to give their services without fee. “Famous Players have supported and given the free use of their theatres in a Coast-to-Coast — campaign to launch the Air Cadet League of Canada. At present we have turned over without charge to the Canadian Army the use of one of our theatres to produce the coming army show under the direction of Jack Arthur whose services have been loaned to the War Department by Famous Players. “We expect to be most helpful in the salvage campaigns, particularly for fats which are so urgently needed now, and for scrap material such as metal and rubber, “We know our whole industry will continue to make its fine contribution in its reflection and furtherance of the way of life we have all enjoyed and which the flower of our men and women are at this moment fighting to save. Famous Players has dedicated without reservation our properties, our manpower and our ability, not only to community service, but to the whole-hearted and full support of our government executives in the war effort,”