Canadian Film Weekly (May 19, 1943)

Page scan 0002 from Canadian Film Weekly

Record Details:

Title:
Canadian Film Weekly
Date:
May 19, 1943
Volume:
Canadian Film Weekly (May 19, 1943)
Leaf #:
0002
Language:
English
Subjects:
Motion Pictures, Film Industry Trade Magazine",Canad
Collection:
Canada, Hollywood Studio System, and Global Cinema
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 01, 2024
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THE PICK OF | [ Phe Ficrones | Vol. 8, No. 21 COAST-TO-COAST COVERAGE REVIEWS IMFORMATION RATINGS May 19, 1948 ‘Burlesque’ Hot; *Frisco’ Lush Managers Help V-Loan Rallies (Continued from Page 1) Loan Committee to plan the doings and large ads in the local press, as well as plenty of news stories, captured the interest of the countryside. The rally, held on Sunday night, featured the 45-piece famed RCAF band, a dancing line of eight Buffalo girls and Able Sea~ man Walter Porter, who was torpedoed three times and lost a leg in the service. Mayor Lewis and E. J. Anderson, M.L.A., spoke. In Chatham, Ontario, Pat Drohan, Capitol; Frank Reid, Park, and Harland Rankin, Centre, took a large ad to tell the folks of their own efforts and what was required of the public. The Centre ran an essay contest, donating 12 passes as prizes, and the editor of the Daily News acted as judge. Fifteen passes were also donated for a school poster contest. Harland Rankin plugged the Loan over his radio broadcast. These were but a few of the things done. In Sudbury the Regent Theatre featured a fine lobby display of local men and women in service which was sponsored by many local merchants. Another lobby attraction was a group from the St. John’s Ambulance Corps, which demonstrated first aid. The local paper gave it plenty of photos and space. Probably the finest celebration of all was the premiere of the National Film Board short, ‘'Corvette Port Arthur” at Port Arthur, Ontario. The scene was the Colonia! Theatre and thousands jammed the streets. In front of the theatre stood a replica of a corvette cabin created by local shipbuilders. One had to walk the gangplank to get into the theatre. A naval guard of honor was saluted by nine airplanes above. Many outstanding citizens as well as war workers and service men and women spoke over the amplifier. J. J. Fitzgibbons invited the school children to see the picture gratis, ordering that it be exhibited as many times as necessary. Another day, another idea how to add to the buying of bonds. * O'Shea. LADY OF BURLESQUE RKO (Running Time: $1 Mins.) In the case of this film of unusual background, the exhibitor is headed for home on the first pitch. The title, “Lady of Burlesque,” brings in a word with excellent memories for old-timers and much curiosity for patrons who would like to see that much-heralded form of entertainment in surroundings other than a burlesque house. The film, of course, avoids the more bumptious and blue routines. But much of it is right off the runway, open-hearted and alive. The comedy has the same lusty quality and there are enough musical numbers to make it plenty gay. It is a very happy combination of corny musical and murder mystery taken from the novel, “The G-String Murders,” written by the most famed burlesque queen today, Gypsy Rose Lee. The book sold well and should stimulate the parade of patrons. The backstage stuff is unglamorously honest and should come as a revelation to those brought up on the usual gilded scenery. ‘There’s enough violence and shady goings-on to satisfy those who like that sort of thing. The story, which runs between and behind the scenes, has to do with several backstage murders, committed in each case with the final item of attire of the strip-teaser, the G-string. Any number of characters with any number of reasons for homicide are offered to confuse the guessers. The success of the picture is due to the excellent playing of its stars, Barbara Stanwyck and a newcomer, Michael Miss Stanwyck is so perfect in the role that she could probably give Miss Lee a run for the hoots and howls of a genuine burlesque crowd. Michael O’Shea, as her low comedy sweetheart is excellent and has an individual personality that should help his future. The cast is large and those members of it who stand out are J. Edward Bromberg, Iris Adrian, Gloria Dickson, Victoria Faust, Marion Martin, Charles Dingle and Gerald Mohr. “Lady of Burlesque” is lavish, lively, lusty and decidedly novel. “HELLO, FRISCO, HELLO” 20TH CENTURY-FOX (Running Time: 96 Mins.) Twentieth Century-Fox has the winning combination when it comes to Technicolor musicals. It makes them expansive, comfortable and easy-going. It’s a rut that’s lined with gold. Right in the groove is “Hello, Frisco, Hello,” in which John Payne, Alice Faye and Jack Oakie blend with the beauteous background. They do the same old enjoyable things over again. Faye is the devoted sweetheart of brash John Payne, socially ambitious, who gets the air when he gets money and a chance to marry an impoverished blueblood. Jack Oakie and June Havoc are the members of the vaudeville act who act as Payne’s conscience, pointing out the heelish things he does to Miss Faye. When Payne goes broke Faye, a musical comedy star, stakes him until he hits the top again. Of course, he gets mad when he hears of Alice’s intervention in his behalf, and, of course, he gets over it. The socialite has long since given him the air so, of course, he gets Miss Faye. What is important about the picture is that it is a period production, that kind being just made for Technicolor. It has a collection of some of the finest old-time songs ever written and they get a fine presentation.in each case. Some are offered as a matter of course and others are given full production. The old favorites are ‘Hello, Frisco, Hello,” “Strike Up the Band, Here Comes a Sailor,” “I Got a Gal in Every Port,” “They Always Pick On Me,” “Tulip Time in Holland,” “Bedelia,” “Sweet Cider Time,” “The Grizzly Bear,” “Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly,” “Gee, It’s Great to Meet a Friend,” and “By the Light of the Silvery Moon.” The swell lineup of players includes Lynn Bari, who does surprisingly well; Laird Cregar in an unusual characterization of a sponging gold miner; and Ward Bond as a saloon keeper. June Havoc proves herself worthy of future consideration for more important roles. Merchants Beef At Show Lines (Continued from Page 1) been retained by merchants in the vicinity of the Capitol theatre who claimed that the lineups waiting for tickets to enter the Capitol theatre was killing their business, that customers could not get in and if they did get in to the places of business they could hardly get out. “I have seen the lineup myself,’ said Mr. Nickle, in his letter. “The Capitol theatre is making good.and handsome profits and it does seem that fairness demands that if there are not sufficient policemen to control the crowds then there should be special police for this purpose and the expense paid by the theatre.” Mayor Stewart said that an arrangement had been made to meet the managers of the theatres and the whole situation would be discussed and some action taken to relieve the condition. Gk Br CONTRACT SALES OFFICE PHOHE TR.1257 6" FLOOR 8 Pe Trt