Canadian Film Weekly (Mar 24, 1943)

Page 4 Army, Industry In Conference (Continued from Page 1) ron Leader H. T, I. Lee, who acted as chairman. Squadron Leader Lee is chairman of the newlyorganized Films Committee, which held its first meeting in Ottawa last week. The meeting was in the nature of a conference at which an exchange of opinions on all sides resulted. Those present concerned themselves with conditions under which performances were carried on, the unsatisfactory situation in the booking of 16 mm. films and other such matters. The ventilation, safety, equipment, acoustics, ete., of army huts where films are shown and methods of improving them came in for consideration. A joint committee of eight, four from each side, was appointed to study the booking problem. It will seek to speed up booking and see that army camp distribution is set up along theatre lines, with the proper films going to the right camps at the right time. Camps showing 16 mm. films may show the same feature as the nearest theatre at the same time, if the theatre is a 35 mm. one. Calgary is an exception because there is a 16 mm. theatre situated in that city which requires protection. Those present were: L. Rosen-, feld, chairman of the Motion Picture Branch of the Toronto Board of Trade; Squadron Leader H. T. I. Lee; Lieut. Harwood, RCN; Captain Gurston Allen; Lt.-Col. John A. Cooper; J. J. Fitzgibbons; J. P. O'Loghlin; David Coplan; A. W. Perry, Walter Kennedy; Frank O'Byrne; H. Freedman; Syd Taube; Ben Geldsaler; Wm. Redpath; R. Ryan, K. of C.; Capt. Ben Allen, Canadian Legion; Major Cook, YMCA; George Oullahan, YMCA; Major Barr, Salvation Army, and Major Fairhurst, Salvation Army. The Films Committee, of which Squadron Leader Lee is chairman, was appointed by the Joint Organizations and Services Committee, the latter having the Department of National Defence blessing to deal with matters between the services and National Voluntary Organizations. Maynard, Schernoff Back from New York Paul Maynard, Toronto manager of PRC, is back after a confab with head office officials in New York. PRC has “Corregidor” coming up as a special and it’s being pre-sold in a big way in the USA. Jerry Schernoff, Montreal branch manager, was also in New York and shares Maynard's enthusiasm. Canadian FILM WEEKLY , — March 24, 1948 Purposeful Good Fellowship Last week Sir Cedric Hardwicke, star of “The Moon Is Down,” was in Toronto for the world premiere of the 20th-Fox picture at Little Norway. Sir Cedric plays a Nazi colonel, icy and cruel. A reporter remarked to the English actor that he considered him aifable and friendly—quite unlike the screen Hardwicke. Sir Cedric explained that he is trying to dissipate the screen impression of himself. “I was determined to become a hail-hearty-fellow-well-met,” he told the Globe and Mail reporter. ‘One day in Hollywood I met a chap I thought I knew. I slapped him on the back. He punched me back. We were having a great time. I was sure he must be some big producer. I finally found out who he was. Before we parted, he had sold me a page of advertising in the Hollywood Reporter!” Jimmy in Khaki The guy with the crinkled kisser is Jimmy Cameron, Famous Players exploiter, who is now a W.O.2. He’s doing his stuff for Jack Arthur's Army Show. Jimmy has been a booster since 1936, after starting out in the business as an usher. Jim is extremely popular in the haunts of the trade and has the ability to smile his way into any place. * & & Serious Patrons Curly Posen, who manages the Broadview, reports that the public doesn’t always recognize a gag. Recently Curly issued a waiver, asking any patrons of that week’s horror show to sign it, thus surrendering any claims against the theatre for ill-effects. It’s not original, of course. But one lady submitted one of the waivers to the cashier with the question: “Is this signed correctly?” A while ago Curly issued a Laff Ration Card for an Abbott & Costello feature. Several customers brought the cards in to be punched. Bt * 2 Wit and Loyalty An exhibitor tried kidding Regal’s Henry Nathanson about the record-breaking “Random Harvest,” MGM’s current pride and joy. “I know where the ‘Random’ is from. Ronald Coleman’s home in the film is called ‘Random Hall.’ But where do they get the ‘Harvest’ ?’’ “Ask any exhibitor,” snapped Henry. “At the boxoffice!” * * cd Purely Accidental Somebody ought to name the gremlins that infest theatres, since airmen certainly haven't got the exclusive attention of the mythical little mischief makers who spoil things. One theatre manager, expecting a call from the circuit heads, hung the photos of his two leading superiors in a prominent place in the office. They dropped in as. expected. The manager’s pleased look turned to one of embarrassment as he followed the eyes of his superiors to the photos. Below them, where it had been placed carelessly, was a sign which read “Horror Show.” p(y sts [Theatres Busy On Fats Drive (Continued from Page 1) day matinees, to be distributed among children who have delivered two pounds of fat to the school. This method saves the theatre space and the manager trouble. The Nanaimo, B.C., Salvage Committee, working in conjunction with the Capitol and Strand theatres, has hit on an idea to extend the drive to as many housewives as possible. “If you have no children attending school,” says thé appeal, “save your materlals for the boy or girl next door.” The Capitol, Patricia and Palace theatres, London, Ontario, completed their special “fat” salvage morning shows, which proved to be @ great success. More than a ton of fat was realized, according to the figures issued to the press by the London Salvage Committee. At the Capitol theatre alone, the report says, enough fat was collected to supply the ingredients for 180 anti-tank mines. In addition, at the Patricia, enough was brought in to supply the propellant for 5,000 machine gun bullets. At the Palace enough was collected to make 390 pounds of high explosive. Belleville, Ontario, theatres provided an example of what can be done for the fats drive. The appéal there, led by Tommy Mascaro, Capitol; George Forhan, Belle; and Willard Fawcett, McCarthy; netted 1,700 pounds of the valuable stuff — enough to manufacture 10,000 anti-aircraft shells. R. Connelly, of the National Salvage Department, Ottawa, was in Belleville and praised the managers and staffs for their great work. Seven’ Vancouver theatres, the Alma, Grandview, Kerrisdale, Kitsilano, Regent, Victoria and Windsor held fats matinees last week and made a big haul. The St. Catharines, Ontario, Theatre Managers’ Association held a special meeting to plan its drive and will distribute 4,200 tickets to the schools. Those present were Leo Coyle, chairman, Gran~ ada; A. Kent Craig, secretary, Capitol; Roy Miller, Lincoln; Dewey McCourt, Palace, and Harry Rosenberg, Centre. Kent Craig, handling the theatre publicity, has asked the local IJATSE to co-operate in providing the services of projectionists. In Ottawa the local section of the Motion Picture Theatres Assoelation, which has issued a booklet for the guidance of managers during the drive, has arranged for matinees on March 27th. Get your own campaign under way as soon as possible. These days one drive follows on the heels of the other and delay has had an adyerse effect on all of them.