Canadian Film Weekly (Feb 17, 1943)

t/ Vol. 8, No. 8 Address all communications—The Managing Editor, Canadian Film Weekly, 21 Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada, . Published by Film Publications of Canada, Ltd., Sth Floor, Zl Dundas Square, Toronto, Ont., Canada, Phone ADelaide 4310. Price 5 cents each or $2.00 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter ‘Easy Money’ The Toronto Globe and Mail of February Sth carries am echo of the marquee dispute in Toronto of last June. At that time the City of Toronto sought to charge one dollar for every foot of marquees and signs having a lesser clearance than nine feet from the ground and reaching over the sidewalk more than four and one-half inches, with a minimum fee of $10. It was fought off successfully by theatres. Frank Tumpane of the Globe and Mail, under the heading, “Easy Money,” wrote the following article: It’s wonderful to live in a big city like Toronto, where the air Is measured out to the citizens, on certain occasion, at 15 cents per square foot. The “canopy fee” is a dandy way of raising money, and is practiced upon theatre owners and other denizens of the metropolis who happen to have an overhead projection from their places of business. You know what we mean—one of those affairs with signs announcing that Doris Darling is on view in the Greatest Picture Ever Made. For each of these canopies the annual fee is 15 cents per square foot. On one medium-sized Bloor Street theatre this amounted last year to $40. The total collected by the City of Toronto in 1942 in canopy fees was $10,223.58—the greater part of this sum being good, clean profit. In return for his fee, the theatre or store-owner gets his canopy inspected every year. Building inspectors drop around in the slack season and scrutinize the structures, but Toronto does not employ any full-time canopy inspectors. In this way, a lot of needless expense in salaries is avoided. The city, no doubt, feels happy about this salary saving, but naturally not to the extent of tampering with the 15 cents per square foot fee. The “canopy fee’ was imposed two years ago. Permission had been granted, prior to that time for the erection of hundreds of canopies, giving the city a ready-made field for fee collection. An owner could pay up or haul down. Majority of the canopies are attached to theatres. They are now darkened through the exigencies of war. Theatre owners say they get less use from their canopies now than ever before, but they keep right on paying. Owners in Toronto are not compelled to provide insurance coverage on their canopies in case they should tumble down and pin a pedestrian. The city’s interest lapses when it collects its fees. Just to the north of Toronto, in the Township of York, the canopy fee is only $1 per year. But the municipality insists that a public Mability and property damage policy be held by the owner in case an accident occurs. Citizens of York Township rendered hors de combat by canopies are assured some return on their life and limbs. There’s no doubt about it. It’s wonderful to live in a big city. oS 2 * Big Windsor Score The Capitol Theatre, Windsor, netted the fine sum of $7,400 for Russion Aid with a Sunday night show and this, added to the recent $5,000 take at the Park, makes a splendid haul to add to the border city houses’ total. Nova Scotia theatres have contributed something close to $2,000 and may exceed this amount. The names of Messrs. Wener and Green of Glace Bay should be added to those of motion picture men who have acted as local chairmen. The Capitol, St. John, N.B., took in $240 and Charlottetown Feb, 17, 1943 b Vols, Nose ae. aa Aaya H{XE BOSSIN, Managing Editor Canadian FILM WEEKLY [Print Shortage In Sight (Continued from Page 1) would fall in line with the recent declaration of Ed Kuykendall, president of the Motion Picture Theatre’ Owners Association of America, that some medium of mutual discussion should be established. One of the first quetions dealt with would be that of prints. Local exchanges are studying Spaced booking and other means of making fewer prints do when the time occurs. One plan, which has not met with approval, is to stagger territorial releases. Critics claim that it would mean scratched film for those who hold firstruns later. Whether Canada will be affected by a print shortage at the same time as the United States cannot be judged now. Though National Film Board requirements have boosted the Canadian demand, the existing need is very small when compared with that of the United States. So far the 30 per cent cut in raw stock has made little difference here, though this country ig governed as a matter of course by War Production Board rulings in the USA, Prints for Canadian exchanges are made in Canada on raw stock imported from the USA and coat~ ed here. The Dominion uses up Some 35,000 feet of film annually, It is thought by some that more raw stock may become available when the war departments are able to judge their needs better, The severe cuts in allocations; some consider, derives from a de+ sire of government departments to make sure they have enough, | netted $105. The fine work of W. H. Cuzner of Sydney Mines, president of the Nova Scotia Allied and chairman of his local committee, and the efforts of his colleagues drew a note of praise from Herb Allen, general chairman of the Motion Picture Committee, which read: “Y think the work done by you, Mr. Cuzner, and the members of your committee is beyond praise. I am proud to be associated with you.” Mayor Harry T. Lewis of Wel land was the speaker at specia Sunday afternoon and evening shows held at the Park and Capitol theatres of that Ontario town which yielded $2,800. At the Roxy, Kingsville, Ontario, a Sunday concert yielded $1,243, L. W. Payne, Capitol, Listowel, Ontario, got $163.20 through two special shows and would have had more but for a blizzard, And they’re still coming in, February 17th, 1943 — (Not Enough Hosp1 Programs-Weldon | (Continued from Page 1) strep throat. He almost longs for the safety of the sea to avoid the dangers of everyday life on our land, Canadian Film Weekly has an interesting letter from Maurice on the subject of war hospital screenings, which are anything but satisfactory. Writes Maurice: ‘In a recent issue of Film Weekly I noticed a very interesting — article headed ‘Booze Cut to Boost Boxoffice.’ I quite agree with your article under the present conditions in Toronto and throughout Canada. But what about after the war? Since my admittance to the Royal Canadian Naval Hospital St. John’s, Newfoundland, several weeks ago I have seen but two feature pictures. The up-patients haye two irregular screenings weekly. I am quite certain that this amount of entertainment does not relax our minds as to coming operations, or present injuries which the great majority of patients have received at sea. This generation of man was born with the motion picture. Why should injured seamen be deprived of their best form of entertainment, the most welcome to this hospital? There occurs the occasional discussion about the slackness of either our industry or the government’s ignorance. Without this entertainment the boys will eventually lose all interest in theatres and find relaxation elsewhere or at the local hotel. Even more so after this conflict is over—and all because we neglected to keep them theatre-minded. It should be arranged to have two screenings each week for the '| wards and every night for the up patients. Our American cousins have screenings each night in their hospitals and aboard ship even at Sea, weather permitting. Great appreciation and many favorable comments would be shown towards the motion picture industry now and in future years if this negligence is overcome,” Though picture production has many problems today, such as transportation and limited stock available for the making of prints, these should not be allowed to in 1 terfere with injured soldiers and sailors seeing movies. They can- not go to the movies. The movies — must go W. S. Wrens. to them—and regularly. ~ Van Dyke Dead Van Dyke, famed film director, died in Hollywood last week at the age of 44. Most of his work was done for MGM. His most recent directorial job was the last of the “Thin Man” series.